Will a Calazaghe Win Cement His Place In History (ala Hopkins over Tito)?

[minhdamasta]

I'm a diehard Tito fan...I'm still sour about the Hopkins and Wright losses. Not because I think Tito one either, he got spanked in both fights. I'm sour because I underestimated both Hopkins and the Winkster. Unfortunately for Tito, myself and all his other fans, those victories solidified Hopkins and Winky's HOF careers, especially Hopkins. I had heard of him, seen him here and there but I didn't give his long title reign much credit until after he whooped my boy's ass. I'm wondering if the same will go for Calazaghe after he takes Lacy to school tonight. I can't believe how everybody is on Lacy's nuts, it seems like 90% of the experts have predicted a Lacy victory, just like they did for Tito over Hopkins. To me, its a coin flip...the predictions should be split.

Tonight's victory won't make Calazaghe an all-time Super Middleweight great but it will get him in the right path. He needs to get his ass to the States after his win and follow this up few more superfights. At that point, we'll truly know where he stands among the all-time greats.

[DarkSpyder]

Good post. He said he's got four more fights left in him, providing he wins tonight. I get the feeling he may move up a weight if he beats Lacy tonight....?

[Crumble]

If Joe loses tonight he may as well retire I think, but if he wins he can fight people like Clinton Woods for a title at light heavy and if he wins that then fight Antonio Tarver anywhere he wants for whatever money he wants and if he wins that retire, undefeated two weight world champion of the world,......but thats alot of ifs.

[DarkSpyder]

If Joe loses tonight he may as well retire I think, but if he wins he can fight people like Clinton Woods for a title at light heavy and if he wins that then fight Antonio Tarver anywhere he wants for whatever money he wants and if he wins that retire, undefeated two weight world champion of the world,......but thats alot of ifs.

I don't think should retire if he loses, and I don't think he will; he is only 33 after all. But it is hard to see where his next big fight would come from in that situation.

[No-mas-tias]

I love how he fights but Lacy is a young fighter who has proven nothing, Tito was an icon that had proven to be a warrior when Hopkins defeated him. Totally differeny scenarios.

[Crumble]

But it is hard to see where his next big fight would come from in that situation.

the only fight that could happen then is Clinton Woods maybe, might not really be worth it for Joe he is a multi-millionnaire after all.

[scap]

I'm a diehard Tito fan...I'm still sour about the Hopkins and Wright losses. Not because I think Tito one either, he got spanked in both fights. I'm sour because I underestimated both Hopkins and the Winkster. Unfortunately for Tito, myself and all his other fans, those victories solidified Hopkins and Winky's HOF careers, especially Hopkins. I had heard of him, seen him here and there but I didn't give his long title reign much credit until after he whooped my boy's ass. I'm wondering if the same will go for Calazaghe after he takes Lacy to school tonight. I can't believe how everybody is on Lacy's nuts, it seems like 90% of the experts have predicted a Lacy victory, just like they did for Tito over Hopkins. To me, its a coin flip...the predictions should be split.

Tonight's victory won't make Calazaghe an all-time Super Middleweight great but it will get him in the right path. He needs to get his ass to the States after his win and follow this up few more superfights. At that point, we'll truly know where he stands among the all-time greats.

Your comparison to Bernard Hopkins is a good one, the difference here is that Calzaghe is fighting a beast in his own division where as Hopkins was afforded the luxury of having great fighters who were dominate Hall of Famers at Welterweight come all the way to middleweight. Your right however that everyone was all over Tito even though he was the guy who was moving up against the savvy vet.

As a Calzaghe guy I wish I was as confident as you sound...also keep in mind that Joe will never fight on US soil, if he wins tonight the chances of him leaving home are zero, this is why any fan of the sport of boxing has to look at guys like Jeff Lacy and Ricky Hatton as studs!

Calzaghe is satidfied with being a good fighter and one of the best Super Middleweights of all time, Hatton and Lacy flat out want to be great and considered the very best of all time.

with all that **** said lets go Joe!

[Zab Super Judah]

I think he already said this was his last fight at 168?

[DIEGO DA HITMAN]

Yes, it would definitely define his legacy. He would be remembered as a great champ, and particularly for this win. I think Joe could have some success at 175, but I don't think he could hang with Tarver. I could see him beating some of the top guys, but not Tarver. A fight between Calzaghe and Glen Johnson would be interesting.

[TheEvilSaint]

after 40 fights and 13 years he cements his legacy with one dangerous opponent? fat chance. unless he wants his "legacy" to be really ****ty, fraudulent, and laughable.