Chad Dawson vs Joe Calzaghe

[Kev]

What's mythical about "the man that beat the man" system?

I agree with you Dawson is the premier fighter at 175. That was never the debate. It's NOT his alphabet title that makes him top dog though.

You originally said Calzaghe needs an alphabet to claim he's a two weight champ. That is clearly nonsense. As i said he could have fought Clinton Woods but instead chose Hopkins.

For history to regard Calzaghe as the undisputed light heavyweight champ he needs to beat Dawson.

If you disagree just point me in the direction of any fighter in any weight class who has been considered the undisputed champ in a weight class because he beat the man who beat the man in a non title fight but beat nobody else in that weight class?

And it's not Dawson's 'alphabet titles' that count here, its the fact that he's the only legitimate guy at 175 lbs who is actually seeking to unify the division. He holds two world belts now, IBF and WBC I believe, whihc even though they are just trinkets, is stil half of the belts in the division.

No - he has just the IBF title. The WBC took their belt back because he decided to fight Tarver instead of Diaconu.

Tell me this - if Dawson and Calzaghe decide to fight for Calzaghe's linear Ring title instead of Dawsons IBF title, should Calzaghe win you would NOT class him as a world title winner?

I'd class him as the undisputed champ of that division. Whether he would technically be a world champ I don't know but I do know he would be number 1 which is what's important.

I know the lineage is important but it doesn't follow that beating the man makes you the best fighter in the division.

Marquez beat Casamayor to win the linear lightweight championship but there are probably at least 5 lightweights who would beat Casamayor, Manny, J Diaz, Campbell, Santa Cruz would probably all smoke him. I'd easily pick Juan Guzman over him as well if he made weight. No way beating Casamayor makes Marquez the best in that division. Not saying Marquez might not prove to be the best their, but he's got to beat Manny, Juan Diaz and Nate Campbell to prove that, or at least Manny and Nate or the winner of such a fight.

Likewise with Floyd beating Carlos Baldimor. Sure he was the linear champ but in reality I would have bet my house to him losing to any of the top 10 at welterweight, he was a fat, slow plodder.

So yes lineage is important, but it doesn't mean everything. You can be linear champ and still not be the best in your weight class.

Now Calzaghe I believe is the best fighter in his weight class, but Dawson is the guy who is actually winning belts and trying to actually make a name for himself at 175.

Hopkins and Calzaghe essentially just had their rivalry fight at the 175 weight limit. Unless Calzaghe fights and beats Dawson I won't recognise him as a genuine two weight world champ, not because he hasn't won a trinket belt, but becuase he hasn't beaten a proper light heavyweight champ yet.