The Legacy of Joe Calzaghe

TML1988UK · Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 1133 Location: Cumbria

45 fights, 45 wins 32 of which coming by way of knockout and zero losses, WBO WBA WBC super middleweight champion of the world also owns the ring magazines Light heavy and super middleweight belts, He has had the longest title reign of any Boxer in any weight ever, Personally i feel that is an impressive list of achievements but for some reason alot of others disagree especially on the internet.

Claiming that Calzaghe is a bum that he has fought nobodys and is an old slapper in some cases calling him by the idiotic nickname of Joke calslappy but in my opinion the majority of people who claim this are those who have only watched his career since the Jeff Lacy fight which is a shame because there were some really good performances from Calzaghe prior to that, i have watched him for much of his career since the Eubank fight as that is when i was first becoming interested in the sport, it was a good display from Calzaghe no matter how far over the hill Eubank was at that point.

Since that night Calzaghe defended his title in the style of a true champion against some of the best Britain and Europe had to offer facing the likes of Richie Woodhall, Robin Reid, Branko Sobot and a few fighters from the U.S travelled to britain to face the Italian Dragon, Charles Brewer, Omar Sheika and Byron Mitchell, now if any of the naysayers whom doubt Calzaghes punching power take a look back at his match up with Byron Mitchell you will see that if he is such a slapper as you say he slaps very very hard.

Another problem that has dogged Calzaghe's legacy as a fighter has to be the lack of the big name fights in his resume, Although he had hoped for the showdowns with the likes of Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones JR way back when the money was just not there as Joe was not a huge name in the states which would not make the money so the fights sadly never happened, also the European side of the divison was not as strong as others but once Lacy was humiliated and exposed by the Skill and speed of Joe Calzaghe the bigger names began to pay more attention but at this point it was clear that although still giving impressive performances Calzaghe was just passing his prime, after a few more fights with Peter Manfredo and Sakio Bika he would once again put on a master class performance against Mikkel Kessler in what i have to say was a much more career defining fight than the Lacy fight because Kessler is a much better fighter than lacy and put on a good performance himself, on that night Calzaghe unified the Super Middleweight title and had done all that had needed to be proved in that division.

Joe stepped up to Light heavy and onto American soil for his next opponent the legendary excuctioner Bernard Hopkins, Though knocked down in the first round Joe came back as the agressor in that fight and in my eyes won 8 rounds to 4 although it was not an impressive performance, however the fight was seen as controversial for some who felt that hopkins had done enough to score the win, the main complaint was that Calzaghe should have fought bernard years ago when both men were in thir prime and as i have already stated in this article because of money issues that simply could not happen

That is the same complaint in alot of critics minds now claiming that joe should have fought Jones when they were both prime fighters rather than now when both are so past it, it is sad that a fight i have looked forward too for so long since i first heard of it being discussed in 2000 has had so much negative press surrounding it, when i feel it should be seen as a showdown of legends, i do not care who wins this fight as i am a huge fan of both fighters.

Now with retirement looming and the showdown with Jones coming up, plus possibility of a clash with undefeated middleweight Kelly Pavlik as a possibile opponent depending on the outcome of his fight with Bhop now is the time that Calzaghe can cement his legacy and silence any doubters once and for all, but at the end of the day he has nothing to prove to me no matter what happens on november 8th or after that date in my eyes Calzaghe is an absolute class act and a legend in his own right

and one last comment to all those who like to call this man JOKE CALSLAPPY infront of a computer screen, you just try saying that to the mans face instead, he will probably slap the childish smirk right off your face :wink:

danners2003 · Joined: 27 Jul 2008 Posts: 586

haha nice ending and nicely writen i agree he is a legend i have most of his carear now whitch ill be uploading soon but yeah very good

TML1988UK · Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 1133 Location: Cumbria

Great let me know when you put them up Dan, and thanks for the kind words it was my first go at writing something like that glad you liked it, it is aimed mainly at the youtube spammers who constantly fill calzaghe videos with taunts and insults

danners2003 · Joined: 27 Jul 2008 Posts: 586

yh will do mate

boxingpredictions · Joined: 25 Sep 2008 Posts: 15

hey whats up guys its me... good article on calzaghe.. i agree, definitlly a legend and if people say o hes a pussy retiring without fighting other people , there wrong cause why would you want to risk a undefeated record.. every1 else would do the same thing even though i would like to see calzaghe and pavlik get it on