Quote Originally Posted by Fenster View Post
Quote Originally Posted by LobowolfXXX View Post
I'm not saying they have to be all-time greats, but most of the people Calzaghe defended the title against weren't top-ten in the weight class. In the last 2 1/2 years, he stepped up his level of competition dramatically, but in the first 7+ years, his defenses weren't remotely against the best 168-pounders. They just WEREN'T. Don't extrapolate anything from that other what it is, or what his legacy would have been if he fought X, Y, or Z. I'm just stating a plain, verifiable, almost indisputable fact. For over 7 years, the top SMWs were passed over as Calzaghe defended mostly against 2nd and 3rd tier guys. I'm not talking about P4P greats; I'm just talking about the top 168-pounders of that era.
You are totally wrong.

Brewer, Mitchell, Reid and Woodhall were all top 10 Ring ranked during this period (see links at bottom).

And for what it's worth - Tocker Pudwill replaced Thomas Tate (top 10 rated) who pulled out two weeks before the fight. And for what it's worth - Cazlaghe stopped Glenn Catley (top 10 rated) in the amateurs.

So as you can see - it's a plain, verifiable, almost indisputable fact that Calzaghe WAS NOT passing over all the top supermiddles.


The Ring Magazine's Annual Ratings: Super Middleweight--1990s - Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia

The Ring Magazine's Annual Ratings: Super Middleweight--2000s - Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia

It's a bit amusing that you'd say in caps that I'm WRONG when you make a nice post that proves my point. Let's break it down a bit...I'll go slow and highlight the operative words:

most of the people Calzaghe defended the title against weren't top-ten in the weight class.

Prior to the Lacy fight, Calzaghe had the title for about 8 1/2 years. In that time, he defended it SEVENTEEN times, and yes, you have correctly identified the FOUR challengers in the Ring Top-10 annual rankings.