Team Ward dare Joe Calzaghe to come out of retirement

[Master]

Lewis unified the belts, he did what he always wanted. The rest was all politics, king controlled fighters. Lewis got paid $1 million for giving the title to Ruiz and a range rover. Is Byrd related to you in some way?

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

Lewis unified the belts, he did what he always wanted. The rest was all politics, king controlled fighters. Lewis got paid $1 million for giving the title to Ruiz and a range rover. Is Byrd related to you in some way?

Do u think byrd deserved his shot?

Byrd UD tua
Byrd UD holy
Byd DRAW golota
Byrd UD phil jackson
Byrd INJURY TKO klitschko (like lewis).
Byrd SD mcline (Had just beaten briggs and grant!)

I think so. Lewis relinquished his belt that is just plain fact. Emmanuel steward knew how good byrd was....

The fact that Byrd boxed an even fight with Golota tells u how good he was! Also note that Byrd did not have the physical advantages Tyson, Bowe, Lewis etc had VS Golota (They were all SHW's like Golota himself) Golota was a chinny mental midget but if u didn't have a punch then the likelihood would be he would beat you! Byrd boxed better against golota than ruiz, grant and bowe did! Ruiz fight was an outright robbery, grant nearly died getting the win and bowe was beaten up twice!

[Master]

Lewis unified the belts, he did what he always wanted. The rest was all politics, king controlled fighters. Lewis got paid $1 million for giving the title to Ruiz and a range rover. Is Byrd related to you in some way?

Do u think byrd deserved his shot?

Byrd UD tua
Byrd UD holy
Byd DRAW golota
Byrd UD phil jackson
Byrd INJURY TKO klitschko (like lewis).
Byrd SD mcline (Had just beaten briggs and grant!)

I think so. Lewis relinquished his belt that is just plain fact. Emmanuel steward knew how good byrd was....

The fact that Byrd boxed an even fight with Golota tells u how good he was! Also note that Byrd did not have the physical advantages Tyson, Bowe, Lewis etc had VS Golota (They were all SHW's like Golota himself) Golota was a chinny mental midget but if u didn't have a punch then the likelihood would be he would beat you! Byrd boxed better against golota than ruiz, grant and bowe did! Ruiz fight was an outright robbery, grant nearly died getting the win and bowe was beaten up twice!

You truly are funny and very selective.

Holyfield was old
Byd DRAW golota very conterversial, Lewis pulversied Golota
Byrd UD phil jackson the same fighter that got stopped by Rudduck for his warm up fight with Lewis?
Byrd INJURY TKO klitschko (like lewis) No! nothing like Lewis,Lewis won!
Byrd SD mcline after getting knocked down. Another close decision.

Truth is Byrd should be thanking Lewis for allowing Byrd to earn some money.

[Althugz]

Lewis unified the belts, he did what he always wanted. The rest was all politics, king controlled fighters. Lewis got paid $1 million for giving the title to Ruiz and a range rover. Is Byrd related to you in some way?

Do u think byrd deserved his shot?

Byrd UD tua
Byrd UD holy
Byd DRAW golota
Byrd UD phil jackson
Byrd INJURY TKO klitschko (like lewis).
Byrd SD mcline (Had just beaten briggs and grant!)

I think so. Lewis relinquished his belt that is just plain fact. Emmanuel steward knew how good byrd was....

The fact that Byrd boxed an even fight with Golota tells u how good he was! Also note that Byrd did not have the physical advantages Tyson, Bowe, Lewis etc had VS Golota (They were all SHW's like Golota himself) Golota was a chinny mental midget but if u didn't have a punch then the likelihood would be he would beat you! Byrd boxed better against golota than ruiz, grant and bowe did! Ruiz fight was an outright robbery, grant nearly died getting the win and bowe was beaten up twice!

You truly are funny and very selective

Glad I'm not the only one that see's this.

[Gandalf]

This thread has gone off topic.

[ryanman]

http://www.boxingscene.com/team-ward-joe-calzaghe-unretire-finalize-fight--56893

I doubt JC would do it though, but this would be a big money fight and I'd imagine Calzaghe could get a lot for fighting Ward. I don't see it happening though, JC would lose his 0.

If true, this is just chicken shit by Ward and his team. Maybe Ward is jealous of Calzaghe's popularity as a champion and the fact that SOG's fights are crap to watch.

LOL popularity?? One of JC's biggest insecurities was that he wasn't popular enough or given the respect he felt he deserved (he didn't).

Prime for prime, Ward pitches a shutout. Be's not stupid enough to get caught by those silly windmills of JC just like Bernard wasn't. Hopkins just ran out of steam being 40 something and STILL won the fight I thought. What on earth do you think Ward would do to good ol' JC?

Eubank was given very short notice and had to quickly come down in weight..Once again Philosopher, you manipulate data to suit your arguments. Nobody said Eubank was shot, people only state the obvious. Eubank was drained and on short notice..STILL wasn't easy for JC.

Calzaghe was not prime versus Hopkins. Nowhere near. He didn't windmill or pitter pat in his prime. Be honest, have you seen many of his fights from pre 2004ish?
Calzaghe had a physical prime that was about 1997-2003 and a tactical prime that was 2006 - retirement.
Eubank has said the hook that Calzaghe dropped him with was one of the hardest shots he took.
Prime Calzaghe would overwhelm Ward.
Calzaghe's performance vs Hopkins was truly one of his worst for many years, but he still won a close decision. I admit it was horrible to watch but at that point he could barely make a fist and thus his tendency to slap the odd punch became an inability to throw anything that wasn't a slap. Although, against Jones he definately put more pop in his punches than against Hopkins, as Jones himself said afterwards.

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

You truly are funny and very selective.

And right.

Holyfield was old

2 years older than the lewis version (Was the lewis version a young man then? LOL.) Had just beat rahman in an eliminator to fight lewis for a third time! Yeah well past it...and don't cite the ruiz fights! All 3 were very close, and those fights were to do with styles!

Byd DRAW golota very conterversial, Lewis pulversied Golota

Ruiz was very controversial, the byrd fight was pretty even, go watch again! I dealt with the byrd, golota ,lewis thing!

Byrd UD phil jackson the same fighter that got stopped by Rudduck for his warm up fight with Lewis?

What was lewis doing fighting someone who got stopped in his warm up fight? LOL. Supports my argument! I was using jackson as yet a nother common opponent lewis and byrd had, i wasn't debating jackson's ability but i will now seen as u have highlighted it, because it suits my argument better than yours! Jackson fought no-name opposition to set up the fight in 1994 with Lewis! Also note the fight was unimpressive, with Lewis plodding after Jackson en route to an 8th round TKO, byrd toyed with him, scores were: 109-119,109-119,109-119!!

Byrd INJURY TKO klitschko (like lewis) No! nothing like Lewis,Lewis won!

Exactly like lewis, both were being outboxed until vitali came unstuck through injury (internally or externally, doesn't matter, injury stoppage!) Difference was byrd fought a better prepared 244lb version not an 11 days notice 250lb version...

Byrd SD mcline after getting knocked down. Another close decision.

Did better than lewis's #1 challenger michael grant or lineal champ briggs did! Did better than future champ sam peter too! U talk like getting KD by mcline is embarrasing! Mcline put peter down X3, Put briggs down in round 6, hard! Put calvin brock down, Destroyed grant with his first punch lol! Lewis was put down by mcall whats your point?? Are u saying byrd has a bad chin?

U are incapable of grasping byrds gift's as a fighter....Byrd was an expert at making SHW'S and HW'S look bad, a defensive minded fighter is not going to rack up wide point wins over men who have massive reach and height advantages over him! Did u watch the fight? It was a great fight.

It Byrd’s third defense of the IBF title. Fights between former sparring partners often turn into lackluster affairs, but that was not the case in this one. The bigger McCline sought to impose his physical size and strength on Byrd early, and it paid off. McCline dropped Byrd with a big punch in the second and it almost appeared as if there was an upset in the making. It was an uphill battle for Byrd, but he showed tremendous heart and battled his way back into the contest. The slicker, quicker Byrd began really finding his rhythm as McCline grew sluggish in the later rounds.

Truth is Byrd should be thanking Lewis for allowing Byrd to earn some money.

Lewis should be thanking emmanuel for steering him away from these southpaws!

I note u missed out tua though! Did u know that tua was 233lbs for byrd and 245 for lewis?? Bet u didn't! How many ppl had beaten tua other than lewis? Byrd v lewis was a natural....u know it and i know it! Plus it would have been an interseting style clash! Lewis ran from tua in a snoozy, jab jab contest, 6'1 215lb byrd went toe to toe with him and made him look inept in a defensive masterclass! That fight alone proved byrd's pedigree...and that fight alone (hence u dont want to talk about it!) proved byrd could cut the mustard so to speak!!

Lewis defeats jackson a year later byrd does the same, still no fight! Lewis defeats tua, a year after byrd does the same, still no fight! Lewis defeats holyfield, 2 years later byrd does the same, still no fight! Im sensing a pattern hear....You see

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

Lewis unified the belts, he did what he always wanted. The rest was all politics, king controlled fighters. Lewis got paid $1 million for giving the title to Ruiz and a range rover. Is Byrd related to you in some way?

Do u think byrd deserved his shot?

Byrd UD tua
Byrd UD holy
Byd DRAW golota
Byrd UD phil jackson
Byrd INJURY TKO klitschko (like lewis).
Byrd SD mcline (Had just beaten briggs and grant!)

I think so. Lewis relinquished his belt that is just plain fact. Emmanuel steward knew how good byrd was....

The fact that Byrd boxed an even fight with Golota tells u how good he was! Also note that Byrd did not have the physical advantages Tyson, Bowe, Lewis etc had VS Golota (They were all SHW's like Golota himself) Golota was a chinny mental midget but if u didn't have a punch then the likelihood would be he would beat you! Byrd boxed better against golota than ruiz, grant and bowe did! Ruiz fight was an outright robbery, grant nearly died getting the win and bowe was beaten up twice!

You truly are funny and very selective

Glad I'm not the only one that see's this.

Stick to one thread and don't troll around looking for backup because u can't handle me!

[Master]

Philospoher are you seriously saying that Byrd would have beaten Lennox Lewis? You crazy.

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

Philospoher are you seriously saying that Byrd would have beaten Lennox Lewis? You crazy.

I think the possibility of an awkward fight for lennox was in the making yes! As for would he beat him....well byrd had much more experiernce against SHW's than lewis did vs southpaws (especially slick ones!) Emmanuel Stewart told Lewis not to fight Byrd, what does that tell you??

Lewis had never faced anything like chris bryd! If your entire assumption is that byrd couldn't beat lewis because he couldn't crack an egg then u are obviously not well versed on the sweet science! Speed & skills win fights and Lewis was relatively sluggish in comparison to smaller HW's! I can easily see byrd stealing the round's....

I have started watching more old fights of bryd again in his prime, he was so skillfull! Like a throwback to the charley burley and joe walcot era

Ask yourself which were he harder fights for lewis Grant & Botha or Byrd & Sanders! Zeljko Mavrovic & akinwande or Sanders & byrd! Briggs & Grant or Sanders & byrd! See.....

[ICB]

Philospoher are you seriously saying that Byrd would have beaten Lennox Lewis? You crazy.

Exactly but its pointless debating it thats why i don't waste my time, the fact is despite all these names and fights being thrown around the only one that matters to me. Is that Wladimir Klitschko fights like Lennox Lewis and has the same attributes but isn't quite as Lennox Lewis, yet he destroyed Chris Byrd twice with ease which is exactly what Lennox Lewis would of done end of.

Im still wondering how this got turned into Lennox Lewis ducking Chris Byrd, lets keep it on topic.

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

Is that Wladimir Klitschko fights like Lennox Lewis and has the same attributes but isn't quite as Lennox Lewis

Wlad fights nothing like him u lemon. And no you're right he's not quite 'as lennox'....Wlad is a far better athlete!

he destroyed Chris Byrd twice with ease which is exactly what Lennox Lewis would of done end of.

U keep telling yourself that....So u are saying because wlad beat him, lewis would have! U are suggesting lewis would at least match what wlad has done?

Even though wlad toyed with rahman (used him as a sparring partner almost, just to get some rounds under his belt! and then finished him with mere clipping shots lol...) Beat up mercer and jackson with consumate ease!! Lewis had a torrid time with mercer, went 1-1 with rahman and lumbered to a horrible 8th round TKO over jackson! Try comparing what lewis and byrd did to holy, jackson and tua rather than what wlad has done to byrd....

If u don't rate my opinion then go ask manny steward his thoughts on klitschko and byrd!

Anyway il let it go, it is after all a ward calzaghe thread. Just thought id make my point.

[Master]

Is that Wladimir Klitschko fights like Lennox Lewis and has the same attributes but isn't quite as Lennox Lewis

Wlad fights nothing like him u lemon. And no you're right he's not quite 'as lennox'....Wlad is a far better athlete!

he destroyed Chris Byrd twice with ease which is exactly what Lennox Lewis would of done end of.

U keep telling yourself that....So u are saying because wlad beat him, lewis would have! U are suggesting lewis would at least match what wlad has done?

Even though wlad toyed with rahman (used him as a sparring partner almost, just to get some rounds under his belt! and then finished him with mere clipping shots lol...) Beat up mercer and jackson with consumate ease!! Lewis had a torrid time with mercer, went 1-1 with rahman and lumbered to a horrible 8th round TKO over jackson! Try comparing what lewis and byrd did to holy, jackson and tua rather than what wlad has done to byrd....

If u don't rate my opinion then go ask manny steward his thoughts on klitschko and byrd!

Anyway il let it go, it is after all a ward calzaghe thread. Just thought id make my point.

Just because Manny Steward did not want Lewis to fight him does not mean that Lewis would not have beaten him. Manny may have many reasons why he did not want Lewis to fight him but Lewis beat all styles and opponents at that time so he was more than capable of beating Byrd. He chose not to, the same goes with Ruiz.

[ICB]

Is that Wladimir Klitschko fights like Lennox Lewis and has the same attributes but isn't quite as Lennox Lewis

Wlad fights nothing like him u lemon. And no you're right he's not quite 'as lennox'....Wlad is a far better athlete!

he destroyed Chris Byrd twice with ease which is exactly what Lennox Lewis would of done end of.

U keep telling yourself that....So u are saying because wlad beat him, lewis would have! U are suggesting lewis would at least match what wlad has done?

Even though wlad toyed with rahman (used him as a sparring partner almost, just to get some rounds under his belt! and then finished him with mere clipping shots lol...) Beat up mercer and jackson with consumate ease!! Lewis had a torrid time with mercer, went 1-1 with rahman and lumbered to a horrible 8th round TKO over jackson! Try comparing what lewis and byrd did to holy, jackson and tua rather than what wlad has done to byrd....

If u don't rate my opinion then go ask manny steward his thoughts on klitschko and byrd!

Anyway il let it go, it is after all a ward calzaghe thread. Just thought id make my point.

Don't call me a lemon trying to make me look like, i haven't got a clue about this topic. I've seen pretty much all of Lennow Lewis's fights and pretty much most of Wladimir Klitschko important fights. So i think my opinion is just as valid as yours.

So you think Lennox Lewis fights nothing like Wladimir Klitschko ? don't they both rely on the jab and right hands ? aren't they both near enough the same weight and size ? Lennox Lewis was a good athlete for his size especially in the early 90's when he was 220+ pounds. And alot of fans often compare W.Klitschko to Lennox Lewis BTW.

So you really think Mercer and Rahman were as dangerous when they fought Wladimir Klitschko ? don't make me laugh.

You say facts but not whole facts, the fact is Lennox Lewis fought a prime Ray Mercer in 1996 just after Ray Mercer gave Evander Holyfield a tough night. Wladimir Klitschko fought Ray Mercer 6 years after and by that time, Ray Mercer was 41 years old and shot after being in so many tough battles.

Wladimir Klitschko also fought Hasim Rahman 7 years after Lennox Lewis fought him, and people at the time were calling it a joke fight. Because Hasim Rahman was no longer significant in the Heavyweight division, and was clearly not the same fighter who fought Lennox Lewis.

I don't know why you rate Chris Byrd so highly, he got a handful of gift decisions during his title reign. Many people thought he lost to Oquendo and Golota, he also scrapped by an average Jameel McCline, and lets not forget the most boring Heavyweight title fight in history vs Williamson.

Chris Byrd was basically the Jimmy Young of his era as someone else said here, although i think Jimmy Young was a better fighter. But there are some comparison's, regarding being skilled small Heavyweights with not much pop.

I did enjoy some of Chris Byrd's fights, and he did have a good performance vs Tua. Which i give him credit for, but i really fail to see how Chris Byrd could ever be competitive with Lennox Lewis.

Despite you disagreeing with me regarding Klitschko/Lewis comparison. I think Lennox Lewis would use the same tactics, keep him at bay with that telephone pole left jab. And occassionally use the right hand to hurt Chris Byrd.

Lennox Lewis was also a very big puncher, there's no way Chris Byrd slapping and pot shotting style. Would compare to Lennox Lewis cannonball punches, i think Lennox Lewis would have him out of there before the 12 round distance.

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

So you think Lennox Lewis fights nothing like Wladimir Klitschko ? don't they both rely on the jab and right hands ? aren't they both near enough the same weight and size ? Lennox Lewis was a good athlete for his size especially in the early 90's when he was 220+ pounds. And alot of fans often compare W.Klitschko to Lennox Lewis BTW.

Apart from size i don't think they are that similar! Wlad is a much more cautious upright type of fighter, wlad has the better left, lewis has the better right!!

Steward: “Wlad has the best footwork, co-ordination and balance of any fighter I have ever worked with. He’s the most accurate, single-punch knockout guy I have seen.

“A guy can be completely fine, not hurt, and Wladimir can put his lights out with one shot.

“He is the most powerful natural talent I have worked with. In terms of jab, Wladimir is the best and after him I would put Lennox.

“Lewis was a more versatile fighter but in terms of boxing arsenal, Wladimir is better.”

So you really think Mercer and Rahman were as dangerous when they fought Wladimir Klitschko

Of course they were still dangerous u goon....I think the fact that they were a bit older is negated by the manner in which klitschko handled them! If u think prime mercer and rahman beat prime wlad then please say so?

Mercer was 35 when he fought lennox and had started late as a pro! Rahman was never that good anway go ask maskaev...he beat sanders ya but got off the canvas twice to do so in a helluva fight! only way rahman beat's prime wlad is by a fluke KO! Again the lewis double standard flickers....try a 38 yr old holy or a 40 yr old SHOT tyson!!

You say facts but not whole facts, the fact is Lennox Lewis fought a prime Ray Mercer in 1996 just after Ray Mercer gave Evander Holyfield a tough night. Wladimir Klitschko fought Ray Mercer 6 years after and by that time, Ray Mercer was 41 years old and shot after being in so many tough battles.

Well include all the facts then! U neglect to mention 2 years prior to fighting lewis, mercer struggled to a draw with bummy journeyman marion wilson! Was that prime mercer?? The only person to beat mercer from lewis to 05 was wlad!! And it was a beatdown....

Mercer was coming off a 7 fight winning streak (7-0, 6 KOs) since the close MD against Lewis. He was in great shape for the Wlad fight, weighed 228 lbs, 10 lbs lighter than he was against Lewis.Wlad became the first man to knockdown and KO Mercer.

Mercer started late as a professional at 28. He had never been knocked out prior to this fight. He had never been knocked down prior to this fight except a slip duck against Holyfield. He wasn't hurt. He had only lost close decisions to Lewis, Holyfield, Holmes, and Ferguson. His last loss was a majority decision loss to Lewis prior to this fight. He KOed 6 men and decisioned Tim Witherspoon after Lewis and before Vladimir. Mercer had little wear and was still a tough fighter til K. Green Wlad KO6 Mercer.

I don't know why you rate Chris Byrd so highly, he got a handful of gift decisions during his title reign. Many people thought he lost to Oquendo and Golota, he also scrapped by an average Jameel McCline, and lets not forget the most boring Heavyweight title fight in history vs Williamson.

Dealt with all that, try reading my entire post history in the thread and stop just jumping in when something irks you! I thought he lost to oquendo (Who hasn't been in a close fight!) other than he Fought an even fight with golota (impressive!) And if mcline was average what does that make former lineal champ briggs and lewis's #1 grant? He was clearly better than them LOL. So what if the Williamson fight was Boring, yet again he frustrated the hell out of another world class SHW....It's not as if williamson was a bum is it? He beat oliver mcall, derrick jefferson (who was the only man to beat michael grant as an amateur!) kevin mcbride, corey sanders (who kayoed oleg maskaev and fought an all time classic with golota!) peae wollfgramme (who was an olympic silver medalist!) etc...

Chris Byrd was basically the Jimmy Young of his era as someone else said here, although i think Jimmy Young was a better fighter. But there are some comparison's, regarding being skilled small Heavyweights with not much pop.

Young was decisioned by Oswaldo Ocassio twice! He was stopped by 200lb shavers too. Jimmy (34-19) young lost AT LEAST 19 fights at least in his career!! GTFO WITH THAT SHIT...COMPARING A JOURNEYMAN LIKE YOUNG TO A 2x hw CHAMP LIKE BYRD (WHO ONLY LOST TO THE 2 BEST SHW'S OF THERE ERA!!) ONLY A DELUDED IDIOT WOULD COMPARE THE 2! IN TRUTH BYRD WOULD CLOWN YOUNG...YOUNG IS NOT IN BYRD LEAGUE! I know that hurt's because he beat the american hero george foreman, but truth is young was a journeyman! U just like to make him sound better than he is because if u admit to his REAL standing then u would have top adhere to the fact that foreman was beatable (which most ppl won't do!) So they make out young was a mythical fighter lol. Laughable.

I did enjoy some of Chris Byrd's fights, and he did have a good performance vs Tua. Which i give him credit for, but i really fail to see how Chris Byrd could ever be competitive with Lennox Lewis.

How do u know lewis how lewis would do against byrd, he never fought any southpaws or smaller/more illusive HW's! Lewis was fine with a HGV (HEAVY GOODS VEHICLE!) in front of him but...Anyway Manny steward knows what im saying, trust me!! Just because byrd doesn't have the ability to KO lewis doesn't mean he couldn't beat him, C level Zeljko Mavrovic went 12 rounds and made it competitive ffs!

Despite you disagreeing with me regarding Klitschko/Lewis comparison. I think Lennox Lewis would use the same tactics, keep him at bay with that telephone pole left jab. And occassionally use the right hand to hurt Chris Byrd.

Your opinion, not mine.

Lennox Lewis was also a very big puncher, there's no way Chris Byrd slapping and pot shotting style. Would compare to Lennox Lewis cannonball punches, i think Lennox Lewis would have him out of there before the 12 round distance.

I don't! Tua and wlad and vitali are also very big punchers! Byrd would frustrate the hell out of him culminatng in a messy fight in which we debate the scores to this day! Byrd had a great chin, Could lewis match what ike did? Possible but that was more to do with byrd getting over confident and getting a reality check from a fighter who was insanely poweful! IKe was also much more explosive than lewis!