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There was a time when one despaired over whom super middleweight king Joe Calzaghe would face next. After a breathtaking 2003 win over the dangerous American Byron Mitchell – whom the Welshman stopped with an unanswered 50-punch volley after being dropped himself in a chaotic second round – should have taken Joe to imminent stardom, his position among the sport’s best was not consolidated.
Considering the discrepancy between Calzaghe’s talent set against such ever diminishing foes as Miguel Angel Jiminez, Tocker Pudwill, Kabary Salem and Evans Ashira, and not forgetting some disconcertingly passionless performances, once could be forgiven for being hard on the ‘Pride of Wales’ – especially if you never saw his excellent, 1997-2000 wins over the likes of former title-holders Chris Eubank, Richie Woodhall and Charles ‘Hatchet’ Brewer.
Indeed, it would be nearly three whole years before he would face another opponent considered truly world class, let alone in the top three or four in his division. Over the period between the Jiminez and the Salem fights, Jeff ‘Left Hook’ Lacy’s standing grew from unimpressive undercard fighter (the American fighting far down the show on a couple of Sports Network cards headlined by Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton) to that of a highly regarded young titlist with a decapitating ‘Left Hook’.
After a 12 round battering by Calzaghe, Lacy – who didn’t win a single round last month – has slipped a few rungs down the 168-lb ladder. Calzaghe has finally been acknowledged among the pound for pound stars of the sport, but we have to wonder why nearly three years were wasted. [details]
Considering the discrepancy between Calzaghe’s talent set against such ever diminishing foes as Miguel Angel Jiminez, Tocker Pudwill, Kabary Salem and Evans Ashira, and not forgetting some disconcertingly passionless performances, once could be forgiven for being hard on the ‘Pride of Wales’ – especially if you never saw his excellent, 1997-2000 wins over the likes of former title-holders Chris Eubank, Richie Woodhall and Charles ‘Hatchet’ Brewer.
Indeed, it would be nearly three whole years before he would face another opponent considered truly world class, let alone in the top three or four in his division. Over the period between the Jiminez and the Salem fights, Jeff ‘Left Hook’ Lacy’s standing grew from unimpressive undercard fighter (the American fighting far down the show on a couple of Sports Network cards headlined by Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton) to that of a highly regarded young titlist with a decapitating ‘Left Hook’.
After a 12 round battering by Calzaghe, Lacy – who didn’t win a single round last month – has slipped a few rungs down the 168-lb ladder. Calzaghe has finally been acknowledged among the pound for pound stars of the sport, but we have to wonder why nearly three years were wasted. [details]