That's really interesting That you say you lost interest once Calzaghe called it a day. The same Calzaghe that probably had three career defining fights in his 46 fights, but for the others chose to stay at home mainly fighting guys who weren't actually good enough? I was a massive Calzaghe fan, and loved watching his career, but he contributed (in my opinion) to the downfall of British boxing in a way. It wasn't an exciting career to watch as it just never really went anyway (Eubank, Lacy and Kessler aside)
Re: That's really interesting I've debated this on here before. Even detailed every Joe fight I attended. But I get the opposing viewpoint, that he dodged fighters etc, fought them when they were older (Hopkins). But it's not something I tend to agree with and I'm merely saying he was entertaining to me, and I was never left disappointed. As I say, I'm no boxing enthusiast really. I just got lucky in that my dad knew somebody who could get us tickets for Naz fights when I was younger, and then similarly with Joe, so I went and was entertained. Calazaghe's demolition of Lacy was just pure poetry in a boxing sense. A clinic.
Re: That's really interesting I'm not debating your stance, and I'm not really bothered if you attended all 46 of Calzaghe's fights or none like me. Just find it really interesting that his career ending signalled you losing interest in the sport, when it's quite possibly one of the less spectacular careers events wise for someone who was so popular. Ricky Hatton everytime for me, and Amir Khan for that matter. Yes Lacey was a clinic of a display, but we'll just never know how good Lacey actually was. Went on to achieve nothing after fighting in Florida for 20+ fights against nobodies, and because Joe never stepped up (in my eyes) Lacey was no better than Malganado ...... (I know that name is wrong, but my brain isn't working after the weekend and I can't strain enough to think back - but I mean the soft American middleweight who starred in the reality TV series)
Sorry pal, I dissagree, Tyson has dodged Price so far, when Tyson's fought anyone durable he hasn't been able to take them out with one punch like TT did last night, Fury hasn't the power to take Price out with one punch but Price has the ability to pressure Tyson in a way that he has never been pressured before and give him a beating that would finish him and Fury knows that, hence his reluctance to fight him. In most cases a straight knock out doesn't finish careers' ( unless age comes into the equation ) but beatings do. I predict that Fury will never fight Price.
Calzaghe did finish undefeated. But the Kessler fight was a dubious home town decision. Sky and ringside both gave it to Kessler. Even the fights against the pensioners could have gone either way. Calzaghe slapped more than he punched too. He did well for British boxing but for me will never be a regarded as great.
The Kessler fight was clearly a Calzaghe win, and was an absolute shut out minus the first round against Roy Iones Jr so nothing dubious about that - Hopkins was a different story mind. His fight against Roy Jones JR was the equivalent of having an optional defence against someone ranked outside the top 20. Did nothing for his career as Roy was so shot by then.
I don't recall that, are you sure? I watched it (on Sky) and it was a clear win and I'm sure the pundits had it that way too. Random independent site round by round: http://sports.yahoo.com/box/blog/bo...s-Mikkel-Kessler-round-by-round?urn=box,52248
Re: That's really interesting Best boxing fight i've ever seen in my life that's gone to a points decision. Never known someone to win all 12 rounds on all three judges cards. It's no wonder it was released on dvd to milk it as a top seller. It was fantastic to watch the cocky young American have his career ruined by Joe, as Lacy just hasn't been the same since.
Re: That's really interesting Agree. Its easy to dismiss the Lacy fight now but at the time they asked 20 boxing pundits who was going to win and 19 said Lacy. Calzaghe absolute dismantled him, boxing masterclass. Calzaghe gets unfair stick for having the misfortune of there not being any other big names around at the same time. I also think its a bit unfair to cirticise him for not going to America sooner. He was the champion, fighters should have come to him. You don;t get many American champions coming over here to fight challengers. My favourite British boxer anyhow.
Re: That's really interesting I didn't attend all 46, unfortunately. My interest waned when he retired, it's not 'ended', as I say I'm hoping to go to a Fury event. I saw Josh Wale, the Barnsley lad last year at the Metrodome as there was a lot of fuss surrounding him. Turns out he wasn't much cop. Brave kid, but never going to do any damage in a national sense. So I still have an interest, it's just not as keen anymore. And I would never have Hatton or Kahn above Calzaghe. But each to their own. As I say, and as my opinion suggests, I like to be entertained when it comes to Boxing and for me Naz and Calzaghe usually delivered. And watching Tyson Fury on TV so far has similarly entertained me. Not suggesting he's going to be heavyweight champ or owt, but he's bloody exciting to watch and has made me take more interest in the heavyweight division that's been on it's arse for years. Lacey was the next big thing in America, and was expected to knock Joe out. But he ended up being schooled like an idiot. I think Joe ended him, simple as that.
Re: That's really interesting Naz, Hatton, Khan, Bruno - all went to America to have their name in lights and follow in the footsteps of some of the greats. Calzaghe did it eventually, but never fulfilled the potential of being an absolute superstar as he did it too late, against names on the slide (could argue Hopkins was still a force, but then Calzaghe never turned up for that fight and got the benefit of the doubt on the decision). The Lacy fight was a phenomenal performance, but which 20 boxing pundits did they ask? Americans by any chance? They're the first to get excited by anybody who goes more than ten fights undefeated (see Seth Mitchell as a prime example). The Kessler fight for me was the pinnacle for Calzaghe for me, great fight against a live opponent, who has gone on to become a World Champion twice since the defeat.
Joe did for Lacy with one hand too. I think he had broken his left in his previous fight and was concerned about it (almost pulled out). He pumnelled him with his good hand. It was a masterclass against what was a very highly rated opponent.
Re: That's really interesting You're a bit pedantic lately aren't you? And you quoted a word I didn't even use? Calzaghe only had three (possibly four) real boxing events for me. Eubank, Lacey and Kessler (although the Mitchell fight could sneak in there - but Mitchell was over rated, but still had Calzaghe down and in trouble). I used to scream at the TV cheering Calzaghe on to win, but on reflection when you stack up his record it just isn't as impressive as it felt at the time when emotions and passion for him to win were at their peak. He'll never get away from the fact he never really trusted his ability to travel overseas and risk his '0'.
Re: That's really interesting I think it may have been American's, but it does show how highly rated he was. And certainly plenty of British pundits often doubted him and were always proven wrong. Which is strange because the British pundits always seemed to reckon Hatton was going to win, even when he clearly wasn't. Who do you think he didn't fight that would have enhanced his career? I do genuinely think he beat the best out there at Super Middleweight
Re: That's really interesting He never pushed to fight Roy Jones JR or Bernard Hopkins when they were in their prime. As I've said, I loved Calzaghe, but for me he was just one real superfight away from being one of the best of all time. I would have also travelled to Germany and fought Ottke - not worrying about a home town decision and just making sure the performance was so dominant that win or lose he was seen as superior. Also, as much as I think he would have destroyed Froch over 12 rounds, he chose to end his career fighting dead beats like Jones JR rather than an up and coming, undefeated British fighter. As Whitey said though, all just opinions. Calzaghe vs Andre Ward. Now that's a wishlist fight if ever there was one.