Calzaghe splits with Warren

[Shaggy]

Hahahahahaha that is ****ing unreal!

Agree with every word Chris has said - a complete and utter ****ing sham!!

[Joe King]

Enzo talking bollocks again. He would be in for a shock if Pavlik stood up to Calzaghe. Calzaghe is too old for 'The Ghost'. Pavlik's double jab is too quick and caught out Taylor twice. Calzaghe cares too much about his 0 rather than fighting the best out there.

[Darth Marty]

Whilst I think all you lot are clueless regarding Boxing heres some other, obviously more knowledgeable, peoples opinions


The great P4P debate
With Mayweather gone, just who is boxing's new number one?

Pacquaio: new number one?

Naseem Hamed - used to blowing his own trumpet for so long - recently told me that Floyd would be remembered as the finest fighter to ever lace on the gloves.

by Adam Smith

I for one, think it will be sadder for our sport if we no longer witness the dazzling skills of Floyd Mayweather Jr who, as all boxing fans know, has seemingly retired.

He's threatened this before, but maybe this time he means it. Still, never say never when money, ego and politics are involved.

I was interested in Glenn McCrory's blog last week. Yes, Mayweather didn't always please the fans, referring to multi-million-dollar deals as 'slave contracts' and often showcasing his ability on the back foot. But if you can make serious money, and you don't need to fight 'toe-to-toe,' then isn't that just fine?

Like Glenn, I am very much in the Floyd Mayweather appreciation club. I thought he was simply breathtaking, from the first moment I saw him live in the semi-finals of the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. He was robbed blind, and that was the last time he was ever defeated. For anyone who was there, it should not have happened.

I have never been as impressed with any fighter in training as I was with Mayweather, and I was fortunate enough to see many sessions. He always gave us non-stop shows where frenetically hard work was mixed with entertainment and light fun.

Floyd first jumped rope at the age of three and his routine of skipping tricks is utterly bewildering.

In the ring, he was one of the greatest world super-featherweight champions who ever lived, and then went on to dominate and win world titles at lightweight, light-welterweight, welterweight and light-middleweight. In my view, he will be sorely missed.

Greatest

Naseem Hamed - used to blowing his own trumpet for so long - recently told me that Floyd would be remembered as the finest fighter to ever lace on the gloves. There will always be arguments about statements like that, but safe to say, Mayweather was definitely one of the best, and certainly the greatest of this generation.

With the retirement of virtually everyone's top pound-for-pound fighter, it seemed the perfect time to assess the leading contenders and champions out there. I will be doing this in two parts over the next two weeks.

Pound-for-pound is the term used to describe a boxer's value in relation to boxers of different weight classes.

This debate is so subjective as you will see from the lists below. But it's a bit of fun, so please join in and enter your own to do battle with the Sky Sports boxing team.

These are the thoughts of my closest colleagues who, for season after season have been doing so many of the brilliant features on these fighters. Many have been here for years and their knowledge is excellent.

But the big question is - do you agree with them?

ED ROBINSON DECLAN JOHNSON CHARLES LAWRENCE
1 Manny Pacquiao Miguel Cotto Manny Pacquiao
2 Joe Calzaghe Manny Pacquiao Miguel Cotto
3 Miguel Cotto Joe Calzaghe Joe Calzaghe
4 Kelly Pavlik Juan Manuel Marquez Israel Vazquez
5 Israel Vazquez Kelly Pavlik Kelly Pavlik
6 Chris John Israel Vazquez Paul Williams
7 Juan Manuel Marquez Bernard Hopkins David Haye
8 Ivan Calderon Chris John Jorge Linares
9 David Haye Cristian Mijares Chad Dawson
10 Rafael Marquez Ivan Calderon Ivan Calderon

BEN COMPTON JON BELOFF TIM HOBBS
1 Manny Pacquiao Manny Pacquiao Manny Pacquiao
2 Kelly Pavlik Miguel Cotto Joe Calzaghe
3 Joe Calzaghe Joe Calzaghe Miguel Cotto
4 Miguel Cotto Juan Manuel Marquez Kelly Pavlik
5 Juan Manuel Marquez Kelly Pavlik Juan Manuel Marquez
6 David Haye Bernard Hopkins Israel Vazquez
7 Israel Vazquez Israel Vazquez Rafael Marquez
8 Joan Guzman Rafael Marquez Chris John
9 Bernard Hopkins Winky Wright David Haye
10 Ivan Calderon Ivan Calderon Wladimir Klitschko

These fighters all certainly have a case to be involved, and I think most (but maybe not all) of the serious candidates have been mentioned.

Please write in this week with YOUR Top 10's. I will have a good look at them and next week, make my attempt!

Whatever we all choose, I'll tell you something - if Mayweather returns, he is straight back to the top of the charts. In fact I think he's long been in a league of his own.


Comments
David Deacon says...

There are some great fighters out there at the moment which made this decision all the more difficult. 1. Manny Pacquiao 2. Miguel Cotto 3. Kelly Pavlik 4. Juan Manuel Marquez 5. Winky Wright 6. Isreal Vazquez 7. Chris John 8. Nate Campbell 9. Cristian Mijares 10. Wladimir Klitschko

Posted 13:53 26th June 2008
Leigh Mackay says...

1) Miguel Cotto, 3) Manny Pacquiao, 2) Joe Calzaghe, 4) Israel Vasquez, 5) Joan Guzman, 6) Kelly Pavlik, 7) Juan Manuel Marquez, 8) Antonio Margarito, 9) Ricky Hatton, 10) David Haye. Also like to add as good as Mayweather was (The Best) he knew that their was plenty of up and coming youner fighters who could take him out. I think he's left the game while hes on top and I for one don't blame him for it. He'll be back for 100,000 screaming Hatton fans at Wembley though. No doubt about it.

Posted 13:53 26th June 2008
Garry Mcintyre says...

1. Manny Pacquiao 2. Miguel Cotto 3. Joe Calzaghe 4 . Kelly Pavlik 5. David Haye 6. Ricky Hatton 7. Juan Manuel Marquez 8. Paul Williams 9. Vladimar Klitcho 10. Bernard Hopkins

Posted 12:19 26th June 2008
Horatio Shirley says...

1. Cotto 2. Calderon 3. Pacquio 4. Marquez 5. Pavlik 6. Calzaghe 7. Paul 8. Vazquez 9. Haye 10. Winky Wright

Posted 12:01 26th June 2008
Ben Sandell says...

It is extremly hard but here`s mine, I cant beleive some people have Pavlik aheah of Calzaghe? How could he possibly be? Great fighter but apart from Taylor he still needs some more names on his record. 1. Joe Calzaghe 2. Manny Pacquiao 3. Miguel Cotto 4. David Haye 5. Kelly Pavlik 6. Israel Vazquez 7. Juan Manuel Marquez 8. Joan Guzman 9. Ricky Hatton 10.Wladimir Klitschko

Posted 11:59 26th June 2008
Peter Ginley says...

A few strange selections the boys. How can you have Hopkins or Winky in your top 10 p4p? Hopkins, who fights once year and throws about 20 punchs per round. Or Winky whose hasnt even lined up another fight yet and its well over a year - plus he got beat in his las fight. Mine are as follows 1) Manny Pacquiao 2) Joe Calzaghe 3) Miguel Cotto 4) Kelly Pavlik 5) Israel Vazquez 6) Rafael Marquez 7) Juan Manuel Marquez 8) David Haye 9) Ivan Calderon 10) Paul Williams

Posted 11:48 26th June 2008
David Price says...

First off, great article. Now here's the Top Ten P4P: 1) Miguel Cotto, 2) Manny Pacquiao, 3) Joe Calzaghe, 4) Israel Vasquez, 5) Joan Guzman, 6) Kelly Pavlik, 7) Juan Manuel Marquez, 8) Antonio Margarito, 9) Chris John, 10) Juan Manuel Lopez / Andre Berto

Posted 11:29 26th June 2008
Niall Mcgovern says...

1. Manny Pacquiao 2. Joe Calzaghe 3. Miguel Cotto 4. Kelly Pavlik 5. Israel Vazquez 6. Edwin Valero 7. Paul Williams 8. Antonio Margarito 9. Ricky Hatton 10. David Haye
Darth Marty is online now Report Post Edit/Delete Message

[Shaggy]

Not sure what that post's all about, Marty........other than a flagrant avoidance of the issue at hand!

[Darth Marty]

It was just meant to highlight that people actually rate calzaghe. Thats all.

[Shaggy]

I dare say every poster in this thread rates him too - I certainly do. Of course I do. That isn't the point though. I just see through Warren and Enzo's laughable hype.

And as has been pointed out elsewhere, these P4P lists have Pavlik featuring prominently - with Roy Jones Jr absolutely ****ing nowhere! Case rested!

[Darth Marty]

As I have said before I think Jones Jnr is past it too, and I rate Pavlik. For me the constant Calzaghe abuse is tedious and all id like is for all parties to say, yes we rate calzaghe but yes he could have done more with a better promoter/more desire. And leave it there.

But there you are.....

[Chris]

It was just meant to highlight that people actually rate calzaghe. Thats all.

Errr everyone does! Thats why people get pissed off with the ****e he's trying to arrange now, if people didnt rate him they wouldnt want him v Pavlik as there'd be no point. People want to see the best fights made. No one asks for Audley Harrison v Klitschko for example thats because no one rates Harrison and rightly so.

I dont mind him fighting Jones, if he wants to thats his choice (though I dont agree with it) but I do mind taking the piss out of boxing fans with him and his dad going on about how Jones is still great when Joe himself called him finished 3 years ago!

[Shaggy]

As I have said before I think Jones Jnr is past it too, and I rate Pavlik. For me the constant Calzaghe abuse is tedious and all id like is for all parties to say, yes we rate calzaghe but yes he could have done more with a better promoter/more desire. And leave it there.

But there you are.....

But if we did with every topic of discussion this place would shut down.

I don't see any abuse being doled out to Calzaghe either - just a few people able to see through the bull**** peddled by Enzo and Warren.

[Darth Marty]

But surely a good debate is when there are 2 sides and people argue their sides and listen to the other sides point of view? As I see it theres only ****ing me pro calzaghe here and when I put my point of view forward its dismissed and im basically told im wrong?!

Anyway im sounding like a right spoilt woman here so ill leave it at that.

[Chris]

when I put my point of view forward its dismissed and im basically told im wrong?!

You havent put your opinion forward. And it's not about being pro Calzaghe or not anyway.

I'm pro Calzaghe but that doesnt mean I cant look at his faults.

[Sarb]

One last pay day for Calzaghe. Should just come out and admit it...he's fighting Jones Jr for the money. Enzo was out of line what he said about Pavlik. Can't knock Joe for not fighting Pavlik as Pavlik would run him close. Enzo needs to cut out the excuses.

Don't think any of Warren's fighters can be regarded as pound for pound the best. He milks them for all the money he can by getting them to fight no marks. When the boxers wise up it's at the end of their career anyway

[calvoboy]

Aye - that would sell tickets, "I'm fighting him because I think my work is done and my legacy secured so I'm just going to fight some has been because I'll get more money doing that than fighting someone who might steal my unbeaten record in my last fight". Even if that's what he is doing, he's hardly going to come out and admit it in the build up to the fight is he.

Someone said that Calzaghe has merely dominated an uncompetitive division - that's just nonsense. Being champion for that lenght of time is no easy task, and ALL weight divisions look uncompetitive when you completely dominate them for a prolonged period of time. Lewis had the same problem when he'd beaten everyone in the heavyweight division. It's true that Calzaghe has suffered from not having an obvious serious rival for most of his career though.

The bottom line though is that Calzaghe has been a fantastic fighter who has completely dominated his division for over 10 years, is rated by most serious judges as one of the top 5 pound for pound fighters in the world, and will probably retire undefeated. I don't blame him for wanting one last pay day and exiting the game to make way for the new kids on the block such as Froch etc. There's no money and a whole lot of risk in fighting them, so what's the point when you are on the verge of retirement and have far better offers coming your way?