Rank these recent european fighters...

[Fenster]

Kostya was an excellent fighter but he got knocked out in his "prime"

So did mike tyson.

So did lennox.

So did klitschko.

Yeah excellent fighters get beat in their prime. However, it has to be considered when you choose specific fighters to make a comparision with.

Kostya didn't avenge his loss as say Lewis did (even though Lewis is not on the list).

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

His only bad loss was to Phillips, a fight that he was WINNING up until the last couple of rounds where his terrible training habits and lack of activity (most people forget that he had only fought one round in a year) of the time cost him the fight after he ran out of gas. Still, after renewing his proper training he came back and didn't lose for the next eight years until his last fight at the age of 36 against Hatton in a brawl.


He had only fought one round in a year at the time of the Phillips fight and had fallen into shocking training habits well away from his proper boxing, speed and stamina training that he picked up again after that loss. Also, during his peak years as already mentioned he struggled to find willing opponents to take the high risk low reward fight shown in his activity during his best years and early career often fighting only twice a year, sometimes only once from as early as his fourteenth fight! Even before that he was only able to fight three times a year which would be a normal champions routine, instead of a young, up and coming prospect. I think that was one of the banes of his career and that inactivity finally caught up to him by the end of his career struggling with numerous injuries and having to postpone fights etc and by the end was only able to fight once a year for the last four years of his career.

[Master]

Kostya Tszyu – beat Gonzales brutally and undefeated Judah
Joe Calzaghe- beat Eubanks, Kessler, Lacy, B Hop,
Wladimr Klitschko- unified and consistent champ
Vitali Kiltschko – durable but injuries let him down
Darius Michalczewski- avoided Roy Jones and beaten by Gonzales

[Bobthepen]

He fought an incredible sixteen champions in his short career (only had thirty or so fights) and was often stiffed during his prime years for lack of willing opponents. He just missed out on big fights with Mosley, Oscar, Mayweather for the high risk, low reward factor that he brought up until his final years as an older fighter in one of the top divisions in boxing where he was finally a big money opponent and name.

.

Hardly really fair on the three you mentioned. Oscar was on a collision course with Tszyu, when Tszyu blew it by being knocked out by Phillips. One can't blame an ambitious young Oscar for skipping a fighter with no belt and a devastating recent KO defeat.
Mosley jumped two weight divisions to fight his old mate Oscar for a fortune, for a belt. Can't fault that. Pacquiao did the same.
Mayweather only became a champion at 140lbs the same month Tszyu lost his belt to Hatton, so it wasn't like there was an overlap.
If I'm honest, all three are a country mile above anybody Tszyu fought, and I can't help but feel he would have been exposed against those three. I sometimes wonder if Tszyu knew it himself, which is why he cleaned up at 140lbs, when 147lbs was brimming with talent and dollars. Big fish, small pond.

[THE THIRD MAN]

Kostya was an excellent fighter but he got knocked out in his "prime" and the best "prime" fighter he beat was Zab.

As for that 16 "world" champions stuff (they are alphabet holders). Yes it means he beat top rated fighters, however, i'm pretty certain loads of current top fighters will have similar numbers on their record.

So did Joe Louis, George Foreman and Lennox Lewis. Phillips was beaten by Millet so a rematch couldn't be made as planned. Tszyu was matched up with Miguel Angel Gonzalez (WBC lightweight champion for 5 years and defended it 9 times, his only loss before fighting Tszyu was to DLH) and Millett went on to fight Judah in 2000. Tszyu was the underdog in the Judah fight in 2001, Judah was then unbeaten and looked every bit as good as Floyd leading up to this fight. Tszyu actually ruined his career. His following 3 years after the Phillips loss were outstanding.

[bigstinkybug]

In order of greatness:

-Wladimir klitschko (Ring mag and current linear champ)

-Vitali klitschko (A 3x HW champ)

-Joe calzaghe (Undisputed SMW champ, ring champ at SMW and LHW, one of the longest reigning champion's ever)

-Kostya tszyu (#1 fighter at 140lbs for over 10 years and was the first fighter in 30 years to unify the title's at 140 lbs)

-Dariusz michalkzewski (Linear champ at LHW, ring mag champ from 97-03, and WBO cruiserweight Champion)

Joe Cal... he was undefeated..and beat anyone who got in front of him. pssibly the most underated fighter in history, next to ricardo Lopez. I don't think i ever saw a guy go into a fight as the under-dog more than Cal and come out winning.

Vitali Klitsko... could easily be undefeated. I'd feel comfortable in putting my money on Vitali vs anyone in history... BUT, in the end, he did quit once and the fight was stopped against Lennox.

Wlad... Will go down as a better fighter than his brother, but Vitali's better... Wlad has ruled the heavyweight div for 10 years! People say theis is a poor div..i say Wlad and Vitali are that much better. than the rest.

Kostya Tszu... one of my favorite fighters. Rumors say that both DeLaHoya and Mosely skiped over the lt welter weight div just so they wouldn't have to face this guy. IMO,he underachieved.

DM... what's not to like about him.. tough as nails. but in this group, he comes up last..and that's no slight to a great fighter.

[Bobthepen]

In order of greatness:

-Wladimir klitschko (Ring mag and current linear champ)

-Vitali klitschko (A 3x HW champ)

-Joe calzaghe (Undisputed SMW champ, ring champ at SMW and LHW, one of the longest reigning champion's ever)

-Kostya tszyu (#1 fighter at 140lbs for over 10 years and was the first fighter in 30 years to unify the title's at 140 lbs)

-Dariusz michalkzewski (Linear champ at LHW, ring mag champ from 97-03, and WBO cruiserweight Champion)

Kostya Tszu... one of my favorite fighters. Rumors say that both DeLaHoya and Mosely skiped over the lt welter weight div just so they wouldn't have to face this guy. IMO,he underachieved.

Rumours spread by people so lacking in boxing knowledge they miss the fact that Oscar was WBC light welterweight champ.

Tszyu's fans trot this hogwash out occasionally, ignoring the fact that their man is most culpable for big fights never happening. Do you really believe Oscar and Mosley looked for easier challenges after looking at their records...

[bigstinkybug]

DeLaHoya is fighting eveyone but doesn't fight THE MAN at welter, and u don't think he skipped over welter? DeLaHoya has even said he was worried with KT... and Mosely nevr fought him either? how does that happen?

[Violent Demise]

In order of greatness:

-Wladimir klitschko (Ring mag and current linear champ)

-Vitali klitschko (A 3x HW champ)

-Joe calzaghe (Undisputed SMW champ, ring champ at SMW and LHW, one of the longest reigning champion's ever)

-Kostya tszyu (#1 fighter at 140lbs for over 10 years and was the first fighter in 30 years to unify the title's at 140 lbs)

-Dariusz michalkzewski (Linear champ at LHW, ring mag champ from 97-03, and WBO cruiserweight Champion)

Kostya Tszu... one of my favorite fighters. Rumors say that both DeLaHoya and Mosely skiped over the lt welter weight div just so they wouldn't have to face this guy. IMO,he underachieved.

De La Hoya-Tszyu was just about set. All Tszyu had to do was beat Vince Phillips. He did not

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

bump.

[bigstinkybug]

Ive never heard of delahoya vs KT coming close to happening...
Theres video of delahoya saying he didnt want to fight KT...

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

I like tszyu, i mean he did beat Roger Mayweather around a ring for 12 rounds. For that i am forever grateful...

Tszyu compiled an amateur record of 259-11. Was a 3x gold medallist too. Watch his fight with vernon forrest and undefeated judah and tell me he is not great!

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

Calzaghe and tszyu ruined fighters!!

[Dark Lord Al]

Vitali Kiltschko - Hasn't lost since Lewis (Lewis quickly retires in fear of a rematch)
Kostya Tszyu - fought 16 world champions beating one in only his 4th fight)
Wladimr Klitschko- Has a couple of bad losses, but doesn't look like losing currently.
Joe Calzaghe- Overrated
Darius Michalczewski-Underrated

I agree

[Althugz]

Calzaghe and tszyu ruined fighters!!

Yeah Calzaghe ruined Mario Veit, that guy was destined for greatness until Jo Cal came along