Calzaghe deserves respect

[kayjay]

Forget Taylor, shouldn't we be on the subject of a possible fight between Calzaghe and Manfredo? Or have I missed some current news on a Taylor fight?

I said in my initial question to Jeff that we'll assume Taylor-Calzaghe goes down in 2007, since Taylor has said he'll move to 168 after Ouma, and Calzaghe has said Taylor is the fight he most wants. Calzaghe-Manfredo could take place before this, although such a fight is of course less interesting.

[amagnin]

I give respect to Calzaghe like I give respect to all pro fighters who actually put their lives on the line when they go to work. On the other hand, I will say the same thing about Calzaghe that I do about a lot of other fighters like Floyd Mayweather and RJJ. While Calzaghe's skills are amazing, he hasn't beaten the opponents that truly show how great his skills are. Now I am not blaming Joe because it is not all his fault...fights don't happen for a variety of reasons and usually it is not because a fighter is "scared." Also, I can't blame Joe for the fact that Super Middle hasn't had any "great" fighters during most of his career. On the other hand, I am really happy Joe is tenatively scheduled to fight Taylor who is a very good fighter. While Taylor has a lot more pure boxing skill than Lacy, I still favor Joe. Joe has experience, and faster hands than Taylor. I don't think Joe will KO him, but I think he can win a fairly easy decision. Joe will take away the 1-2 that Taylor loves so much and as we saw in the Hopkins and Wright fights, that makes Taylor at least potentially beatable. Also, like Mayweather I think Joe performs at his best in big fights and this will be one of his biggest.

[GEOFFHAYES]

Calzaghe always wanted to fight the top American's of other weight classes (he's beat the best America has had to offer at his weight - Sheika, Brewer, Mitchell, Lacy) but they always priced themselves out: Jones Jr from '96 through '03, Hopkins in '02 and Tarver in '04. Collins officially ducked him and Ottke also wanted nothing to do with him (but then, Joe bashed up Brewer and Mitchell who were both Robbed against Ottke, and Starie atleast deserved a draw with Ottke, Reid was also robbed blind with Ottke... Joe beat them all).

[GEOFFHAYES]

After the Eubank fight he was in bed for three days straight with his face smashed up, bruises over his body and non-stop headaches.

In the Reid fight he was eating up HUGE RIGHT HANDS, overhand lefts and counter left hooks alnight long and fought the last eight rounds with a broken hand.

He also fought with a fractured hand and fractured elbow in the Thornberry and Starie fights but had to go through with the fights before seeing therapists because he had a family to feed.

The Sheika fight was tough, the Woodhall fight was tough, the Brewer and Mitchell fights were all-out wars and the Salem fight was very tough, and the second Veit fight was in Germany where he had to take his own food (because they'd of tried poisoning his food) and had a tiny locker room with no facilities, and he had to stop Veit or they'd of robbed him (even if he won every round)! He broke his hand on Ashira's head and the Bika fight wasn't a walk in the park.

Dean Francis was also a tough fight in the amateurs, two-round shootout!

[kayjay]

I don't believe you've eaten one of those triple-burgers. Damn.

[kayjay]

I don't reckon you know anything about this Stieglitz fellow, do you?

[rocco1252]

After the Eubank fight he was in bed for three days straight with his face smashed up, bruises over his body and non-stop headaches.

In the Reid fight he was eating up HUGE RIGHT HANDS, overhand lefts and counter left hooks alnight long and fought the last eight rounds with a broken hand.

He also fought with a fractured hand and fractured elbow in the Thornberry and Starie fights but had to go through with the fights before seeing therapists because he had a family to feed.

The Sheika fight was tough, the Woodhall fight was tough, the Brewer and Mitchell fights were all-out wars and the Salem fight was very tough, and the second Veit fight was in Germany where he had to take his own food (because they'd of tried poisoning his food) and had a tiny locker room with no facilities, and he had to stop Veit or they'd of robbed him (even if he won every round)! He broke his hand on Ashira's head and the Bika fight wasn't a walk in the park.

a prime eubank would have killed joe no doubt even after 12 years of fighting eubank stayed up against the fresher calzaghe. another great pick by joe fighting out of prime fighter who happened to lose his last 3 fights starting with joe...this fight doesnt say much on your point actually hurts it.

next you try to point out how he beat reid which was a close split decision that should have went to reid due to joe barely fighting after hurting his hand in the 5th how he won the last 4 rounds on 2 judges score cards is beyond me especially after not putting any combinations together and only throwing his jab and anyone who see's differently has no idea what they are talking about so point #2 crushed.

Starie and Thornberry had padded records just look, they never beat anyone significant in any of their fights before Joe it's a wonder when they did go up against someone of talent and experience they would lose and it didnt stop there they lost to all other fighters that had talent as well proving more my point they were not true contenders especially for a super middleweight belt. And once again to get a complete UD with only using one arm says alot about his opposition but I guess when your Joe Calzaghe those are top opposition for you when you live and only fight in your home country. I'd have to go to therapy too if I kept having to face ****ty fighters like he has every fight as well. Point #3 bashed

Veit fought only 21 of 51 opponents in his career that had a winning record, he had faced opponents with a combined total record of 351 wins and 446 losses up till calzaghe hmmm says alot...

Mitchel - 11 out of his 28 opponents had winning records, he lost to the only 2 quality opponens he faced in Calzaghe and Ottke

Bika in his 24 total opponents he had faced only had a combined total of 318 fights include Joe, he had drawed against a 3-6 fighter and the next best fight to Joe he faced, only to be beat by Joe in his next fight. 13 opponents had less than 10 fights 6 had under 20 fights and only 5 out of all his opponents had more than 20 fights.

Ashira - was a natural middleweight he was just physically overmatched, he was cut in the second and was dominated against a virtually one handed fighter in Joe that sure says alot of a championship caliber figher eh?

Brewer was 37- 9 before his fight with Joe in the 4 fights leading to the title defense he had a record of 2-2 not exactly championship worthy

Sheika - Lost a decision to the 28- 44 Tony Booth for god sakes and 10 of his 21 total fights before Joe had less than 10 fights.

Woodhall - Dont know him too well due to only fighting once in the US and never really made a name for himself but when your in a division as weak as Super MIddleweight I guess it doesnt really matter who you are to get a title shot.


Theres my respect for Joe, can you show me anymore proof of his worth?

[GEOFFHAYES]

a prime eubank would have killed joe no doubt even after 12 years of fighting eubank stayed up against the fresher calzaghe. another great pick by joe fighting out of prime fighter who happened to lose his last 3 fights starting with joe...this fight doesnt say much on your point actually hurts it.

next you try to point out how he beat reid which was a close split decision that should have went to reid due to joe barely fighting after hurting his hand in the 5th how he won the last 4 rounds on 2 judges score cards is beyond me especially after not putting any combinations together and only throwing his jab and anyone who see's differently has no idea what they are talking about so point #2 crushed.

Starie and Thornberry had padded records just look, they never beat anyone significant in any of their fights before Joe it's a wonder when they did go up against someone of talent and experience they would lose and it didnt stop there they lost to all other fighters that had talent as well proving more my point they were not true contenders especially for a super middleweight belt. And once again to get a complete UD with only using one arm says alot about his opposition but I guess when your Joe Calzaghe those are top opposition for you when you live and only fight in your home country. I'd have to go to therapy too if I kept having to face ****ty fighters like he has every fight as well. Point #3 bashed

Veit fought only 21 of 51 opponents in his career that had a winning record, he had faced opponents with a combined total record of 351 wins and 446 losses up till calzaghe hmmm says alot...

Mitchel - 11 out of his 28 opponents had winning records, he lost to the only 2 quality opponens he faced in Calzaghe and Ottke

Bika in his 24 total opponents he had faced only had a combined total of 318 fights include Joe, he had drawed against a 3-6 fighter and the next best fight to Joe he faced, only to be beat by Joe in his next fight. 13 opponents had less than 10 fights 6 had under 20 fights and only 5 out of all his opponents had more than 20 fights.

Ashira - was a natural middleweight he was just physically overmatched, he was cut in the second and was dominated against a virtually one handed fighter in Joe that sure says alot of a championship caliber figher eh?

Brewer was 37- 9 before his fight with Joe in the 4 fights leading to the title defense he had a record of 2-2 not exactly championship worthy

Sheika - Lost a decision to the 28- 44 Tony Booth for god sakes and 10 of his 21 total fights before Joe had less than 10 fights.

Woodhall - Dont know him too well due to only fighting once in the US and never really made a name for himself but when your in a division as weak as Super MIddleweight I guess it doesnt really matter who you are to get a title shot.


Theres my respect for Joe, can you show me anymore proof of his worth?

You said he never had a hard fight, which was bull****. I just pointed out he had many tough nights.

[GEOFFHAYES]

As for the other crap you spouted, you have some kind of illness.. not worth a proper reply.

[rocco1252]

You said he never had a hard fight, which was bull****. I just pointed out he had many tough nights.

you made absolutely no point, if they were tough fights because he was down one hand yeah I can see where your coming from its tough to fight one handed but not when you face the people he has but to say he fought tough opposition I just proved to you he didnt.