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Joe Calzaghe says one man stands above all others and is the greatest of all time: ‘He’s an icon’

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Joe Calzaghe says one man stands above all others as the greatest of all time: “He’s an icon”

Welsh boxing legend Joe Calzaghe is often hailed as the greatest of British history, but the long-reigning super middleweight ruler has declared that only one man in the entire world can truly be called “the greatest”.

Calzaghe held the WBO super middleweight title for over a decade and unified the belts thanks career-best victory over WBA and WBC champion Mikkel Kessler in 2007.

“The Italian Dragon” then moved up to lithe heavyweight for the final two appearances of his career, defeating Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr., maintaining his undefeated record and becoming one of the few to retire with the “0” intact.

However, in an interview with The Telegraph, Calzaghe chose the iconic Muhammad Ali rather than one of the other undefeated stars, calling him the “greatest” of all time. BBC.

“In 1,000 years, people will look back and say: him [Ali] “was the biggest”

“He’s the greatest boxing icon and the greatest sports icon of all time. He was my inspiration. I tried to copy some of his moves as soon as I started boxing at the age of 10 or 11.

“Boxing is the hardest sport in the world and at the time he was champion it wasn’t a great sport – it was on a slippery slope, but he transcended the sport with his personality and style.

“People loved him, he was something completely different, he supported it in the ring and everyone wanted to tune in and watch him fight.”

Ali became the first fighter to win the world heavyweight title three times when he defeated Leon Spinks in a rematch in 1978, and remains the only boxer in history to win Ring magazine’s Fighter of the Year award more than four times.

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Boxing

Lennox Lewis gives an truthful assessment of the Vitali Klitschko fight and the reasons he retired

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Lennox Lewis gives honest assessment of Vitali Klitschko fight and why he subsequently retired

Lennox Lewis surrendered on his own terms shortly after defeating Vitali Klitschko, but he still found it extremely arduous to hang up his gloves.

Before retiring, Lewis had firmly established himself as the all-time heavyweight champion, especially after he overtook Evander Holyfield for the undisputed crown in 1999.

Then “The Lion” would do it lost to Hasim Rahman in a shocker in 2001, then took revenge for the defeat by reaching the fourth round in the same year.

At this point he had beaten every fighter in the opposite corner, and he only continued this pattern after securing an eighth-round berth over Mike Tyson in 2002.

But instead of sailing off into the sunset, Lewis was convinced by his legendary trainer Emanuel Steward to fight Klitschko in 2003.

I’m talking to Heavenly sportsLewis said it was simply an opportunity to further cement his legacy by fighting the previous and potentially future heavyweight champion. He admitted that the performance was not pretty, but assured that he did his job.

“My coach Emanuel said, ‘Listen, you can beat the present and the future in this fight,’ and I said, ‘Well, I’ll take it.’ It wasn’t a pretty fight, but I still won.”

Indeed, it was a close fight between Lewis and Klitschko, who was ultimately stopped in the sixth round after suffering significant facial injuries.

However, Klitschko won the vacant WBC belt shortly thereafter and remained undefeated (defending the title 11 times) before retiring in 2012.

Meanwhile, Lewis was tempted to return several times, but was keenly aware of the focus and discipline he needed to compete at the highest level.

“There were many times I felt like jumping back into the ring, but stay focused [and] discipline kept me at bay.

“Let me tell you, it was difficult. I wanted to retire and say I wasn’t coming back and it was difficult to stay out of the ring. HBO gave me a job as a commentator and I was back there in front of boxing and trying to get away from boxing.

“I said I’ve done everything, I don’t have to prove anything anymore. So I stayed away from boxing.”

After retiring, Lewis became a widely respected pundit, analyst and commentator, largely due to his deep understanding of the sport.

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Boxing

Sulaiman says Shakur has huge all-time potential

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Image: Derek 'Bozy' Ennis to Shakur Stevenson: "You Don't Have to Prove Anything to Anybody"

“He’s a great fighter. He has everything,” Sulaiman told Ring Champs. “He has all-time potential. He’s a great fighter.”

Sulaiman said Stevenson’s skills have already been proven in multiple leagues, adding that the latest move has only strengthened his standing in the sport.

The comments came when Sulaiman was asked whether Stevenson could finally become boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighter. His answer was direct.

“I think so,” Sulaiman said. “He looks very good and sturdy in this weight class.”

Stevenson’s rise also became a major topic of conversation after the Teofimo fight. Sulaiman said the up-to-date division seemed to suit him physically.

At 28 years elderly, Stevenson is currently at the point in his career where accolades become expectations. Talent alone no longer divides him. The question is whether his upcoming fights match the level people currently see in him.

All the while, Sugar Ray Robinson was moving up from welterweight to middleweight and fighting the toughest monsters of his era without asking them to suck him parched. When you request a hydration clause, as Shakur did with Conor Benn at welterweight, you are essentially saying that you want your opponent to be at his weakest while you are at his best.

Sugar Ray Robinson didn’t ask for a “rehydration clause” during his fight with Jake LaMotta. He just went out and fought a much bigger, stronger man. If Shakur wants to be mentioned in the same breath, he must finally fight a fight in which he will not be the one dictated by physical disabilities.

Robinson didn’t ask for a “rehydration clause” in his fight with Jake LaMotta. He just went out and fought a much bigger, stronger man. If Shakur wants to be mentioned in the same breath, he must finally fight a fight in which he will not be the one dictated by physical disabilities.

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Boxing

Gervonta Davis called out by world champion for mega fight: “I need it”

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Gervonta Davis called out by world champion for mega fight: “I need it”

Gervonta Davis’ future is currently in doubt, but that’s not stopping one of the reigning world champions from calling out ‘Tank’ for a showdown.

It was over a year since Davis last saw action in March 2025 against Lamont Roach Jr. This fight ended in a controversial majority draw, but “Tank” still defended his WBA lightweight title.

Since then, however, the Baltimore man’s life has been extremely hard. A first-time exhibition with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, scheduled for November, was canceled after Davis found himself at the center of domestic violence allegations.

Further allegations led to “Tank” losing his WBA belt and being declared champion during his hiatus, but earlier this year reports surfaced that he could return against former foe and current WBC interim super lightweight champion Isaac Cruz.

After Ryan Garcia posted, it’s yet another former foe of Davis who is now calling for a rematch social media his intention to secure a second fight.

“I pray I get a tank rematch one day. I need it back on equal footing. I need it!!!”

Garcia suffered a seventh-round loss to Davis when they met in April 2023, but “King Ry” has repeatedly said since the fight that he was far from his best as it was a 136-pound catchweight fight with a 10-pound rehydration clause.

in February Garcia defeated Mario Barrios to win the WBC welterweight titleand if Davis decides to campaign at 147 pounds, the prospect of winning world titles in another weight class could tempt him into a rematch with “King Ry.”

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