View Full Version : Is Joe Calzaghe the Greatest British Fighter of All Time?
El Cepillo
02-06-2009, 05:01 AM
I know this poll overlaps with one or two similar topics, but this suggestion that Calzaghe is the best British fighter ever, seems to be floating around a lot at the moment, and I'd like to get some kind of definitive Brit-Forum opinion on the subject. So please vote :good
You know you are going to get 90% No on here, as opposed to 80% yes on somewhere like BBC that is frequented by clueless casuals.
Pointless.
BadJuju83
02-06-2009, 05:06 AM
No.
Top 5, might get better in time, most folks do.
Wilde,Ken,Lennox(Grudgingly) all ahead.
PaddyD1983
02-06-2009, 05:19 AM
Agree with Badjuju, top 5
D-MAC
02-06-2009, 05:23 AM
No.
Even in the modern era Lennox is better.
Certainly one of the best ever.
D-MAC
02-06-2009, 06:10 AM
Lewis 1
Calzaghe 2
What about Jimmy Wilde?
JonOli
02-06-2009, 06:39 AM
Is Calzaghe the Best Ever?
No, definitely not.
GazOC
02-06-2009, 06:42 AM
No, I think you can make an argument for top 3 and def. for top 5.
I have him just outside the top 5.
brown bomber
02-06-2009, 06:45 AM
1. Lewis
2. Calzaghe
3. Hatton
4. Khan
5. Wilde
6. Buchanon
7. Naz
8. Arthur
9. Bruno
10. Hide
GazOC
02-06-2009, 06:46 AM
I have him just outside the top 5.
Fitz
Lewis
Calzaghe
Wilde (tricky one)
GazOC
02-06-2009, 06:47 AM
1. Lewis
2. Calzaghe
3. Hatton
4. Khan
5. Wilde
6. Buchanon
7. Naz
8. Arthur
9. Bruno
10. Hide
Great list Jeff. Theres certainly plenty of points for "discussion"...;)
DINAMITA
02-06-2009, 06:50 AM
He's in the top 10.
Haye's done more than Khan...and Arthur
dan-b
02-06-2009, 06:53 AM
You should have made this a public poll.
If thats the main thing you see wrong with that list God help ya...
dan-b
02-06-2009, 06:56 AM
If thats the main thing you see wrong with that list God help ya...
Is he the new Baileys Tunes?
icemax
02-06-2009, 07:04 AM
1. Lewis
2. Calzaghe
3. Hatton
4. Khan
5. Wilde
6. Buchanon
7. Naz
8. Arthur
9. Bruno
10. Hide
:yep
If you truly believe this then I am afraid it just shows that you probably took too many shots, hands down and flush :hey
GazOC
02-06-2009, 07:07 AM
If thats the main thing you see wrong with that list God help ya...
:lol:Very true...:good
Nah, I've a new found fondness for Baileys. Funny guy.
1. Bob Fitzsimmons
2. Lennox Lewis
3. Jimmy Wilde
4. Ted 'Kid' Lewis
5. Ken Buchanan
6. Joe Calzaghe
7. Jim Driscoll
8. Randy Turpin
9. Jackie 'Kid' Berg
10. Benny Lynch
DINAMITA
02-06-2009, 07:13 AM
Nah, I've a new found fondness for Baileys. Funny guy.
1. Bob Fitzsimmons
2. Lennox Lewis
3. Jimmy Wilde
4. Ted 'Kid' Lewis
5. Ken Buchanan
6. Joe Calzaghe
7. Jim Driscoll
8. Randy Turpin
9. Jackie 'Kid' Berg
10. Benny Lynch
I'd have Wilde above Lennox, but other than that this is a great top 10.
Hmm i've never seen six of them fight Dinamita and i've only seen fitzsimmons in snippets...maybe my list should start from 1980 :patsch
I'd have Wilde above Lennox, but other than that this is a great top 10.
I did until very recently actually. I always had Fitz, Wilde and then the Lewis's cast in stone, but I've had a reconsideration on Wilde's resume. Too many unknown quantitys there. I know a lot of these records are incomplete, and not infact inexperienced opponents as they seem, but how good...its quite impossible to say. That is my main hang up.
His statisitcal record, power, some decent wins and achievement as the first flyweight champ, the consensus greatest of this divisions history, as well as looking good on film..unquestionable.
GazOC
02-06-2009, 07:18 AM
I've always had the problem with Wilde, great numbers but a little short on quality, world class opponents. I even hesitate to put him at number 4. Different times of course.
brown bomber
02-06-2009, 07:21 AM
Sorry i missed of enzo.
dan-b
02-06-2009, 07:21 AM
Different times of course.
I agree. I think there's a good case for placing pre 40's fighters on a different list because it was pretty much a different sport back then.
Exactly, these things have to be done on an era by era basis. We can't seriously compare pre-modern fighters to todays in a H2H context, although I'm sure a few would fair well.
Wilde fought the best of his era at home and abroad including often being outweighed by decent margins. That is all you can ask from a fighter. People would be in uproar if a fighter did that today. A few lbs is seen as major reason to pick somebody.
brown bomber
02-06-2009, 07:36 AM
and Matt skelton
True.... Audley just missed out.
'The British Three Kings' "Skelton,Audley,Williams"
El Cepillo
02-06-2009, 07:47 AM
Hmm i've never seen six of them fight Dinamita and i've only seen fitzsimmons in snippets...maybe my list should start from 1980 :patsch
I'm compiling a definitive ATG list from the internet era onwards. :yep
Beatboxer
02-06-2009, 07:51 AM
No.
He is top 10 though, I'll probably have to review my list some day soon.
Beatboxer
02-06-2009, 07:52 AM
Nah, I've a new found fondness for Baileys. Funny guy.
1. Bob Fitzsimmons
2. Lennox Lewis
3. Jimmy Wilde
4. Ted 'Kid' Lewis
5. Ken Buchanan
6. Joe Calzaghe
7. Jim Driscoll
8. Randy Turpin
9. Jackie 'Kid' Berg
10. Benny Lynch
Very good list, I also consider Fitz to be the finest British fighter of all time :good
turpinr
02-06-2009, 07:54 AM
1 calzaghe
2 lewis
3 buchanan
4 lynch
5 wilde
then its take your pick from conteh,lewis,berg,welsh and turpin
PaddyD1983
02-06-2009, 07:56 AM
Nah, I've a new found fondness for Baileys. Funny guy.
1. Bob Fitzsimmons
2. Lennox Lewis
3. Jimmy Wilde
4. Ted 'Kid' Lewis
5. Ken Buchanan
6. Joe Calzaghe
7. Jim Driscoll
8. Randy Turpin
9. Jackie 'Kid' Berg
10. Benny Lynch
:good
Good list.
I'd swap Calzaghe and Buchanan. Not alot in it though. I dont usually have Fitz in mine (is he British or not?!) but if I did he'd be #1 by a long way.
My knowledge on Benny Lynch is limited so I'll take your word for it on that one.
D-MAC
02-06-2009, 08:10 AM
5 votes for Calzaghe:nono
"I hereby cast ye five down with the sodomites" (ie: go to the General Forum)
D-MAC
02-06-2009, 08:11 AM
Nah, I've a new found fondness for Baileys. Funny guy.
1. Bob Fitzsimmons
2. Lennox Lewis
3. Jimmy Wilde
4. Ted 'Kid' Lewis
5. Ken Buchanan
6. Joe Calzaghe
7. Jim Driscoll
8. Randy Turpin
9. Jackie 'Kid' Berg
10. Benny Lynch
Great list; hard to find much fault with this one:good
David UK
02-06-2009, 08:15 AM
Yes. Because he ALWAYS found a way to win which is almost unheard of at top level. He never slipped up against ponents he should he beaten. He was always able to adapt to the type of opponent. He could punch, he could box, he could guts out a dirty victory,he did everything to win and never lost. No other British boxer comes close
DINAMITA
02-06-2009, 08:20 AM
I did until very recently actually. I always had Fitz, Wilde and then the Lewis's cast in stone, but I've had a reconsideration on Wilde's resume. Too many unknown quantitys there. I know a lot of these records are incomplete, and not infact inexperienced opponents as they seem, but how good...its quite impossible to say. That is my main hang up.
His statisitcal record, power, some decent wins and achievement as the first flyweight champ, the consensus greatest of this divisions history, as well as looking good on film..unquestionable.
You should indulge Trampie on the subject of Wilde then. He seems to truly believe Wilde is the GOAT (not British, but the de facto GOAT!), though he watered this down to placing him 7th (ahead of guys like Ezzard Charles) in his recent attempt at an all-time list.
icemax
02-06-2009, 08:33 AM
Great list; hard to find much fault with this one:good
I've never been totally convinced by Lynch being included in a top ten...i'll have to do some research
You should indulge Trampie on the subject of Wilde then. He seems to truly believe Wilde is the GOAT (not British, but the de facto GOAT!), though he watered this down to placing him 7th (ahead of guys like Ezzard Charles) in his recent attempt at an all-time list.
Is he Welsh?
icemax
02-06-2009, 08:36 AM
20% of respondants think that Cal is Britains #1 ATG....fuck me :-(
El Cepillo
02-06-2009, 08:36 AM
Yes. Because he ALWAYS found a way to win which is almost unheard of at top level. He never slipped up against ponents he should he beaten. He was always able to adapt to the type of opponent. He could punch, he could box, he could guts out a dirty victory,he did everything to win and never lost. No other British boxer comes close
I admire your optimism.
I'm compiling a definitive ATG list from the internet era onwards. :yep
:yep:yep (.........shit he knows more than me......)
I wouldn't argue with removing Lynch. Freddie Welsh could very well deserve a place. Beat Leonard once, and was competitive another time. Charley White a couple times. Beat Driscoll, albeit above his best weight and contraversially.
DINAMITA
02-06-2009, 09:00 AM
Is he Welsh?
About 95% of his threads are about Joe C, so I think it's a safe bet.
p.Townend
02-17-2009, 10:43 AM
He is very good but he isnt the best brit ever.Lennox Lewis,naz and Ricky Hatton are all better than Joe and i would rather watch Benn anytime than one of Calzaghe`s 12 rounders.
mrbassie
02-17-2009, 11:36 AM
Nope. Marciano isn't the greatest American boxer ever just because he retired undefeated, why should Calzaghe be rated the best brit ever?
wuzupman
02-18-2009, 08:34 AM
I know this poll overlaps with one or two similar topics, but this suggestion that Calzaghe is the best British fighter ever, seems to be floating around a lot at the moment, and I'd like to get some kind of definitive Brit-Forum opinion on the subject. So please vote :goodIf he wouldn't had waited to long to fight bernard hopkins and roy jones jr I would have said yes, but waiting for these guys to get old, doesn't sit well for me.
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