Quote Originally Posted by wacko3205
I get so burnt out on this...but Joe's level of opposition is better than Ricky's. He's faced better fighters in his class & he has dominated his division & defeneded his titles much more convincingly.

I just can't understand why people can't see it.

I'm thrilled that Hatton beat Kostya...but that's all the legit comp that he has convincingly beat for me.

Joe has beaten hard fighters in their prime that people either don't know or just refuse to acknowledge.

No matter what anyone says...Lacy was a force to be reckoned with & Joe just ruined him.

Viet was & still is a hell of a fighter...losing twice to Joe & once to Inkin in the duration of his career.

Mkrtchian was a legit fighter that had lost only once & that was to Inkin...another legit challenge. Joe pretty much destroyed Mger.

Robin Reid too was a hell of a champ but Joe handled him & no one credited him for the performance.

That's just a few of the names that many pass off as nothing...but they are good fighters that are totally disrespected.

While Hatton fought spent talent for his first 30 some odd fights, then beat Kostya, then faced Maussa (laughable), & Collazo & Urango back to back & gave VERY poor accounting of himself...that's just water under the bridge.

I will say this for Ricky...he does have a shot at redemption against Castillo & much respect if he pulls out all the stops.
You make fair points wack and I myself dont discredit the fighters Joe has fought..

But i do consider them Good Not great though..

Ricky is younger, has taken a few good fights.. His last three fights have been against world champs..

Granted his performances havent been what the fans have wanted but you couldnt dispute that he got the job done.. And whilst joe has had his share or controversial decisions in his career as everybody does at some point or other..Instead of defending a title Ricky only had a title to gain, and against a better fighter imo..

So sure..Until ricky fought kostya he too wasnt exactly a world beater..Only showed potential against much the sam good competition in Vince Phillips, Ben Tackie, Eamon McGee And even whilst on that Prospect level before the real step up he stil held a wbu title and was entertaining..