Calzaghe: The best British boxer of his era?

[PrideOfWales]

I want to post this before the Hopkins fight to see where you guys stand on this individual.

It's taken a while for Joe to get his recognition. His ability in the ring has never really been in doubt but his competition from time to time has been less than spectacular to say the least. But he still got through each and every fight with a win. We still don't know at this point precisely what it will take to beat him. We can all speculate but until somebody proves it in the ring, it's all very hypothetical. When I think about the fighters of his era, the top Brits have been Lennox Lewis, Naseem Hamed and Ricky Hatton. I was considering the likes of Scott Harrison, Junior Witter, Clinton Woods etc but they've failed to make an impact on their divisions like the other four have. Here's my ranking of these four as it stands before the Hopkins fight:

Lewis
Calzaghe
Hamed
HattonI think Joe is considered better than Hatton at any point you care to mention, he's simply a more capable boxer. Hamed was far more naturally powerful, a better athlete and did some fantastic things but I feel he pissed away the best part of his career when he left Ingle. Things were never the same after that and his career nosedived, he fell way short of what he could have potentially achieved. Lewis, quite simply, was outstanding and universally recognised as the top dog at Heavyweight for a number of years - even when he had just been beaten. He was head & shoulders above everyone else and brutally KO'd some dangerous opponents early in fights and had great skills.

Calzaghe has achieved a lot, but could have done so much more. It's difficult to comprehend without seeing the fight but if he beats Hopkins, for me, he will be very very close to Lewis. Possibly still slightly behind, at best level with the big man's accomplishments. One more good win for Joe against the Dawson/Johnson or Woods/Tarver winner and I think he sneaks it as the best British boxer of his era - or at least, it would be good debating material for many years to come.

A loss against Hopkins however, would knock him back a lot. The words "exposed", "protected" and "fraud" will be floating around these boards and you can imagine people taking real pleasure in his demise. Some have been waiting for him to lose for a long long time unfortunately, and would have a field day. It's a tough, gritty fight against Hopkins and Joe has looked less than happy in previous bouts against defensive counterpunching fighters. Hopkins accuracy is brilliant and it's not going to be a pretty affair. Joe's got his work cut out in this one. He seems slower to me these days. That training video I saw, I don't know that I should be reading anything into it, but he just doesn't look as fluid as normal. We'll see.

r1p6JCWeUJ8

So anyway, where do you see Calzaghe being ranked alongside the best British boxers of his era? And what does he have to do to become the best before he retires, in your opinion?

[mattress]

Lewis will still be top dog even if Calzaghe beats Hopkins with ease. If Calzaghe beats, say, Pavlik and Dawson after kicking Hopkins' ass then he'll be right up next to Lennox.....maybe even above him.

[zulander]

Agree with Matress, Joe needs a couple of more big wins against top drawer opposition to be number 1

[Tony Harrison]

Lewis
Calzaghe
Hamed
Hatton

That's the crux of it I think.

[TheChamp1000]

I think its pretty much Lewis #1 the rest a good bit behind.

Calzaghe (#2) needs to beat b-hop by stoppage/very comprehensively and take on another couple of primers to get nearer to Lewis.
If JC got to 50-0 and closed on the record defenses with his SMW belt thats the only way I can move him equal (maybe ahead :yikes) of Lennox.
Unfortunately JC has stated only 1-2 more fights.

[dwilson]

Lewis
Hatton
Hamed
Calzaghe



It all depends on how Calzaghe fairs against B-Hop and if Hatton fights again.

If JC wins then he can go second and the longer time goes on without Hatton not facing anyone the lower he will get in that list.

[SleazeNation]

I don't rate Hatton at all. His best wins over a decent Tyszu and a shot Castillo... not impressive.
Calzaghe's never beaten a p4p rated guy or a linear world champion.
Lacy and Kessler hadn't proven very much at all, and they're the best he's beaten.

[Bodysnatcher]

A while back I posted on the main board that Lewis did a `Lacy` at least 3 times in his career, ie, went into a fight where the other guy was heavily favoured by the US boxing media to beat him but still came out on top.

Golota, Grant, Ruddock.

[brown bomber]

A while back I posed on the main board that Lewis did a `Lacy` at least 3 times in his career, ie, went into a fight where the other guy was heavily favoured by the US boxing media to beat him but still came out on top.

Golota, Grant, Ruddock. True. Lewis is lightyears ahead of anyone.

[SleazeNation]

A while back I posed on the main board that Lewis did a `Lacy` at least 3 times in his career, ie, went into a fight where the other guy was heavily favoured by the US boxing media to beat him but still came out on top.

Golota, Grant, Ruddock.
I don't know whether that's a reason someone is good. It just means they weren't rated highly earlier.

If Lewis was 1/10 to beat Golota, Grant and Ruddock wouldn't make him a worse fighter. It just wouldv'e made him a proven great fighter earlier.

Calzaghe-Lacy being a 50/50 fight was down to Calzaghe looking so bad against Salem, taking longer to finish Viet, and hurting his hand fighting Ashira... he looked past it somewhat before he fought Lacy.
If he'd have looked great and been favourite to beat Lacy, the result would only be the same. A win over Lacy.

Lewis beating Holyfield when favourite to do so is more impressive than beating Golota when favoured not to. It's who you beat, not who thought you'd beat them.

[Fat Joe]

Hatton is overrated for precisely that reason - his two best wins were against an opponent who was shop-worn yet still effective and a shot-looking fighter in Castillo who was above his best weight and well past his best form.

I agree Hatton is overrated and in terms of talent Calzaghe is superior, but I grudgingly give him respect for getting away from ****** and going out to America to fight.

[safe_pa]

I say yes as I'm Welsh :D
(In reality Lennox is the best of all mentioned, followed by Joe)

[Naidah]

I'd go:

1) Lennox Lewis, easily number 1, he beat Razor Ruddock in 1992, a guy many had ranked as the best in the world. He concluded his career by beating Vitali Klitschko in 2003, that's over 10 years at the top end of the division. Lewis never ducked anyone, a testament to his talent was how many top guys ducked him! A couple of defeats do harm Lewis's overall legacy, but both were avenged and in the Rahman rematch in pretty good style!

2) Joe Calzaghe, although he hasn't lost like Lewis, he never faced the dangerous competition Lennox went up against. He stayed at home too often and fought poorish opposition. I know he's been world champ a decade + but the WBO is rubbish version and JC's career hasn't really got going until he beat Lacy. Still, since the fantastic Lacy win, Calzaghe has unified the division and beaten the very good Kessler. Definately number 2.

3) Naseem Hamed, A guy that could have achieved so much more, but wasted his career to a certain extent. Again credit must be given for at least beating all the belt holders and some useful opposition like Kevin Kelly, Bungu, Paul Ingle and Tom Johnson. Needed the really big career defining victory, had he got it against Barrera he may have been challenging for top spot.

4) Ricky Hatton, Although the win over KT was better than anything Naz or Joe Calzaghe have beaten, Kostya's age and inactivity must be taken into account although still a fine victory. Was disappointed in Ricky recently for ducking Witter, I don't feel the above 3 dodged their dangerous domestic rivals, indeed Lewis beat Bruno and Mason, Naz beat Robinson, Ingle and Billy Hardy, whilst Calzaghe got one over Eubank, Reid and Woodhall.

Hatton and Calzaghe have time to move up.

[Fat Joe]

I'd go:

1) Lennox Lewis, easily number 1, he beat Razor Ruddock in 1992, a guy many had ranked as the best in the world. He concluded his career by beating Vitali Klitschko in 2003, that's over 10 years at the top end of the division. Lewis never ducked anyone, a testament to his talent was how many top guys ducked him! A couple of defeats do harm Lewis's overall legacy, but both were avenged and in the Rahman rematch in pretty good style!

2) Joe Calzaghe, although he hasn't lost like Lewis, he never faced the dangerous competition Lennox went up against. He stayed at home too often and fought poorish opposition. I know he's been world champ a decade + but the WBO is rubbish version and JC's career hasn't really got going until he beat Lacy. Still, since the fantastic Lacy win, Calzaghe has unified the division and beaten the very good Kessler. Definately number 2.

3) Naseem Hamed, A guy that could have achieved so much more, but wasted his career to a certain extent. Again credit must be given for at least beating all the belt holders and some useful opposition like Kevin Kelly, Bungu, Paul Ingle and Tom Johnson. Needed the really big career defining victory, had he got it against Barrera he may have been challenging for top spot.

4) Ricky Hatton, Although the win over KT was better than anything Naz or Joe Calzaghe have beaten, Kostya's age and inactivity must be taken into account although still a fine victory. Was disappointed in Ricky recently for ducking Witter, I don't feel the above 3 dodged their dangerous domestic rivals, indeed Lewis beat Bruno and Mason, Naz beat Robinson, Ingle and Billy Hardy, whilst Calzaghe got one over Eubank, Reid and Woodhall.

Hatton and Calzaghe have time to move up.

:good

["TKO"]

Joe's, conversely, were against two fighters in their primes and widely expected to cause an upset.

Is that not a bit of a contradiction in terms?

Anyhow, on achievements as they stand

Lewis
Hamed
Calzaghe
Hatton

[Diablo]

I have to agree with most that they currently stand:

Lewis
Calzaghe
Hamed
Hatton

Lewis and Hamed are really from the 90s generation, although i guess u can class them in the same era.

Lewis's list of competition is outstanding, in what was a very good heavyweight era in the 90s You had Bowe, Holyfield, Moorer, Mercer, Ruddock, Golota, McCall, Tua and a host of other tough opponents. Tyson to some extent..i prefer to class him in the 80s generation regardless of his age. Only his 2 defeats count against him. Not so much the McCall loss, cuz that made him improve and acheive his greatness. But the Rahman loss was just dam careless. Hes number 1 no doubt.

Its just a shame Calzaghe didnt get his "Lacy" american show piece fight a few years earlier. That may have given him time to stake his claim at lightheavy and possibly surpass lewis on the list.

[dan-b]

I voted option four. I do want Hopkins to win but I would never go as far as saying he was "Joke Calslappy". I don't do that. My feelings about Calzaghe are clear. Masses of natural talent, far more than Hopkins, but a lack of ambition. I think Joe is a very contented man & theres nothing wrong with that but when you think of the fighter he could have, no, should have been it's dissapointing.

As for being above Lewis? No, sorry but Lewis dominated a strong heavyweight division & fought nearly everyone. He made the fights people wanted to see & put on some great performances. Calzaghe, although having a good resume, cant really be classed in the same category as Lewis.

If Hopkins wins will any of you put him above Lewis in terms of achievement? No, of course not. Both Bernard & Joe have respectable resume's & will be missed by boxing but Lennox is a top ten all time heavyweight great & for me a string of super middle/middle title defenses against good opposition followed by a couple of fights at 175 are not comparable to that.

[PrideOfWales]

I voted option four. I do want Hopkins to win but I would never go as far as saying he was "Joke Calslappy". I don't do that. My feelings about Calzaghe are clear. Masses of natural talent, far more than Hopkins, but a lack of ambition. I think Joe is a very contented man & theres nothing wrong with that but when you think of the fighter he could have, no, should have been it's dissapointing.

As for being above Lewis? No, sorry but Lewis dominated a strong heavyweight division & fought nearly everyone. He made the fights people wanted to see & put on some great performances. Calzaghe, although having a good resume, cant really be classed in the same category as Lewis.

If Hopkins wins will any of you put him above Lewis in terms of achievement? No, of course not. Both Bernard & Joe have respectable resume's & will be missed by boxing but Lennox is a top ten all time heavyweight great & for me a string of super middle/middle title defenses against good opposition followed by a couple of fights at 175 are not comparable to that.

Why do you have him your avatar? lol... that tickles me!

[JonOli]

Calzaghe is the better boxer but the win over Tzu and having the balls to face Mayweather and lay his undefeated record on the line, puts Hatton above Calzaghe for me.

[dan-b]

Why do you have him your avatar? lol... that tickles me!

I lost an avatar bet.:lol:

[PrideOfWales]

Calzaghe is the better boxer but the win over Tzu and having the balls to face Mayweather and lay his undefeated record on the line, puts Hatton above Calzaghe for me.

Hatton lost exceptionally convincingly to Mayweather regardless of whether he had the balls to face him or not. Not sure that's a prerequisite to be ranked higher. Hatton has also struggled with a few average boxers at times.

[Boro chris]

1. Lewis. By a long, long way! An excellent resume light years ahead of every other recent British boxer. Also a talent of similar level to Naz and Calzaghe.
I'm trying to figure in a way to insult Zakman but I'm sure others will do it far more eloquently.:D

2.Naz. Criminally underated on these boards (general forum) Defeated a very consistent level of oponents. Few bums in his title reign.

3. Joe. This subject has been done to death.:dead

4. Hatton. Ditto.

[PrideOfWales]

I lost an avatar bet.:lol:

You got well and truly done. You've got Calzaghe, ****** and Maccarinelli in that pic!

[rendog67]

3 more big wins and then we are talking

[China_hand_Joe]

Lennox is the greatest British fighter ever and the best ever HW.

But Calzaghe is the best boxer of all time -fullstop-

[PrideOfWales]

Lennox is the greatest British fighter ever and the best ever HW.

But Calzaghe is the best boxer of all time -fullstop-

I'm not sure everyone will be on your intelligent level to follow that one.

[dan-b]

You got well and truly done. You've got Calzaghe, ****** and Maccarinelli in that pic!

I don't mind Macca really but having fish face in there alongside Joe was a real kick in the teeth.:lol:

[China_hand_Joe]

I'm not sure everyone will be on your intelligent level to follow that one.

Actually my post contained inaccuracies.

Lennox Lewis is actually the better boxer given his size advantage.

[PrideOfWales]

Actually my post contained inaccuracies.

Lennox Lewis is actually the better boxer given his size advantage.

But Calzaghe never loses, right?

A great man once said "If you are not a fundamentalist Calzaghe fan then I wish death upon you and your family."

[TheChamp1000]

I voted option four. I do want Hopkins to win but I would never go as far as saying he was "Joke Calslappy". I don't do that. My feelings about Calzaghe are clear. Masses of natural talent, far more than Hopkins, but a lack of ambition. I think Joe is a very contented man & theres nothing wrong with that but when you think of the fighter he could have, no, should have been it's dissapointing.

As for being above Lewis? No, sorry but Lewis dominated a strong heavyweight division & fought nearly everyone. He made the fights people wanted to see & put on some great performances. Calzaghe, although having a good resume, cant really be classed in the same category as Lewis.

If Hopkins wins will any of you put him above Lewis in terms of achievement? No, of course not. Both Bernard & Joe have respectable resume's & will be missed by boxing but Lennox is a top ten all time heavyweight great & for me a string of super middle/middle title defenses against good opposition followed by a couple of fights at 175 are not comparable to that.

What happend to your avatar pic? From B-Hop to Calzaghe?
Did you have a bet that Amir Khan would be world champ by 1pm 5th April 2008?

[dan-b]

What happend to your avatar pic? From B-Hop to Calzaghe?
Did you have a bet that Amir Khan would be world champ by 1pm 5th April 2008?

I lost an avatar bet to my friend. The nature of the bet shall remain secret but it most certainly wasn't what you have suggested.:lol:

[TheChamp1000]

I lost an avatar bet to my friend. The nature of the bet shall remain secret but it most certainly wasn't what you have suggested.:lol:

:D I had to do a double take when I first seen it and check the name was right!

[dan-b]

:D I had to do a double take when I first seen it and check the name was right!

Come on I don't dislike him that much.:lol:

[PrideOfWales]

Come on I don't dislike him that much.:lol:

I thought you did at one point. I have to say though, CantRegister is off the charts with his level of hatred.

[TheChamp1000]

Come on I don't dislike him that much.:lol:

Yeah I know, its just it has the 'matchmaker' FW and the undisputed Cruiserweight champ Enzo in it as well :lol:.

[dan-b]

I thought you did at one point. I have to say though, CantRegister is off the charts with his level of hatred.

I don't like him but I don't hate him. How could I hate the man? I think you know most of the reasons I'm not his biggest fan so lets not go there again.:good

I must admit I did find CantRegister's post amusing though.

Yeah I know, its just it has the 'matchmaker' FW and the undisputed Cruiserweight champ Enzo in it as well :lol:.

I know he picked a real goodun' there. His would have been equally as bad for him though so I cant complain.:lol:

[Primadonna Kool]

"Ricky Hatton is not on..Chris Eubank or Nigel Benn's level"

[dan-b]

"Ricky Hatton is not on..Chris Eubank or Nigel Benn's level"

Read the title again.:good

[Primadonna Kool]

They put Ricky Hatton up there in the top 5...Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn should be ahead of Ricky Hatton.

[dan-b]

They put Ricky Hatton up there in the top 5...Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn should be ahead of Ricky Hatton.

**SIGH**

They are not of his era.

[brown_bomber]

I want to post this before the Hopkins fight to see where you guys stand on this individual.

It's taken a while for Joe to get his recognition. His ability in the ring has never really been in doubt but his competition from time to time has been less than spectacular to say the least. But he still got through each and every fight with a win. We still don't know at this point precisely what it will take to beat him. We can all speculate but until somebody proves it in the ring, it's all very hypothetical. When I think about the fighters of his era, the top Brits have been Lennox Lewis, Naseem Hamed and Ricky Hatton. I was considering the likes of Scott Harrison, Junior Witter, Clinton Woods etc but they've failed to make an impact on their divisions like the other four have. Here's my ranking of these four as it stands before the Hopkins fight:

Lewis
Calzaghe
Hamed
HattonI think Joe is considered better than Hatton at any point you care to mention, he's simply a more capable boxer. Hamed was far more naturally powerful, a better athlete and did some fantastic things but I feel he pissed away the best part of his career when he left Ingle. Things were never the same after that and his career nosedived, he fell way short of what he could have potentially achieved. Lewis, quite simply, was outstanding and universally recognised as the top dog at Heavyweight for a number of years - even when he had just been beaten. He was head & shoulders above everyone else and brutally KO'd some dangerous opponents early in fights and had great skills.

Calzaghe has achieved a lot, but could have done so much more. It's difficult to comprehend without seeing the fight but if he beats Hopkins, for me, he will be very very close to Lewis. Possibly still slightly behind, at best level with the big man's accomplishments. One more good win for Joe against the Dawson/Johnson or Woods/Tarver winner and I think he sneaks it as the best British boxer of his era - or at least, it would be good debating material for many years to come.

A loss against Hopkins however, would knock him back a lot. The words "exposed", "protected" and "fraud" will be floating around these boards and you can imagine people taking real pleasure in his demise. Some have been waiting for him to lose for a long long time unfortunately, and would have a field day. It's a tough, gritty fight against Hopkins and Joe has looked less than happy in previous bouts against defensive counterpunching fighters. Hopkins accuracy is brilliant and it's not going to be a pretty affair. Joe's got his work cut out in this one. He seems slower to me these days. That training video I saw, I don't know that I should be reading anything into it, but he just doesn't look as fluid as normal. We'll see.

r1p6JCWeUJ8

So anyway, where do you see Calzaghe being ranked alongside the best British boxers of his era? And what does he have to do to become the best before he retires, in your opinion?


agree with most parts of that post but lewis and hamed both fought more world class opponents if both calzaghe and hatton had stepped up there level of opposition to world class long ago then the outcome of greatest british fighters would of been a diiferent list with both men placed higher up in the list

[Cuts man]

Im not disrespecting Lennox's achievements but getting beaten by bums like Rahman and Mc Call blotted his copy book in my opinion.He wasnt beaten by a dodgy points decision he was put on his backside on 2 occassions. Also I get a bit uneasy with this "Lennox is British" argument.
Lennox learned most of his game in Canada and even boxed for them in the olympics.
By the way how far back are we going to qualify for Joe's generation?

[dan-b]

Im not disrespecting Lennox's achievements but getting beaten by bums like Rahman and Mc Call blotted his copy book in my opinion.He wasnt beaten by a dodgy points decision he was put on his backside on 2 occassions. Also I get a bit uneasy with this "Lennox is British" argument.
Lennox learned most of his game in Canada and even boxed for them in the olympics.
By the way how far back are we going to qualify for Joe's generation?

Rahman & MCall are not bums. I understand, however, what you are saying with regards to his losses but he came back from both & he fought at a consistently high level through out the length of his career. A string of supermiddle defences doesn't stack up against that for me.

Lennox Lewis was born in the East End he's British.

As for Joe's generation I'd say late 90's onwards really.

[TFFP]

Behind Lewis at the moment, on achievement at least. If we are talking best as in skillset, it would be very close

If he beats Mary, then Pavlik and Dawson he would overhaul Lennox I feel. The first two are likely, the latter not so much, as Joe will be gone by then/too far past his best

[Olu G. Rotimi]

Lennox Lewis will be ranked higher than Calzaghe full stop for good and abvious reasons. Calzaghe is a real good fighter but he has never fought a great fighter at their peak. I am sure there are good reasons etc but I would rate Hamed higher as well. In fact if Hatton had not been thoroughly exposed comprehensively by PBF some would continue to rank him higher than Calzaghe. In summary a very good and gifted fighter maybe a truly great fighter but the truth is we will probably never really know which is agreat shame.

[Fat Joe]

Lennox Lewis will be ranked higher than Calzaghe full stop for good and abvious reasons. Calzaghe is a real good fighter but he has never fought a great fighter at their peak. I am sure there are good reasons etc but I would rate Hamed higher as well. In fact if Hatton had not been thoroughly exposed comprehensively by PBF some would continue to rank him higher than Calzaghe. In summary a very good and gifted fighter maybe a truly great fighter but the truth is we will probably never really know which is agreat shame.

If he goes back on his retirement plans and beats 4 maybe 5 top fighters he can change this.

[KCD]

Calzaghe is for me.

I know people will moan but i dont really look at Lennox Lewis as being British, i know he was born here but he is about as unBritish as you can get. The only fight he had over here once champ for his fans was against Botha and he only started his career over here because no US promoter wanted him.

[brown bomber]

If he goes back on his retirement plans and beats 4 maybe 5 top fighters he can change this. For the Zagster to surpass Lewis he would have to shut out Hopkins. KO Pavlik then beat a then more accomplished Chad Dawson. Then maybe he's got an argument.

[brown bomber]

If he goes back on his retirement plans and beats 4 maybe 5 top fighters he can change this. For the Zagster to surpass Lewis he would have to shut out Hopkins. KO Pavlik then beat a then more accomplished Chad Dawson. Then maybe he's got an argument.

[dan-b]

Calzaghe is for me.

I know people will moan but i dont really look at Lennox Lewis as being British, i know he was born here but he is about as unBritish as you can get. The only fight he had over here once champ for his fans was against Botha and he only started his career over here because no US promoter wanted him.

Lewis' nationality is not open for debate here. He campaigned as a Brit & was born here.:good

[Naidah]

Lewis' nationality is not open for debate here. He campaigned as a Brit & was born here.:good


Exactly, anyway Lewis always said he was British and still feels that way even today, so who are we to argue?

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[KCD]

Lewis' nationality is not open for debate here. He campaigned as a Brit & was born here.:good


Well if we are going that route then Lewis deserves it, but honestly every time i see him i dont see him as a British fighter, God knows why i just cant:huh

[draw99]

Lennox at the top without question.

I think its hard call between Calzaghe and Hamed, although I'd probably edge Calzaghe due to the way Naz failed to deal with his defeat to Barrera.

I dont think beating b-hop will advance Calzaghes cause that much, as b-hop is well past his prime, and would be basically just a big "name" on his record rather than a genuinely impressive victory. Joe really needs Pavlik on his record to secure a truly great legacy i.e. a top American fighter, in his prime, in America - something that he hasnt done yet.

I'm reluctant to put even put Hatton in forth. Well overated, and ducking a domestic rival. If he fights PBF again, it shouldnt be called a boxing match, it should be called a CELEBRITY boxing match, as thats all it would be.

I wont mention who I think should be forth, for fear of totally humiliating myself! :yep

[dan-b]

Exactly, anyway Lewis always said he was British and still feels that way even today, so who are we to argue?

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Great article.:good

Well if we are going that route then Lewis deserves it, but honestly every time i see him i dont see him as a British fighter, God knows why i just cant:huh

I think it's to do with the fact that he has spent a lot of time in America whether it be fighting, promotion or commentating. I can understand why you feel that way but he's definitely a Brit.:D

[Cuts man]

He isnt British in my opinion moved back to the UK because it benefited his career.Move back to blighty and clean up the sub standard European division to have a crack at the world titles. All you need to do is listen to his accent he is hardly apples and pears is he?
The thing is the British are so desperate to claim any decent boxer especially a Heavy weight as one of our own when the whole British establishment done nothing to turn him into a world class boxer

[LeadLeftHook]

If he beats B.Hop. then yes even though Hopkins is 43. I consider Lennox a product of Canadian boxing.

[Mikey]

I really do think its close between Lewis and Khan of this era to be honest. Can't seperate. :huh

[Naidah]

Cuts man and Lead left hook, does that mean you consider Maria Sharapova American because she learnt her tennis in the US?

Just because a person learns his trade/skill in another country does not mean he loses his nationality of the country where he was born. Besides, Lewis actually started his pro career in London, and his coaches were usually American. He developed most under American Manny Steward, so do you therefore consider him a product of the American system?

I certainly knew which country I belonged to after 12 years, and I'm sure Lennox did as well. The article I posted earlier shows how in touch Lewis is with the issues going on in this country, that sure as hell did not look like the comments of a Canadian.

Lewis was born and raised the UK, he is British, it's as simple as that. Furthermore with all due respect, it's for him to decide his nationality and what country he wants to represent.

[Cuts man]

Cuts man and Lead left hook, does that mean you consider Maria Sharapova American because she learnt her tennis in the US?

Just because a person learns his trade/skill in another country does not mean he loses his nationality of the country where he was born. Besides, Lewis actually started his pro career in London, and his coaches were usually American. He developed most under American Manny Steward, so do you therefore consider him a product of the American system?

I certainly knew which country I belonged to after 12 years, and I'm sure Lennox did as well. The article I posted earlier shows how in touch Lewis is with the issues going on in this country, that sure as hell did not look like the comments of a Canadian.

Lewis was born and raised the UK, he is British, it's as simple as that. Furthermore with all due respect, it's for him to decide his nationality and what country he wants to represent.

Well I have a limited knowledge of women's tennis but as far as I know Maria Sharapova hasnt represented the USA in the Olympics.
Lennox used the whole dual nationality card to its full potential and fair play it worked a treat.
But when I remember the "domestic" bouts he had with Mason (when he finished big Gary's career) and Bruno the feeling was pretty much that he was a Canadian and the others were true Brits.Funny how time and him being a top class boxer changes peoples view.
Any time I wanted Lennox to win was on its own merits the whole patriotism thing never came into it.