Joe Calzaghe is the 2nd most overrated fighter of all time. Rocky Marciano is no.1

[brocktonblockbust]

Several years ago when Carl Froch called out Joe Calzaghe, trying to drum up interest in a potential fight between these two British fighters. Froch's calling out of Calzaghe came off the heels of his TKO victory over Jermain Taylor on 4-25-2009. Calzaghe for his part had dismissed Froch saying, "Enough is enough with Carl Froch calling me out,” Calzaghe told the South Wales Argus. “I can tell you categorically that I will not fight the guy even if I did come out of retirement, which I am not going to do..."I am sick to death of him drumming up free publicity for himself by using my name,” Calzaghe said. “No one who watched the fight can believe he’s in my class. He’s my stalker."..."For the first eight rounds against Taylor he was like a goalkeeper with no defense. He was being outclassed and outfought by a middleweight who’s seen better days."

HOWEVER...Here's the truth about Calzaghe:

You know who is overrated? Joe Calzaghe is overrated. Sure he beat Roy Jones,and Bernard Hopkins, but both those guys are past their respective primes, meaning he beat faded legends. If he'd have fought them in their primes, he'd have gone 0-2, or 1-1 at best.

Calzaghe has built his record having been sheltered in England, and fighting fringe contenders, never-will-be's, over-hyped stars, and as I mentioned already, faded legends. If that's not the definition of overrated, I don't know what is. he is the msot overated boxer of all time, he stayed in england and cardiff dodging boxers then came over and beat a 41 year old roy jones junior and a bernard hopkins who was passed his best, he did beat kessler and that was a good achievement and beat an overated jeff lacy, but other than that he was well overated, he ducked pavlik and froch instead he fought peter manfredo!!!

[Dark Lord Al]

Indeed Calzaghe is very over rated.

[brocktonblockbust]

also he did NOT beat Bernard. bullshit decision by ANYONE's standards.

[g3org3]

I would say he's underrated he's doesn't get the credit he deserves. Ok he beat a old Roy jones but all his other wins eubank,Reid,lacy,bika and Kessler were solid opponents and do you really honestly think pavlik or froch would of beat him ?

[brocktonblockbust]

[Gandalf]

He is underrated and especially by Americans. Also, people ignore the fact that almost EVERY US expert or forum poster was picking Lacy to destroy Calzaghe. Calzaghe was 'old', 'protected', 'faded' etc, and he turned on one of the most impeccable performances ever seen. After the event suddenly Lacy was overrated and history was rewritten. Perhaps the worst thing was Lacy injuring himself in his next fight thus ending his own career. He was never able to knock people out again and so instead of admitting that the shoulder was fucked, people instead knocked Calzaghe and cheapened the great win. Lacy was apparently always shit.

Calzaghe beat Eubank, Reid, Woodhall, Lacy, Kessler, and a still top level Hopkins by moving up. There is filler on the resume, but the same can be said of all boxers including the likes of Mayweather and Hopkins who often get a free pass.

[Gandalf]

Also, I don't even think the Hopkins fight was particularly close. Calzaghe was simply too busy and got stronger as the fight wore on.

[brocktonblockbust]

lacy is a 1-dimensional piece of shit. anyone picking him was an idiot.

[p4pking]

He was a great fighter who beat who he could have. Perhaps he could have done more for his overall profile by either ditching Frank Warren or travelling a little, but aside from Roy Jones there wasn't really anyone a level above the guys who were willing to come and fight him. I don't think he beat Hopkins myself, but that was a pretty negative fight and very hard to score regardless of what you like. Well worth noting that Calzaghe was further over the hill than Hops was at that point as well, in hindsight at least.

[brocktonblockbust]

i like that p4p thats a fair and reasonable stance to take. I thought he was impressive with his throwing punches in bunches.

BUT why did he duck Froch and Pavlik? He was a slapping arm puncher - like Mayorga, another overrated yet impressive boxer.

[Gandalf]

lacy is a 1-dimensional piece of shit. anyone picking him was an idiot.

It was practically everyone over the Atlantic and Lacy's career was over because of the shoulder. He had no tools to continue his career with. It was all the writers and most people on forums saying that Lacy would crush Calzaghe. I think they were being a bit idiotic too, but people get it wrong sometimes. In that instance almost everyone did it at the same time.

[brocktonblockbust]

i agree they were all idiots and I could never see anything good about jeff lacy---just like lamon brewster---a lucky left hook and all of america is sucking his cock.

[Beanz]

The most overrated fighter of all time is Rocky Marciano. By a country mile.

[ross]

An old Calzaghe beat an old Jones but Jones wasnt finished. He did have some wins after this. He beat Trinidad and Sheika. Calzaghe was 36 Jones would have always struggled with that workrate and fearless style.

He beat Hopkins who went on to beat Pavlik, Pascal and Cloud. His dominance over Hopkins was proven by Hopkins crawling round on the floor looking for respite.

[SugarBoxing]

How much money did he make over his career?