Quote Originally Posted by hattonthehammer View Post
How the hell can someone even suggest tarver should be a HOFer??

He beat a 35 year old RJJ and a 36 year old glen johnson, had he of beaten them to at the turn of the decade sure this could be an interesting debate...but he didnt and it isnt.

I dont usually like to comment on potential world class boxers that have fought any lower than 126 as i dont pay attention those divisions..

Calderon looks to be a great little warrior from the few occasions ive seen of him, penalosa always reminded me of that guy who could of come to the party and made a hell of an impression but never quite managed it.

Hatton is 44-1 and his only defeat was by the single greatest p4p athlete of our generation.

If you suggest he shouldnt be a hall of famer you may as well suggest neither should manny pacquiao or marco antonio barrera!!
How could you NOT see the absolute similarity between Tarver and Hatton's breakthrough wins?

As for the hall, both guys are about the sam IMO at th moment though there's time for both guys to make a statement still in their careers.

HOF is very difficult to decide, as the guys Mick mentioned which I've read about elsewhere where the Asian fighters have been largely ignored, and then guys with so-so records getting in setting a precedent for something like 50% of world beltholders ever getting in.

I don't believe HOF is on relative achievement alone, otherwise Bazzo would never be there, but there is a spot IMO for guys like Bazzo and Gatti due to their rather unique contributions (Gatti's wars and Barry's popularity transcending the religious barrier in N.I.)