Joe Calzaghe, One of the Most Underestimated Champions in History, Who Helped Put the WBO on the Map
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In recent months, several boxing experts have evaluated whether or not Joe Calzaghe was either the most overrated or underrated super middleweight world champion, or world champion, in boxing history. Other experts have pondered why such an undefeated champion remains unrecognizable today, as opposed to an Iron Mike Tyson, Thomas Hearns, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Marvelous Marvelous Hagler, Roberto Duran or Oscar De La Hoya.
Certain boxing characters are more colorful and flamboyant than others, as with any sport. This is why Iran Barkley, who beat Thomas Hearns twice, remains more obscure than Hearns, who is more historically significant and well-known.
Calzaghe is sort of like a Sven Ottke and Dariusz Michalczewski. Calzaghe dominated a division which has been historically thought of more of as a pass through division at the higher weights than a division itself, at least until undisputed world champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez put it on the map more recently.
Canelo was unable to step up and defeat Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight. Calzaghe, on the other hand, came to the USA, and came off the canvas in first round against both Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. to win both bouts by unanimous decision at 175 pounds against established world champions of note to close out his distinguished career in 2008 at 46-0.
To qualify Calzaghe, one has to qualify his historical merit. Calzaghe outpointed Chris Eubank in October 1997 at Sheffield Arena to win the vacant World Boxing Organisation World Super Middleweight title. At the time, the new WBO titles were considered to be more bogus, another obscure world title belt. Calzaghe immediately changed that perception.
When Calzaghe dropped Eubank and outpointed him, the WBO belt appeared on the radar map for the first time as Calzaghe presented himself as a legitimate world champion to try to beat. Sixteen challengers tried seventeen times and were unsuccessful at dethroning Calzaghe in the eight years which followed. Four more challengers tried, including the International Boxing Federation world champion 21-0 Jeff Lacy and 39-0 World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council World champion Mikkel Kessler. Calzaghe beat them all. The closest decision Calzaghe had to that point was a 12 round split decision title defense over Robin Reid at Newcastle in 1999. When Calzaghe retired in 2008 at 46-0, the Pride of Wales had nobody left to fight in his time. Calzaghe was never a household name. So it was. How Calzaghe would have fared against Canelo and others cannot be measured.
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