Roy Jones Jr: Last man standing in Calzaghe's path to greatness
After his defeat of Bernard Hopkins, the boxing world is waiting for the Welshman to make his final hurrah.
by gerald mclaughlin on 24 April 2008
Email this Article (9) Comments
On the March 23, 1972, in Hammersmith, London, Joseph William Calzaghe was born. I am quite sure that his Welsh mother and Sardinian father would have had no idea that their infant son would one day become "The Italian Dragon" – a combination of the birth places of those same parents.Joe Calzaghe has embarked on a remarkable 45-fight winning streak that started in 1993 at Cardiff Arms Park on the Lennox Lewis v Frank Bruno under card.Ring magazine rates Calzaghe as one the best pound-for-pound boxers on the planet, placing him in their top ten. He is the longest reigning title holder in any weight class in boxing, recently passing the 10-year mark as WBO super middleweight champion.By the end of 1995 he had won nine fights and was voted Young Boxer of the Year by the Professional Boxing Association and the Boxing Writers Club. His performances prompted Barry McGuigan to comment: "He punches ferociously, moves superbly and has the best of the European technique and US aggression". High praise indeed from a legend in his own right.The main problem with Calzaghe is the fact that he has not really conquered America. A high percentage of his fights have been won by technical knockouts and perhaps he has never really faced the best. He has always reiterated that he can only beat who is put in front of him, and the fighters who are willing to take him on. There is no denying that he is an incredibly talented boxer and his defeat of Bernard Hopkins last week may have been the victory he needed to claim true recognition.Calzaghe, an extremely likeable guy who keeps himself to himself, is now 36 and many believe he should retire undefeated. Returning from Las Vegas it was put to him whether he would face one more challenge. His reply was a favourable one. He became the first undisputed super middleweight champion of the World in 2007 surpassing Bernard Hopkins and Larry Holmes for successful defences of his title, totalling 21. Only Joe Louis and Dariusz Michalczewski can better such a record in the entire fight game.After Calzaghe’s unanimous points victory over Chris Eubank in October 1997, Eubank was quoted as saying: "Joe is the proper article, a true warrior.” Calzaghe conceded that it was one of the toughest fights of his life.In 2007, Calzaghe became the Sports Personality of the Year, beating Ricky Hatton and Lewis Hamilton in the public vote. But where does this worthy champion stand in the pantheon of all-time greats? Perhaps we shall know better if, or when, Calzaghe meets Roy Jones. It could be his final step up to greatness.Jones is the one fighter whose name keeps cropping up whenever Calzaghe’s name is mentioned. It’s a fight we all want to see and IF Calzaghe beats Jones then he can, without doubt, take his place among boxing’s true greats.
Comments (9)
by A Momin on April 24, 2008
Calzaghe is a true BRITISH LEGEND, he is getting on a bit, and his true talent was 2-3 years ago, lets just celebrate his success, we dont get much of that here in the UK do we? From, Abdul Momin, London, UK
by Vincent Melendez on April 24, 2008
I do give Joe much respect and I believe he is a very good fighter. I just don't like how he denies the fact that he hasn't faced the best fighters out there. Most of which are in the U.S.
by dee brown on April 25, 2008
i think he should go out fighting anthony mundine from sydney australia. jones jr finished now. mundine improved massively since hsi debut and i believe could outshine calzaghe in many ways whilst walking away with the prize. but i believe calzaghe is aware of the threat so won't accept the challenge. btw, i do think calzaghe is a legend!
by john murdoch on April 26, 2008
Prefer to see his boxing skills rather than trading punches unnecessarily.He could be caught with an unlucky punch
by James Read on April 26, 2008
You have to be kidding right?? Lmfao..mundine? he has only beaten taxi drivers! his only wins are against opponants ranked between 45 and 175 in the rankings lol
by jason read on May 03, 2008
You moron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!mundine an absolute joke!!!!!!!!!!!!he yet to beat anyone half decent he should start an amatuer boxing career so he can learn to fight not run from bums!!!!lol calzaghe would eat himup
on May 03, 2008 on May 03, 2008
Calzaghe is a great fighter but roy jones has exellent power in both hands and is a naturally bigger fighter. His pinpoint acurracy and unorthodox fighting style would do more than just suprise calzaghe.
by billy powell on May 23, 2008
i believe joe calzaghe to be an outstanding boxer and a lion-heated fighter and deserves all the recognition possible for his success.....however, roy jones jr is the best boxer to walk the planet!! if joe faces jones (the biggest fight in history) it will not only be the great champions loss but also his first time knocked out because jones is a formidable force,even at the age he is!!
by shawn clements on June 08, 2008
jones is the best and most dangerous out there for calzaghe to face...was at the jones/trinidad fight in january and his speed and power is still there.his loss to tarver in the 3rd match was a mental thing...just watch round 5 of that fight on youtube and you'll see what i mean,he pounded tarver that round,had him hurt badly to the body and could have finished him and then backed off. if tarver,johnson,hopkins or calzahge fight roy now that his body seems to have recovered from dropping down from heavyweight they'll have to ko him to win,other than that i don't see anyone defeating him at any weight!
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