11.09.07 – By Jim Dorney: OK – In order to avoid the typical US/UK arguments that seem to be everywhere on this site at the moment, and withholding my own opinion on that debate, I’d like you to consider the following:
If Joe Calzaghe beats Mikkel Kessler convincingly (which, I grant you, is no easy task), thus unifying the Super-Middleweight boxing division in the process, and then goes on to either beat a world-respected American fighter at Light-Heavyweight (fighting in the States, before I here the cries against it being in the UK) such as Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver or Chad Dawson OR wins a world title at Light-Heavy, do you think he should go down as one of the best British fighters ever?
Calzaghe has often talked about wanting to move up to Light-Heavyweight, and he knows he doesn’t have a great amount of fights left at his peak, given his age (35 at present).
Joe gets a lot of flak for the quality of opponents he’s fought, but oddly Kessler doesn’t, which I find is quite strange when you take an objective point of view. Calzaghe has beaten far more world-rated fighters & champions than Kessler, yet boxing fans (in particular non-European fans) seem to have a real issue with Calzaghe’s validity.
I’d agree with these fans that not all of Calzaghe’s opponents have been world-beaters, but then I can’t think of any fighters who do take on the best every single time out, and in his 20 world title defences, Calzaghe’s beaten quite a few very good fighters – Mitchell, Brewer, Woodhall, Lacy, Reid & Eubank to name a few, all of whom were world champions.
You don’t generally get to fight for a world title belt unless you’re a decent fighter, and whilst I can accept that a couple of fighters possibly got gift opportunities at the belt, most of the 20 guys Calzaghe beat were solid fighters.
Personally, I think Joe has done a fairly rare thing, in raising the priority & validity of the WBO as a result of his loyalty to them. Surely the reputation of a belt organisation depends on the quality of its champions & Calzaghe has proved to be one of the most enduring & high quality fighters the WBO can boast.
I guess what I’m getting at here is what will it take for his detractors to give this guy his due?
I’m by no means saying that I think he’ll walk through Kessler (although I do think he will beat him), but if uniting the Super-Middle division & then either beating a top USA fighter or winning a world title at Light-Heavy (possibly doing both) isn’t good enough in your minds, what would be?