Joe Calzaghe: An insane person

by Scott Christ on Apr 16, 2008 6:00 AM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

What kind of legend has four losses and a draw on his record?

That is a quote from Joe Calzaghe about Bernard Hopkins. I haven't the first clue where to begin.

Muhammad Ali lost five fights.
Floyd Patterson lost eight and had a draw.
Ezzard Charles lost 25 times and drew once.
Archie Moore lost 23 times. Drew eleven times.
Sugar Ray Robinson lost 19 times and drew six others.
Sugar Ray Leonard lost three times and drew once.

And the list, of course, goes on and on and on. It is country miles longer than the list of undefeated legends.

All this while Brian Doogan talks about what a great, "let my fists do the talking" kind of chap Joe Cool is. If this is just a marketing ploy to sell the fight, it's a bad one. "My opponent actually is not a legend." Hey, I'm in!

If Calzaghe actually thinks this (which he probably does not), then it's a pinpoint case on the long list of things wrong with boxing.

Here's a question: What kind of a legend, five years into a title reign, chooses to fight a man who is 39-4, with his last four wins coming over opponents with a combined record of 33-199-9?

Also, if you haven't heard anything about it, Marco Antonio Barrera thinks he wants to fight again, and would like to take another crack at Pacquiao. Marco, just stay retired. Enjoy your family and your wealth and your status as a great that walked away before it got unfortunate. Now, as for Marquez-Barrera II, another fight he mentioned...

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Ottke

Ottke retired with 34-0. By Joe's logic, he was the greatest legend the sport has ever known!

And if that's the case, Joe should've fought him. For free. In Germany. Wearing a German flag for trunks.

by jrok on Apr 16, 2008 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

Camacho

Camacho retired a legend with a record of 0-4. Yeah, a legend crashing four cars with DUI record with zero victory. How sad? Trinidad-Camacho II in the works. Tickets available for the off off off off off off way off Broadway show.

by CRAZEDANG1280 on Apr 16, 2008 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

Big Deal

I don't see the big deal Scott. So Calzaghe is talking shit about Hopkins before the fight. Stop the presses! (err, "Don't press the 'post' button!")

I mean, this comment is pretty stupid, but among stupid things said by boxers to promote fights, this one is not exactly a doozy.

Plus you know as well as I that you can't compare records between fighters of today and fighters of the eras of Charles, Moore, and Robinson.

by Matt Miller on Apr 16, 2008 2:52 PM EDT reply actions

sure

But let's just talk today's era. Hopkins' losses have come to Taylor (disputed, twice), Jones, and...OK, Clinton Mitchell, but that was his first pro fight.

I don't think it's a HUGE deal, but it's such a daft quote and opens Calzaghe up to criticism, like bringing up that this guy fought some fuckin' schmucks during his massive title reign. Tocker Pudwill? SERIOUSLY?

I still like Joe Calzaghe. I still like Ricky Hatton, too. Both have said very stupid things recently. "Bernard Hopkins is no legend!" "Joe Cortez didn't let me beat Mayweather!" "I want to fight Mayweather again!"

by Scott Christ on Apr 16, 2008 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Joe's Reign

Joe fought some tomato cans over the years, no doubt. This is old news.

It seems wrong minded to me to begin stirring up these old doubts just at the phase in his career when he is doing what we've always wanted and stepping up the competition.

by Matt Miller on Apr 16, 2008 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

FROM THE FIRST ROUND WITH LOVE

Let's just leave it for the first minute of the first round because it should predict how well the fight is going to progress. I don't even have sides and I know Hopkins more than Calzaghe. However, I'd rather hear trash talk from Hopkins and Calzaghe than hear the stuttering nonsense that comes out of unprofessional Mayweather's mouth.

by CRAZEDANG1280 on Apr 16, 2008 4:24 PM EDT reply actions