By Edward Chaykovsky
Joe Calzaghe, who this past weekend was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, says a fight with Carl Froch would not have been close - and experts can't compare their respective careers. Calzaghe retired, undefeated in 46 fights, as Froch was coming up in the ranks.
Calzaghe says Froch struggled in his biggest tests and has never been considered to be the best fighter of his division, which is the same weight division where Calzaghe built his career before going up to light heavyweight.
“People say that Froch has had 12 world title defences, well I had 25. People say he’s a three-time world champion, but that just means he lost twice, whereas I was undefeated. You can’t compare Carl Froch to me; it’s not a fair comparison. Carl has never been the best of the best. He wasn’t when he lost to Kessler and everyone now would acknowledge he’s not at the same level as Andre Ward," Calzaghe told South Wales Argus.
“He (Froch) has struggled in the biggest examinations of his career, even against George Groves who was 19-0; you would say it could have gone either way. Mikkel Kessler was undefeated when I beat him, at the peak of his powers and then I went to America. As far as I am concerned there is no comparison. I finished at the top, I got there and stayed there and I honestly don’t believe a fight between us would even have been close. Carl has a good chin and he hits hard, but styles make fights and I’d have been much, much too fast for him.
“When I watch him fight it frustrates me, because I think what I could have done, but its all hindsight. Eubank, Collins and Benn all dipped at the end of their careers and that’s why I wouldn’t change anything. My time was my time; I can’t do anything to alter how history will view the names who I beat.
“For the Americans to give me the respect, which took years, I felt like I went out in dominant fashion and I can’t have regrets about that. But I suppose part of me wishes I could’ve fought and beaten Carl.”
