Calzaghe's top 3 wins

[TheJudge]

Calzaghe usually gets hated on, but I think he is much better than he is credited to be. Yeah, he's no prime Roy Jones Jr., but he's still a high quality boxer. Let's look at his 3 best wins:

1. Mikkel Kessler by UD12
Kessler was the 28 years old WBC and WBA champion, undefeated with a record of 39 wins, 29 by KO. Kessler proved throughout his career to be a quality boxer, scoring wins against guys like Anthony Mundine, Markus Beyer, Librado Andrade (undefeated), Dimitri Sartison (undefeated) and his best win: Carl Froch (undefeated on paper, despite technically having lost to Andre Dirrell). The only guys to ever beat Kessler, besides Calzaghe, were Andre Ward and Carl Froch (Kessler and Froch are 1-1 against each other, though). Kessler's qualities include huge punching power (he currently has 35 KOs in 46 wins, 76%), a solid chin (Kessler has never been knocked down or stopped in 49 fights) and good skills (which is obvious every time he fights). To defeat such a fighter when he is a young, hungry and undefeated champion is certainly a great accomplishment, making it Calzaghe's best win.

2. Bernard Hopkins by SD12
The legendary Bernard Hopkins had a record of 48 wins, 32 by KO (66%), 4 losses (0 by KO), 1 draw and despite his age of 43, Hopkins is a "one-of-a-kind-special-case boxer" in the sense that he would keep being a quality boxer until he turned 50, which is an almost superhuman feat in boxing. Calzaghe came to USA (Hopkins' home country) and fought at light heavyweight for the first time (which was Hopkins' weight class). It was a close fight in which Hopkins knocked Calzaghe down in the first round, but Calzaghe managed to outwork him to a split decision. This was certainly a great win for Calzaghe and with everything taken into consideration, it is clearly his second best win.

3. Jeff Lacy by UD12
Lacy was the young American IBF champion, undefeated with 21 wins, 17 by KO (81%!). Most people expected the talented and dangerous Lacy to win the fight, but Calzaghe gave him a brutal boxing lesson. So brutal that Lacy was never the same fighter again afterward. This was a great win and it is certainly worthy of being regarded as his third best win.

[LacedUp]

I'd say that's fairly accurate.

People forget now that Kessler was ducked by a lot of people and he was a real danger man.

I could be persuaded to reverse the Kessler/Hopkins ranking though.

[TheJudge]

I'd say that's fairly accurate.

People forget now that Kessler was ducked by a lot of people and he was a real danger man.

I could be persuaded to reverse the Kessler/Hopkins ranking though.

Kessler is generally an underrated boxer. Which is sad.

[IronDanHamza]

Kessler
Hopkins

They're his only impressive wins really.

Bika was a decent win, Lacy was decent considering the public thought Lacy was good.

That's about it.

[daggum]

doesn't this list kinda prove how overrated he was? kessler's a good win but lacy was even worse than berto and the hopkins fight was a clear robbery. Also its not like he has a lot of solid wins after these.

[LEFTYGUNZZ]

Calzaghe usually gets hated on, but I think he is much better than he is credited to be. Yeah, he's no prime Roy Jones Jr., but he's still a high quality boxer. Let's look at his 3 best wins:

1. Mikkel Kessler by UD12
Kessler was the 28 years old WBC and WBA champion, undefeated with a record of 39 wins, 29 by KO. Kessler proved throughout his career to be a quality boxer, scoring wins against guys like Anthony Mundine, Markus Beyer, Librado Andrade (undefeated), Dimitri Sartison (undefeated) and his best win: Carl Froch (undefeated on paper, despite technically having lost to Andre Dirrell). The only guys to ever beat Kessler, besides Calzaghe, were Andre Ward and Carl Froch (Kessler and Froch are 1-1 against each other, though). Kessler's qualities include huge punching power (he currently has 35 KOs in 46 wins, 76%), a solid chin (Kessler has never been knocked down or stopped in 49 fights) and good skills (which is obvious every time he fights). To defeat such a fighter when he is a young, hungry and undefeated champion is certainly a great accomplishment, making it Calzaghe's best win.

2. Bernard Hopkins by SD12
The legendary Bernard Hopkins had a record of 48 wins, 32 by KO (66%), 4 losses (0 by KO), 1 draw and despite his age of 43, Hopkins is a "one-of-a-kind-special-case boxer" in the sense that he would keep being a quality boxer until he turned 50, which is an almost superhuman feat in boxing. Calzaghe came to USA (Hopkins' home country) and fought at light heavyweight for the first time (which was Hopkins' weight class). It was a close fight in which Hopkins knocked Calzaghe down in the first round, but Calzaghe managed to outwork him to a split decision. This was certainly a great win for Calzaghe and with everything taken into consideration, it is clearly his second best win.

3. Jeff Lacy by UD12
Lacy was the young American IBF champion, undefeated with 21 wins, 17 by KO (81%!). Most people expected the talented and dangerous Lacy to win the fight, but Calzaghe gave him a brutal boxing lesson. So brutal that Lacy was never the same fighter again afterward. This was a great win and it is certainly worthy of being regarded as his third best win.

The only shame in these wins is they came in 3 of his last 4 fights. His record of 46-0 is no small accomplishment but the level of competition in the 168 lbs weight class at the time he held title was questionable. His win over B-Hop is even more amazing as Hopkins fought at a high level for years after that. I would have loved to see him enter the super six and hind site is 20-20 but a grudge match with Carl Froch would have been awesome. Joe Slapzaghe was awesome just would have liked to see him in some higher quality fights. i agree with the poster though as to me Kessler was the harder win as he was prime had great combinations and power. Hopkins is the larger then life name on his resume.

[Monaco Slim]

I remember when he completely humiliated America's sweatheart, Roy Jones Jr.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

doesn't this list kinda prove how overrated he was? kessler's a good win but lacy was even worse than berto and the hopkins fight was a clear robbery. Also its not like he has a lot of solid wins after these.

Why do people jump screaming robbery when a guy like Hopkins throws 5 punches a round against a busy opponent who forces the action? Is that what you want to see? Low punch output round after round after round after round....WTF?

Clazaghe clearly deserved the win. Hopkins looked like an ass with his racial BS. And now he has lost to two white boys. Jackass.

[CJRock]

Sorry but there is no way Calzaghe beat Bernard Hopkins LEGITIMATELY!!! Heck he didn't land 20 LEGITIMATE scoring punches the whole fight long. This was just one more robbery endured by Hopkins just like the two so called losses to Jermain Taylor
All 3 were POLITICAL decisions

[CJRock]

Why do people jump screaming robbery when a guy like Hopkins throws 5 punches a round against a busy opponent who forces the action? Is that what you want to see? Low punch output round after round after round after round....WTF?

Clazaghe clearly deserved the win. Hopkins looked like an ass with his racial BS. And now he has lost to two white boys. Jackass.

Sad part is IF Hopkins really did only throw 5 punches a round He STILL!! outscored Calzaghe who didn't throw 20 LEGITIMATE scoring punches all fight long BHop was robbed