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Boxing: Joe's missed a great chance
May 15 2005
Peter Shuttleworth, Wales on Sunday
STEVE Collins last night told world No 1 Joe Calzaghe: 'I'm sad you missed out on our golden generation.'
The WBO champion has reigned supreme in an otherwise sparse super-middleweight division for almost eight years but Collins insists Calzaghe's lack of top-class opposition has cost him dear.
The unbeaten Welshman's 16th defence in Mario Veit's backyard last weekend - where he ended the German's resistance in the sixth round - hoisted Calzaghe's record up with the UK's all-time elite. But Collins, however, handed out a dose of realism last night.
Calzaghe's record is magnificent since he first ruled the roost in October 1997, beating Chris Eubank. But it's a lack of real, quality scalps on his role of honour since that diminishes Calzaghe's reputation.
Yet the 'Celtic Warrior' who lorded over the super-middleweight division during the halcyon days of the early 1990s, completing an awesome double over Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank - is sympathetic to Calzaghe's plight.
"What you must remember is that Joe is the only decent super-middleweight around today," said Collins.
"Joe is a very good fighter, by far and away the No 1, without question, as no-one comes close to challenging him. But he can't realise his potential as there's no-one good enough to test him.
"I feel sorry for Joe because he has a great attitude, shown dedication and deserves everything he gets.
"As he's a big super-middleweight he's had to train hard so he's needed a good attitude; he's been a champion for all this time and has come through personal problems. But when it comes to proving himself as one of the great super-middleweights of all time, he hasn't been given a good going-over. It's a different league now compared to ten or 15 years ago. Boxing divisions have great highs leading to depressing lows and that's what the super-middleweight division has experienced since Benn, Eubank, myself and a few of the American lads quit.
"It would have been great for the sport, let alone Joe, if he'd have been around then as he would have improved as a fighter and been better than he is now because he'd have had experience of fighting excellent boxers. "As it is, he's kind of lost it because winning is pretty easy for him.
"The experience of fighting Americans in America is something that can't be underestimated and a greater arsenal of fighters would have tested Joe. Unfortunately, we don't know what his flaws are as no-one has been good enough to even start to expose them.
"The fact he hasn't fought a real big name since Eubank in '97 means Joe can't be classed as one of British boxing's greats. While his defence record is phenomenal, the fact that Charles Brewer and Robin Reid are among his best wins says it all for me.
"I don't think Joe would have been No 1 fifteen years ago, he'd have been in the top ten; I think most of the ex-pros agree on that.
"We were just better fighters in a better division.
"Unfortunately we'll never really know, but one thing's for sure he would have become a better fighter and improved his style and that would have given him an American break."
Unbeaten Calzaghe, who holds the world record of 39 successive pro victories, has struggled for Stateside recognition.
And Collins, who defended his WBO title eight times, said: "Joe hasn't endeared himself to American TV as they don't like his style. They like the American toe-to-toe style rather than Joe's typically European busy-busy style.
"But my advice to Joe would be not to worry about it. If he doesn't get big fights because there's no-one out there then that's life, it's not his fault. Joe's title defence record is one of the best ever and he's earned a lot of money so he'll be talked about as one of the greats."
Calzaghe is planning a voluntary defence of his WBO crown in the summer with Brian Magee top of the possible list. He should have fought the Ulsterman in February but was forced to withdraw at the last minute as Veit's promoters stole in to seal a mandatory shot against the German.
But Collins added: "He could do with going up a weight now to try and seal his two-weight world championship dream against one of the Americans.
"Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver are big names but as Calzaghe isn't, American TV won't pay big money for the fight. And Joe's too big a risk if the Yanks aren't getting a bumper pay day."
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0700s...name_page.html
Boxing: Joe's missed a great chance
May 15 2005
Peter Shuttleworth, Wales on Sunday
STEVE Collins last night told world No 1 Joe Calzaghe: 'I'm sad you missed out on our golden generation.'
The WBO champion has reigned supreme in an otherwise sparse super-middleweight division for almost eight years but Collins insists Calzaghe's lack of top-class opposition has cost him dear.
The unbeaten Welshman's 16th defence in Mario Veit's backyard last weekend - where he ended the German's resistance in the sixth round - hoisted Calzaghe's record up with the UK's all-time elite. But Collins, however, handed out a dose of realism last night.
Calzaghe's record is magnificent since he first ruled the roost in October 1997, beating Chris Eubank. But it's a lack of real, quality scalps on his role of honour since that diminishes Calzaghe's reputation.
Yet the 'Celtic Warrior' who lorded over the super-middleweight division during the halcyon days of the early 1990s, completing an awesome double over Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank - is sympathetic to Calzaghe's plight.
"What you must remember is that Joe is the only decent super-middleweight around today," said Collins.
"Joe is a very good fighter, by far and away the No 1, without question, as no-one comes close to challenging him. But he can't realise his potential as there's no-one good enough to test him.
"I feel sorry for Joe because he has a great attitude, shown dedication and deserves everything he gets.
"As he's a big super-middleweight he's had to train hard so he's needed a good attitude; he's been a champion for all this time and has come through personal problems. But when it comes to proving himself as one of the great super-middleweights of all time, he hasn't been given a good going-over. It's a different league now compared to ten or 15 years ago. Boxing divisions have great highs leading to depressing lows and that's what the super-middleweight division has experienced since Benn, Eubank, myself and a few of the American lads quit.
"It would have been great for the sport, let alone Joe, if he'd have been around then as he would have improved as a fighter and been better than he is now because he'd have had experience of fighting excellent boxers. "As it is, he's kind of lost it because winning is pretty easy for him.
"The experience of fighting Americans in America is something that can't be underestimated and a greater arsenal of fighters would have tested Joe. Unfortunately, we don't know what his flaws are as no-one has been good enough to even start to expose them.
"The fact he hasn't fought a real big name since Eubank in '97 means Joe can't be classed as one of British boxing's greats. While his defence record is phenomenal, the fact that Charles Brewer and Robin Reid are among his best wins says it all for me.
"I don't think Joe would have been No 1 fifteen years ago, he'd have been in the top ten; I think most of the ex-pros agree on that.
"We were just better fighters in a better division.
"Unfortunately we'll never really know, but one thing's for sure he would have become a better fighter and improved his style and that would have given him an American break."
Unbeaten Calzaghe, who holds the world record of 39 successive pro victories, has struggled for Stateside recognition.
And Collins, who defended his WBO title eight times, said: "Joe hasn't endeared himself to American TV as they don't like his style. They like the American toe-to-toe style rather than Joe's typically European busy-busy style.
"But my advice to Joe would be not to worry about it. If he doesn't get big fights because there's no-one out there then that's life, it's not his fault. Joe's title defence record is one of the best ever and he's earned a lot of money so he'll be talked about as one of the greats."
Calzaghe is planning a voluntary defence of his WBO crown in the summer with Brian Magee top of the possible list. He should have fought the Ulsterman in February but was forced to withdraw at the last minute as Veit's promoters stole in to seal a mandatory shot against the German.
But Collins added: "He could do with going up a weight now to try and seal his two-weight world championship dream against one of the Americans.
"Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver are big names but as Calzaghe isn't, American TV won't pay big money for the fight. And Joe's too big a risk if the Yanks aren't getting a bumper pay day."
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0700s...name_page.html
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