Is Joe Calzaghe an ATG?

[Earl-Hickey]

The Prestigious Ring Magazine weighs in on Calzaghe Criticism

What Critics Will Seize Upon: Calzaghe could have further cemented his status as his era's best 168-pounder by beating Ottke in a unification match but despite their lengthy parallel reigns they never fought each other. It also would have helped had he fought three-time WBC titlist Markus Beyer along the way. Chronic hand injuries kept Calzaghe on the sidelines from time to time, making one wonder if he could have made a run at Louis' all-time record of 25 defenses. Otherwise, there isn't much about which to complain. He addressed the "never leaving Europe" criticism by fighting Hopkins and Jones in the U.S. and the Lacy and Kessler victories answered most questions regarding his supremacy at 168.

Read it and weep, disgraces

[Porter's Dad]

Very, very talented fighter. He could have given us some great fights. But he didn't. He didn't chase greatness at all, so why bestow it upon him?

The way the British boxing media/fans work allows for a British fighter to get away with mediocre opponents, with the occasional difficult fight, and they can still be a big star - ie, David Haye. That is why, even now, Haye gets an easy ride over here, whereas everywhere else, he is derided for the fool he is.

Calzaghe still has the support of the British fans. Made good money. Left with his craptastic undefeated record in tact. That's why I knew he would never make a return, because he was entirely satisfied with that. He doesn't f-ck that a large contingent of non-Brits think he was a waste of talent.

But if you're rational about this - you know his resume sucks, compared to his talent. I mean, I'm a hater but I recognise he was a very unique fighter in a lot of ways. But just when things were about to get interesting, he was planning his way out of the sport.

[hugh grant]

The Prestigious Ring Magazine weighs in on Calzaghe Criticism



Read it and weep, disgraces

I think JC is a ATG. If Floyd is, then JC is.

JC fought outside his country and beat BH, which isnt easy. There were chances to show JC was beatable and no one did. Floyd never fought outside his country.

BH is a better win for JC than any Floyds wins. Lower echelos atg though.

[Saint G Groves]

Very, very talented fighter. He could have given us some great fights. But he didn't. He didn't chase greatness at all, so why bestow it upon him?

The way the British boxing media/fans work allows for a British fighter to get away with mediocre opponents, with the occasional difficult fight, and they can still be a big star - ie, David Haye. That is why, even now, Haye gets an easy ride over here, whereas everywhere else, he is derided for the fool he is.

Calzaghe still has the support of the British fans. Made good money. Left with his craptastic undefeated record in tact. That's why I knew he would never make a return, because he was entirely satisfied with that. He doesn't f-ck that a large contingent of non-Brits think he was a waste of talent.

But if you're rational about this - you know his resume sucks, compared to his talent. I mean, I'm a hater but I recognise he was a very unique fighter in a lot of ways. But just when things were about to get interesting, he was planning his way out of the sport.

Very apt way of putting it, to chase greatness would have been to move up to LHW and chase fights with Roy Jones, Darius Michalczewski, Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson around 2002-2006 when it was evident that Ottke was afraid to face him. Joe didn't do that. If Joe beat Michalczewski, Tarver and Glen Johnson, his resume couldn't be questioned, but he never took that risk.

I think he retired at the right time, he was an athletic fighter who relied on reflexes, at 37 years old he was only getting worse. I have no issue with his retirement, my issue is with how he wasted away his prime years defending the WBO title, when he could have chased bigger fights.

@Earl-Hickey, yes good point, Joe achieved more than 99% of boxers can ever dream of achieving. He was a damn good fighter, but compare his talent to what he achieved, and it falls way short, this guy had the talent to be compared with the likes of Roy Jones, Pacquiao and other greats of recent years, but he wasted it away fighting mediocrity. The Jeff Lacy win was excellent, same with the Kessler and Hopkins wins, unfortunately it's not nearly enough to rank him alongside the greats like Leonard, Hagler, Ali and other great fighters.

[hugh grant]

JC could have done more, and the same has been said of Floyd. Floyd probably gets even more criticism than JC believe it or not, and i think anyone does.

Floyds gets criticised for not doing enough and taking long retirements, at least JC didnt. If he didnt fight for long period it was cos his hand needed healing and he didnt have special injections for them.

[Fighting_Pride]

he's barely an above average HOF, his best wins were against past primes hopkins and jones, nothing great about that

[daggum]

would anyone consider brian nielson an all time great? he was 49-0 and had "wins" over carlos deleon, tim witherspoon and larry holmes. yeah they were all shot or gift wins but so, doesn't matter when calzaghe does it so why not?

[Papasito]

Obviously he is not...

[Mato o Muero]

The idea of Joe Calzaghe being an ATG is ***ing laughable. You should be banned for even asking this question.

[mathed]

And that happened to be mostly unranked bums.

Literally.

much like Ward's resume...except Calzaghe has 46 wins and Ward only has 26......young buck has a ways to go. I'm sure Pudwill would rematch him for a payday.