Calzaghe's recent resume is........

[BewareofDawg]

EMBARASSING for someone who claims to be P4P top 10!

Jeff Lacy - Yes this glorified juice-head had big muscles and a few KO wins over somewhat decent opponents but he is also one of the biggest hype jobs I can remember in this sport. Calzaghes performance, although flawless and impressive, was against a fighter who wasn't only overwhelmed but insanely outclassed.

Bika - Calzaghe looked like shit in this fight. End of Story.

Manfredo - Lost to Alfonso Gomez. Lost to Mora......TWICE! What else can I say? Fighting the runner-up from the Contender is pitiful :patsch

[Nawfal]

kessler eradicates that all

[BewareofDawg]

kessler eradicates that all
If he wins :deal

[nulty]

If he wins :deal

Change if to when and I'll agree.

[PrideOfWales]

In a couple of months he would have fought two rival undefeated belt holders and live threats in his division in his last few fights. You're a monkey if you can't see the Manfredo fight was a publicity drive. There's no excuse for Bika though.

[GazOC]

kessler eradicates that all

Nah, Kessler will just become an 'over-hyped' fighter....

[Max Molyneux]

Those guys are better than some of Joe's previous opp like Ashira and Pudwill though.

[BewareofDawg]

In a couple of months he would have fought two rival undefeated belt holders and live threats in his division in his last few fights. You're a monkey if you can't see the Manfredo fight was a publicity drive. There's no excuse for Bika though.
Oh so now it is acceptable for top fighters to look past the more deserving fighters for their own benefit???? You're a monkey if you stand behind him fighting Manfredo. I know why the hell he did it, but it doesn't change the fact that it was bullshit and shouldn't have happened. :deal :deal

[El Bombasto]

Calzaghe, like every great fighter, has fought his fair share of bums; but, at 43-0 you can't call him inconsistent (at least when it comes to getting it done).

[Max Molyneux]

Oh so now it is acceptable for top fighters to look past the more deserving fighters for their own benefit???? You're a monkey if you stand behind him fighting Manfredo. I know why the hell he did it, but it doesn't change the fact that it was bullshit and shouldn't have happened. :deal :deal

Your location should say Joe Calzaghe Instead of Wladamir Klitschko.


Calzaghe actually has an Iron chin and was stopped by journymen.:deal

[BewareofDawg]

Oh so now it is acceptable for top fighters to look past the more deserving fighters for their own benefit???? You're a monkey if you stand behind him fighting Manfredo. I know why the hell he did it, but it doesn't change the fact that it was bullshit and shouldn't have happened. :deal :deal
By taking the Manfredo fight, Calzaghe pretty much said "I want to take a temporary break from my campaign to be the best and be a champion, and do what I can to improve my profitability"......So he should temporarily be dropped from the P4P rankings as a result until he beats a REAL opponent :deal

[Piffer]

There hasn't been a ton of opportunity at super-middle for Joe to fight great fighters throughout his reign. I know that he tried to get Sven Ottke years ago, but of course Ottke would have never fought him.

[BewareofDawg]

What would be said of Mayweather if, instead of Hatton, he takes on Alfonso Gomez???? That would be alright because he is just trying to market to the Reality TV crowd huh???

[BewareofDawg]

Look at the shit Taylor got on here for considering a fight with Mora!!!!!! Why is this going so unnoticed for Calzaghe??? Peter fucking Manfredo!! Give me a break.

[brooklyn1550]

It's not great by any means, but on November 3rd, he will be adding Kessler

Hopkins' last two wins over Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright are much more impressive

[PrideOfWales]

Oh so now it is acceptable for top fighters to look past the more deserving fighters for their own benefit???? You're a monkey if you stand behind him fighting Manfredo. I know why the hell he did it, but it doesn't change the fact that it was bullshit and shouldn't have happened. :deal :deal

I was disappointed when both the Bika and Manfredo fights were made, I can't deny that. But there's no difference between the fights Frank ****** puts Joe in and almost every other boxer on the planet - Jermain Taylor aside.

[GazOC]

His last four fights will have contained Lacy and Kessler, pretty impressive to me.

[BigEars]

EMBARASSING for someone who claims to be P4P top 10!

Jeff Lacy - Yes this glorified juice-head had big muscles and a few KO wins over somewhat decent opponents but he is also one of the biggest hype jobs I can remember in this sport. Calzaghes performance, although flawless and impressive, was against a fighter who wasn't only overwhelmed but insanely outclassed.

Are you saying he shouldn't have fought Lacy ? , all of Calzaghe's credibility in America came after this win and if he hadn't of fought Lacy he would have been branded a ducker and a typical European bum . Lacy probably would have gone to Light-Heavyweight and ko'ed Tarver , continuing as the new Tyson until Hopkins decided to fight for the Light-Heavyweight title .
All hypothetical , but it goes back to my origional sentence , Are you saying he shouldn't have foguth Lacy ?

Bika was a poor defense but he had gotten a TD against Beyer in a fight many had him winning .

The Manfredo fight was simply to build American interest(probably HBO's idea) so that fights like Calzaghe v Taylor/Hopkins/Kessler would gain more interest in the United States .

[somerset]

He was due to fight Glen Johnson wasn't he but injured his back?

[PrideOfWales]

By taking the Manfredo fight, Calzaghe pretty much said "I want to take a temporary break from my campaign to be the best and be a champion, and do what I can to improve my profitability"......So he should temporarily be dropped from the P4P rankings as a result until he beats a REAL opponent :deal

Since when has there been an official p4p list you pleb? It's all subjective and everyone differs in opinion - drop him from your p4p list and see if anyone cares or even notices.

[BewareofDawg]

Are you saying he shouldn't have fought Lacy ? , all of Calzaghe's credibility in America came after this win and if he hadn't of fought Lacy he would have been branded a ducker and a typical European bum . Lacy probably would have gone to Light-Heavyweight and ko'ed Tarver , continuing as the new Tyson until Hopkins decided to fight for the Light-Heavyweight title .
All hypothetical , but it goes back to my origional sentence , Are you saying he shouldn't have foguth Lacy ?

Bika was a poor defense but he had gotten a TD against Beyer in a fight many had him winning .

The Manfredo fight was simply to build American interest(probably HBO's idea) so that fights like Calzaghe v Taylor/Hopkins/Kessler would gain more interest in the United States .
No he should've fought Lacy. I am not blaming him for taking that fight. In regards to Lacy, I was just conveying the point that looking back it was not a "great win". Lacy is nowhere near the fighter he was billed to be. So for Calzaghe, even the one fight that he was justified in taking, the win isn't that impressive. :deal

[Max Molyneux]

A sample of Calzaghe's DNA needs to be extracted for when Joe retires, we have a new Calzaghe!

[Amsterdam]

I was disappointed when both the Bika and Manfredo fights were made, I can't deny that. But there's no difference between the fights Frank ****** puts Joe in and almost every other boxer on the planet - Jermain Taylor aside.

Bika was a tough choice for a simple tune up/showcase, even though it went wrong. I don't see the big deal, they had sent offers out to every big name around and nobody pursued it even in the least after Lacy.

[THN]

I was disappointed when both the Bika and Manfredo fights were made, I can't deny that. But there's no difference between the fights Frank ****** puts Joe in and almost every other boxer on the planet - Jermain Taylor aside.
Kessler could hide behind his belts, and make a fortune, but he wants to be the best, and he deserve respect for that.
I dont care if he loose BC he did try, some others did't.

[GazOC]

A few people, daft as it seems, even picked an upset.

I had a hard time explaining there was big difference between The Contender and genuine world class boxing to my mates. A lot had watched The Contender and were going to put money on Manfredo...:nut:patsch

[BewareofDawg]

I had a hard time explaining there was big difference between The Contender and genuine world class boxing to my mates. A lot had watched The Contender and were going to put money on Manfredo...:nut:patsch
One of my co-workers is from Connecticut. He thought, honestly, that Manfredo was one of the best fighters in the world :yikes

[PrideOfWales]

In regards to Lacy, I was just conveying the point that looking back it was not a "great win".

So this was an "average win" against a no-hoper?

[BigEars]

He was due to fight Glen Johnson wasn't he but injured his back?

I believe so yes , and then they had the fight back on again............but Clinton Woods put a spanner in the works :D

[VIP]

Calzaghe's P4P rating is based on his record number of defenses and his consistency in beating all challengers. He also matches up well against any other fighter in a P4P sense. His level of opposition is not that great at all and Kessler is the best fighter he has fought since he won the belt off Eubank.

[BewareofDawg]

So this was an "average win" against a no-hoper?
It was a decent win given the manner in which he beat him, yes. But when comparing resumes with the rest of the top ten P4P, Lacy does not stack up as a very good opponent, knowing what we know about him now. :deal

[PrideOfWales]

It was a decent win given the manner in which he beat him, yes. But when comparing resumes with the rest of the top ten P4P, Lacy does not stack up as a very good opponent, knowing what we know about him now. :deal

It's a good job we understand how talented Joe is then.

[ThePlugInBabies]

It was a decent win given the manner in which he beat him, yes. But when comparing resumes with the rest of the top ten P4P, Lacy does not stack up as a very good opponent, knowing what we know about him now. :deal

what did you predict before the fight?

[BewareofDawg]

what did you predict before the fight?
Does it matter? Many predicted Grant to beat Lewis, what does that mean now???

[ThePlugInBabies]

Does it matter? Many predicted Grant to beat Lewis, what does that mean now???

yes. the mindset of people who predict a fight saying x fighter will destroy y fighter only for the complete opposite to happen then claim the man they picked is overrated garbage thus the fighter who wins didn't really prove me wrong as he beat a bum so he can't be that good and i'll shit on his parade some more is pathetic.

[nrgetic]

Calzaghe is as gifted as hell but beating Lacy who had no plan and beating Manfredo who chose not to fight and did not throw any punches hardly makes up for his woeful performances in earlier fights such as the Ashira fight. The Kessler fight is make or break for Calzaghe but Kessler is probably a good stylistic match for Calzaghe. Kessler's orthodox style could be confounded by Calzaghe's movement but if Calzaghe tries to slap with his head up in the air as was the case on numerous combinations in the Lacy and Manfredo fight he will end up being KOed

[GazOC]

yes. the mindset of people who predict a fight saying x fighter will destroy y fighter only for the complete opposite to happen then claim the man they picked is overrated garbage thus the fighter who wins didn't really prove me wrong as he beat a bum so he can't be that good and i'll shit on his parade some more is pathetic.
Yeah, that was pretty much the same process by which Kostya Zoo went from near the top of most peoples P4P lists to being totally shot.

[China_hand_Joe]

Yeah, that was pretty much the same process by which Kostya Zoo went from near the top of most peoples P4P lists to being totally shot.Only when they lose to European fighters too.

[BewareofDawg]

Yeah, that was pretty much the same process by which Kostya Zoo went from near the top of most peoples P4P lists to being totally shot.
NO. In this case it is true. Unless you feel Lacy is still a top level fighter? :think

It was clear. Lacy was badly exposed in that fight.

[joe33]

Yeah lacey was gonna be the next big thing before he met old slappy LOL,come on guys some of the americans here need to calm down,take a few deep breaths,joe will be gone in another few years,then you can all rest easy again,by then dear old lacey will be the man LOL

[Max Molyneux]

Only when they lose to European fighters too.

Could you photoshop a WBA belt on that avatar too?:D

[GazOC]

NO. In this case it is true. Unless you feel Lacy is still a top level fighter? :think

It was clear. Lacy was badly exposed in that fight.

I didn't say anything about Lacy, just the process.

[China_hand_Joe]

Could you photoshop a WBA belt on that avatar too?:DAsk Longcount for that mate.

[madpup]

Lacey was a great win no doubt. However, I think it very hard to make an argument for fights against Bika and Manfredo. He should have never gotten in the ring with them. I think it is fair to say that Calzaghe's talent at this time is much higher than his actual achievements.

A convincing win against Kessler will change all that of course.

[BigEars]

Could you photoshop a WBA belt on that avatar too?:D

lol , I had never taking that much notice of China_hand_Joe's avatar and only realised now the WBC belt is there .

[yesihavearm]

Interesting how every nearly every single person on this forum is calling Lacy the biggest hype job ever, when pretty much all of them were saying pre-calz fight that Lacy was america's next biggest thing.

One loss dont make you a hype job, Lacy will still win titles in my opinion. Calzaghe's just a legend.

[BewareofDawg]

Interesting how every nearly every single person on this forum is calling Lacy the biggest hype job ever, when pretty much all of them were saying pre-calz fight that Lacy was america's next biggest thing.

One loss dont make you a hype job, Lacy will still win titles in my opinion. Calzaghe's just a legend.
You joined in May '07. So how would you know what everyone on here was saying pre-Calzaghe/Lacy? :think

And thats WHY he was the biggest hype-job because he was billed to be America's next big thing, but obviously isn't going to be.

[GazOC]

ouch!!

[Scar]

Manfredo clearly beat Mora in the rematch but that doesn't make him a threat at all of course. Calzaghe's last good fight was Lacy but who cares?, he did take 2 easy fights and now is fighting the man everyone wants him to fight.

[sonny73]

After the Kessler bout Calzaghe will have fought the 2nd and 3rd best fighters in his division in his last 4 fights,can't think of many number 1 guys in any division who has done that.Beating up on paper champs is what the American fight scene is all about.

[Jinx]

Calzaghe has fought cops, firemen, construction workers, etc for years until he finally fought a live body in Lacy...Calzaghe is actually just NOW starting to fight good fighters...Kessler is another good step for Calzaghe...

[ripcity]

Calzaghe is todays version of Roy Jones Jr. He's extremely gifted has a few god wins but for the most part you have to ask who has he fought?.

[English Nutter]

Right all you calzaghe haters,i just want to put something to you,apart from roy jones jnr who was too early in his career to box,who exactly has joe calzaghe ducked? unfortunatly he's come from an era where there hasn't been any massive names,and its only since he beat up ur man(lacy)have you yanks started slating him,funny that aint it,just face it he's the best smw by far today and possibly of all time,and is easily in the top 6 p4p,and imo 3rd after pacman and mayrunner.

[BewareofDawg]

Right all you calzaghe haters,i just want to put something to you,apart from roy jones jnr who was too early in his career to box,who exactly has joe calzaghe ducked? unfortunatly he's come from an era where there hasn't been any massive names,and its only since he beat up ur man(lacy)have you yanks started slating him,funny that aint it,just face it he's the best smw by far today and possibly of all time,and is easily in the top 6 p4p,and imo 3rd after pacman and mayrunner.
Wow "English NUTTER" is calling me a Calzaghe hater :rofl

[English Nutter]

I knew there would be no answers,come on everyone i want some names

[sonny73]

If Calzaghe has been fighting weak opponents then what the hell has Mayweather been doing as his world title opponents win loss records are worse.

Calzaghes opponents 585-45
Mayweather opponests 733-83

Both have fought 21 world title matches btw.

[sonny73]

Kessler fought for world title in his 31st pro bout whilst Calzaghe done it in his 23rd

As for Kessler's world title opppnents,there records add up to 231-27
still not as good as Calzaghe's opponents....funny that lol

[English Nutter]

To be honest i put a simular question on another forum and got exactly the same response....... fuck all,the fact is calzaghe's only fought the people that were around at the time,it's not his fault there's been nobody in his class.
IMO he's just made alot of boxers look ordinary even if they wern't,it's so easy to say after a boxer beats an opponent 'oh he was never that good anyway'.
I can just see it now come november the 3rd, 'all he had was a right hand,he had no footwork,too overhyped',sound familiar?:think

[English Nutter]

Wow "English NUTTER" is calling me a Calzaghe hater :rofl Have you any names for me then Mr 'dawg'.:lloll

[PrideOfWales]

ill throw in a couple..

beyer and certainly ottke.

Beyer was champion one minute, then he'd lose and regain. As for Ottke, his words were "you're a good champion, I'm a good champion... let's keep it that way"

[Axe]

This is a list of titleholders Calzaghe could have faced since he beat Chris Eubank, any one of which would have improved his resume. Note that there is still a significant number of contenders who did not hold belts that Calzaghe could have faced at some point (but failed to do so):

Glenn Catley
Charles Brewer (while he was champ, not the shot fighter JC beat)
Sven Ottke
Sugar Boy Malinga
Robin Reid (while he was champ)
Marcus Beyer
Dingan Thobela
Eric Lucas
Richie Woodhall (while he was champ)
Frankie Liles
Bruno Girard
Byron Mitchell (while he was champ)
Anthony Mundine

So the "there was nobody to fight" argument, as with virtually every fighter out there, holds no water with Calzaghe.

[Boyd]

you at least have to give him credit for the Lacy fight. it's easy for everyone to say that Lacy was a bum, but fact is i think he was the favorite going in plus a young hungry champ.

[PrideOfWales]

Glenn Catley - was never that good
Charles Brewer (while he was champ, not the shot fighter JC beat) - Brewer was anything but shot in that fight, watch it again
Sven Ottke - it's widely known that Ottke ducked Calzaghe
Sugar Boy Malinga - would have been accused of being old and shot, different generation
Robin Reid (while he was champ) - Reid lost his belt in 1997, two months after Calzaghe beat Eubank, unrealistic
Marcus Beyer - I'll agree with this one
Dingan Thobela - get real
Eric Lucas - Agreed
Richie Woodhall (while he was champ) - fought him anyway
Frankie Liles - pulled out of a fight last minute with Calzaghe
Bruno Girard - defended WBA title once but this you can have as your third correct
Byron Mitchell (while he was champ) - was never champ for any length of time
Anthony Mundine - Mundine doesn't want any part of Calzaghe

[PrideOfWales]

well it takes 2 to tango, whether its ottke or joe´s fault, doesnt mattern the fight didnt materialized.. joe went to germany to fight veit, so why not take on ottke..

but hey the crackhead, said he wanted names, he got em..:deal

They offered to go to Germany to fight Ottke but Sven wanted no part of it. The only reason JC-Veit II was in Germany was because ****** lost the purse bids.

[Axe]

Glenn Catley - was never that good
Charles Brewer (while he was champ, not the shot fighter JC beat) - Brewer was anything but shot in that fight, watch it again
Sven Ottke - it's widely known that Ottke ducked Calzaghe
Sugar Boy Malinga - would have been accused of being old and shot, different generation
Robin Reid (while he was champ) - Reid lost his belt in 1997, two months after Calzaghe beat Eubank, unrealistic
Marcus Beyer - I'll agree with this one
Dingan Thobela - get real
Eric Lucas - Agreed
Richie Woodhall (while he was champ) - fought him anyway
Frankie Liles - pulled out of a fight last minute with Calzaghe
Bruno Girard - defended WBA title once but this you can have as your third correct
Byron Mitchell (while he was champ) - was never champ for any length of time
Anthony Mundine - Mundine doesn't want any part of Calzaghe

Well he fought zero champs over a 9 year span--Eubank wasn't even a champion when they fought--so if he had fought even just one of these guys we'd be looking at Calzaghe a little differently today.

[PrideOfWales]

Well he fought zero champs over a 9 year span--Eubank wasn't even a champion when they fought--so if he had fought even just one of these guys we'd be looking at Calzaghe a little differently today.

Absolute poppycock! "Champs"???? Are you for real? Are you actually saying that winning any of the four belts means THAT much? I'll be the first to admit that the Tocker Pudwills could be replaced with an Eric Lucas and so on but circumstances depend on who's available. It's not like he's actually ducked any of these guys anyway. This is boxings problem, not exclusively Joe Calzaghes.

[Axe]

Absolute poppycock! "Champs"???? Are you for real? Are you actually saying that winning any of the four belts means THAT much? I'll be the first to admit that the Tocker Pudwills could be replaced with an Eric Lucas and so on but circumstances depend on who's available. It's not like he's actually ducked any of these guys anyway. This is boxings problem, not exclusively Joe Calzaghes.

No, it is Calzaghe's problem. The onus is on the fighter and his promotional team to secure career defining bouts--or at the least, respectable enough opposition--and earn a place in boxing history. Calzaghe and ****** have miserably failed to do so until recently. Lacy was a good start and a win over Kessler may erase the remaining doubt, though at 35 years of age Calzaghe may have left it until too late.