Who was the best of our great SMW's? [Archive]

Bodysnatcher

04-23-2008, 01:38 PM

I picked Eubank.

Wasn't always on song but in the early 90s, stopping Benn and (tragically) Watson, he was devastating.

But on another day I could have went for Benn or Calzaghe.

hide

04-23-2008, 01:43 PM

robin reid

brown bomber

04-23-2008, 01:54 PM

Calzaghe has surpassed all the other guys. Only by way of careful matchmaking IMO.

kurt2006

04-23-2008, 01:55 PM

Fidel Castro Smith, simply awesome on his day and took Wharton apart.

dan-b

04-23-2008, 03:09 PM

anyone who says otherwise is a hater imo.

Why must people say things like this?

I think it's Calzaghe anyway but Eubank & Benn have probably given us fonder memories.

TFFP

04-23-2008, 03:16 PM

Calzaghe
Eubank
Benn
Collins
Watson

kurt2006

04-23-2008, 03:45 PM

1. JC
2. Watson (sadly we never got to see him become a world champion but he was far more talented than Benn and Watson).
3.Eubank
4.Benn
5.Reid

Collins would not make my top 5.

JonOli

04-23-2008, 06:41 PM

I'd give it to Calzaghe, but I think prime Eubank (pre Watson)beats him. He took the fight at very short noticed, was weight drained and lost five of his last nine when Joe beat him. He still gave what joes says was his toughest ever fight!

After Watson, Eubank was never quite the same boxer, the Eubank Joe beat was a far cry from Eubank at his best.

Prime Eubank beats Calzaghe, IMO.

Joe perhaps deserves the accolade though of best British SMW, for his longevity.

Beatboxer

04-23-2008, 07:11 PM

Calzaghe

:scaredas:

Fucking hell you can't think much of Benn and Eubank then seeing as you think Joe's resume is made up of shit.

Beatboxer

04-23-2008, 07:11 PM

Calzaghe though I do agree that Benn is second despite the fact that Eubank holds a win over him.

SleazeNation

04-23-2008, 07:22 PM

:scaredas:

Fucking hell you can't think much of Benn and Eubank then seeing as you think Joe's resume is made up of shit.
I think the best over-all win at super middleweight is probably McClellan. But Benn and Eubank did good, maybe their best work at middleweight early on. And to me that's want they were, middleweights who moved up.

Best at 168 has to be JC. He's good, he just didn't prove he was great - which frustrates me.

If we're talking best middle/super middle... I'd have to think about that.

Words

04-23-2008, 07:25 PM

Herol Graham

kayjay

04-23-2008, 07:30 PM

I've given it to Watson.

In Eubank-Watson I, Watson dropped a controversial decision to Eubanks where most ringside believed Watson won.
In the rematch,he was inspired and was beating Eubanks convincingly and was well on his way to stopping him.
The irony being,if it wasn't for the knock-down,while going in for the kill Watson wouldn't of been open to the best punch Eubanks ever threw.
But that is boxing where one punch can turn it all around,but for me Watson was the better fighter.

Michael Watson had the curse of being very good but not very charismatic.

JonOli

04-23-2008, 07:32 PM

:scaredas:

Fucking hell you can't think much of Benn and Eubank then seeing as you think Joe's resume is made up of shit.

As far as resumes go, Eubank openly admits candidly(which is unusual) he avoided the best American fighters.

His resume not boxing abiltiy is the reason why he will never be remembered and questioned as a true world great; just a British boxing great and legend.

Fat Joe

04-23-2008, 07:38 PM

Michael Watson had the curse of being very good but not very charismatic.

That's exactly how Eubank used to describe Calzaghe.

JonOli

04-23-2008, 07:39 PM

Michael Watson had the curse of being very good but not very charismatic.

Yea, also haveing Eubank and Benn around at exactly the same time didnt help.

With the exception of Clinton Woods...(whos perhaps over acheived) Joes pretty much out there one his own around this weight; and has been for a decade or so. No Eubanks, Benns, Collins, Watsons (all these isles) to get in his way.

PrideOfWales

04-23-2008, 07:42 PM

Watson is vastly underrated. Fabulous boxer whose career would have gone on to be glorious. That tragedy mugged us of two great British boxers: both Eubank and Watson. Watson had no notable fights at SMW though apart from the career ending one with Eubank.

Benn was raw and exciting but would never be able to stick with the Watsons and Calzaghes - far too much boxing ability. Prime Calzaghe would easily outpoint a prime Eubank.

So that leaves a fascinating Calzaghe vs Watson fight... would be very close. Would have to have seen more of Watson against different styles to pick him so I would have to go with Joe as the best of the lot.

JonOli

04-23-2008, 07:46 PM

Benn was raw and exciting but would never be able to stick with the Watsons and Calzaghes - far too much boxing ability. Prime Calzaghe would easily outpoint a prime Eubank.

No way, semi deflated, near washed up Eubank gave Joe his "toughest ever fight". At best thats a very close one and certainly not easy.

PrideOfWales

04-23-2008, 07:48 PM

No way semi deflated Eubank gave Joe his "toughest ever fight". At best thats a very close one and certainly not easy.

Calzaghe was young and inexperienced. Had never done anywhere near 12 rounds before that. He was very green. A 32 year old prime Calzaghe would do an absolute number on Eubank. Yoooobank would get through with a couple of sharp potshots but that's about it. Wide points victory for Joe.

JonOli

04-23-2008, 07:53 PM

TheChamp1000

04-23-2008, 07:53 PM

Why must people say things like this?

I think it's Calzaghe anyway but Eubank & Benn have probably given us fonder memories.

So you dont disagree of course :D
If you disagree then your a hater.

Whats that you say Mr Hitler, we are the superior race anyone who disagree's is a hater :rofl:rofl:rofl

toffeejack

04-23-2008, 07:56 PM

Calzaghe
Watson
Eubank
Benn
Collins

Watson beat Eubank in the first fight and would have beaten him in the second fight barring Eubanks amazing comeback with that lethal uppercut.

He also took Benn to school when they fought. Watson would have given Joe his toughest fight out of this list and is so underrated it's pretty sad really.

PrideOfWales

04-23-2008, 07:57 PM

Just a bit like how he would have done a number on a young Hopkins as well aye. :smooch

:patsch

SleazeNation

04-23-2008, 07:59 PM

Calzaghe was young and inexperienced. Had never done anywhere near 12 rounds before that. He was very green. A 32 year old prime Calzaghe would do an absolute number on Eubank. Yoooobank would get through with a couple of sharp potshots but that's about it. Wide points victory for Joe.
How many good fighters has Calzaghe done "an absolute number on"?
I'm suprised about what some people come out with about Calzaghe, he's a good fighter but he doesn't "destroy" or "do numbers on" on good fighters in their prime, he doesn't even do it to fighters that are past their prime. Or he's been hiding it well when he's fought them.

PrideOfWales

04-23-2008, 08:04 PM

How many good fighters has Calzaghe done "an absolute number on"?
I'm suprised about what some people come out with about Calzaghe, he's a good fighter but he doesn't "destroy" or "do numbers on" on good fighters in their prime, he doesn't even do it to fighters that are past their prime. Or he's been hiding it well when he's fought them.

He's had two close fights in his 45 bout career... That's 43 fights out of 45 where there is simply no disputing his margin of victory. The other two he won incidentally, disputed or not. But I suppose all of those opponents must have been past their prime, out of shape, paid off or something else right? And Calzaghe must have had the fear of God up him in every fight to maintain his motivation levels.

He's very good and would make Eubank look how Watson made him look for long periods of time.

SleazeNation

04-23-2008, 08:06 PM

He's had two close fights in his 45 bout career... That's 43 fights out of 45 where there is simply no disputing his margin of victory. The other two he won incidentally, disputed or not. But I suppose all of those opponents must have been past their prime, out of shape, paid off or something else right? And Calzaghe must have had the fear of God up him in every fight to maintain his motivation levels.

He's very good and would make Eubank look how Watson made him look for long periods of time.
That's no what I asked, how many good fighters has he done a "number on" in your opinion?

PrideOfWales

04-23-2008, 08:10 PM

That's no what I asked, how many good fighters has he done a "number on" in your opinion?

I said he "would do a number on Eubank" because he has the kind of tools that Watson put to good effect during their two fights. Except Joe has higher levels of fitness and stamina. This is what I'm basing my claim on and not going by any other irrelevent fighter on Joe's resume.

SleazeNation

04-23-2008, 08:16 PM

I said he "would do a number on Eubank" because he has the kind of tools that Watson put to good effect during their two fights. Except Joe has higher levels of fitness and stamina. This is what I'm basing my claim on and not going by any other irrelevent fighter on Joe's resume.
I suppose it depends what the definition of "an absolute number on" is to people.

My definition of it is what we're going to see on May 3rd. That is someone getting an absolute number done on them. I can't compare such a thing to Calzaghe-Eubank prime for prime.

PrideOfWales

04-23-2008, 08:19 PM

I suppose it depends what the definition of "an absolute number on" is to people.

My definition of it is what we're going to see on May 3rd. That is someone getting an absolute number done on them. I can't compare such a thing to Calzaghe-Eubank prime for prime.

I think Eubank would win a couple of early rounds at most. We'd be looking at 118-110. Joe's conditioning and workrate (and Chris's lack thereof) would end up dominating the fight.... in my eyes at least.

JonOli

04-23-2008, 08:28 PM

I like Eubank and rate his incredibly highly in the pantheon of UK fighters, but to suggest that he would beat a prime Calzaghe is nonsensical.

.

Thats silly talk, Joe himself says that a past best Eubank was his hardest ever fight.

To think that a prime (pre Watson) Eubank may well beat him is hardly "nonsensical".

Rebel-INS

04-23-2008, 09:49 PM

Thats silly talk, Joe himself says that a past best Eubank was his hardest ever fight.

To think that a prime (pre Watson) Eubank may well beat him is hardly "nonsensical".

Joe was no where near prime in their fight either, so prime v prime would be a good fight.

JonOli

04-23-2008, 09:58 PM

Joe was no where near prime in their fight either, so prime v prime would be a good fight.

The trouble with that is many Calzaghe fans had Joe's prime being about 6 months ago (Kessler), but after seeing the fight with Bernard they now place it 6 six years ago when he was fighting god knows whom.

Nobody knows when Joe's real prime was because of the lack in liquidity of opponents.

Away from that, and anything really, I just noticed that Nigel Ben is now only a year older then Hopkins and Eubank is actually two years younger.