The stats on Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler are as follows:
Age Stance height reach record titles defending
Calzaghe: 35 southpaw 5'11 1/2" 73" 43-0, 32KOs WBO
Kessler: 28 orthodox 6'1" 73" 38-0, 29KOs WBA, WBC
Kessler is stand up fighter and works behind a powerful jab followed by a strong right hand, similar to Kelly Pavlik except Kessler has quicker feet and hands (power not as devastating as Pavlik's though, IMO). He is very accurate with his punches and has excellent timing. I'm not sure of the quality of his chin (no implication one way or the other here), but he was tagged pretty solidly by Mundine without effect.
Calzaghe on the attack has a unique "windmilling" type of style in that it is controlled and accurate. These punches typically rain in from all angles. He is a counterpuncher and is capable of jabbing effectively. He has very fast hands and while his left-right hooks sometimes appear to be "slapping", they are deceptively powerful. He has quick feet and excellent timing. He is adept at slipping punches. Because of these attributes, Calzaghe will get inside and smother opponents with combinations that are sometimes thrown from waste level to generate power. Calzaghe has an excellent chin, IMO.
Clip of both fighters in action:
I'm giving the nod to Calzaghe in a toss-up fight for two reasons. First, Calzaghe has shown no signs of age in recent fights. Second, Calzaghe has the home court advantage. I wouldn't put money on this fight though. Kessler is a formidable boxer and I would not be surprised if he wins.
Tonight he steps into the ring against a young, unquestionably skilled and talented champion in his own right against Kessler. Tonight is Joe's judgement day. He thus far can be called a good fighter and a winner. No doubt a man whose made millions by throwing his fists can be called a winner. But if he wins tonight he will make the transition from good to great, no doubt he will get all the props many think he deserves if he pulls a great win out tonight. However, if he loses, then all those who dismissed him as a stay at home fighter who sought every advantage against not truly skilled competition will have been proved right to some degree and Joe's legacy will take a severe hit.
I can't wait anymore, let's get it on!!!
I agree with this..................
Both fighters are unique though, not just Roy. At 168 in their primes, I wouldn't dare bet against Roy. However, people have written off Calzaghe before, and they have all been proven wrong. At some point, one has to sit back and acknowledge what Calzaghe is. He's a winner.
Tonight he steps into the ring against a young, unquestionably skilled and talented champion in his own right against Kessler. Tonight is Joe's judgement day. He thus far can be called a good fighter and a winner. No doubt a man whose made millions by throwing his fists can be called a winner. But if he wins tonight he will make the transition from good to great, no doubt he will get all the props many think he deserves if he pulls a great win out tonight. However, if he loses, then all those who dismissed him as a stay at home fighter who sought every advantage against not truly skilled competition will have been proved right to some degree and Joe's legacy will take a severe hit.
I can't wait anymore, let's get it on!!!
Wiley, a 27 year old RJJ at 168 is nothing like the latter 35 year old LHW version of RJJ. Roy in his prime at 168 actually used his legs...A LOT. He moved around the ring so fluidly and I don't think there was ever a boxer more evasive and unhittable than Roy. Roy was so fast he used to avoid straight rights and lefts by stepping straight back. That is a huge no-no in boxing and the only other guy who could get away with crap like that was Muhammad Ali in his prime. Joe would try and make it a sloppy affair and tie up roy and make it a messy fight on the inside but Roy didn't play that game at 168. Throw all conventional tactics out the window when talking about Roy at this weight because he had absolutely every advantage. He chicken winged Toney at 160, I think he would've Turkey'd Joe at 168 for sure.
Both fighters are unique though, not just Roy. At 168 in their primes, I wouldn't dare bet against Roy. However, people have written off Calzaghe before, and they have all been proven wrong. At some point, one has to sit back and acknowledge what Calzaghe is. He's a winner.
Hear what you're saying but Roy was wide open too. I think Calzaghe could have unexpectedly given Roy a tough time. Not convinced Cal would have won, but it would not have been a blow out. Calzaghe lands inside and Roy's jaw is unpredictably fragile.
Wiley, a 27 year old RJJ at 168 is nothing like the latter 35 year old LHW version of RJJ. Roy in his prime at 168 actually used his legs...A LOT. He moved around the ring so fluidly and I don't think there was ever a boxer more evasive and unhittable than Roy. Roy was so fast he used to avoid straight rights and lefts by stepping straight back. That is a huge no-no in boxing and the only other guy who could get away with crap like that was Muhammad Ali in his prime. Joe would try and make it a sloppy affair and tie up roy and make it a messy fight on the inside but Roy didn't play that game at 168. Throw all conventional tactics out the window when talking about Roy at this weight because he had absolutely every advantage. He chicken winged Toney at 160, I think he would've Turkey'd Joe at 168 for sure.
RJJ at 168 might as well be labeled an alien extra terrestrial. He was out of this world and would've clowned Joe Calzaghe...and I mean CLOWNED him. Roy would've been two steps ahead of Sloppy Joe the entire fight and would have picked him apart and knocked him out. Joe is wide open when he swarms in and Roy would've punished him for this. RJJ all day every day, anyone who says otherwise is just a Calzaghe nut-tickler.
Picture Sloppy Joe coming in squared up and forward with those wide slapping punches against RJJ at 168..LOL, it would've been a disaster.
Hear what you're saying but Roy was wide open too. I think Calzaghe could have unexpectedly given Roy a tough time. Not convinced Cal would have won, but it would not have been a blow out. Calzaghe lands inside and Roy's jaw is unpredictably fragile.
Yeah, cos James Toney didnt fight anyone at 168 when he was the Pound 4 pound number one fighter in the world.
:lol1:
You ever see roy jones at 168 pounds?
:lol1:
Ill be honest now, i dont think Robin Reid would have got a split decison with either of these two guys at that weight.
RJJ at 168 might as well be labeled an alien extra terrestrial. He was out of this world and would've clowned Joe Calzaghe...and I mean CLOWNED him. Roy would've been two steps ahead of Sloppy Joe the entire fight and would have picked him apart and knocked him out. Joe is wide open when he swarms in and Roy would've punished him for this. RJJ all day every day, anyone who says otherwise is just a Calzaghe nut-tickler.
Picture Sloppy Joe coming in squared up and forward with those wide slapping punches against RJJ at 168..LOL, it would've been a disaster.
Can I just remind you Joey cal is undoubtedly the best super middleweight ever
You're smoking the hash my friend. I'll give you this much. IF, Calzaghe wins convincingly tonight, he cracks top 3 best super-middle of all time in my honest opinion. But, all you Calzaghe fans must be shitting in your pants right now, because if Calzaghe loses to Kessler tonight, he might as well flush his legacy down the toilet because he will forever be labeled a 'stay at home Joe' who made money by fighting stiffs in his backyard as a local attraction. A LOT is on the line tonight for Joe Calzaghe.....
maybe i think it would have been a great fight but i would still say cals the best ever at that weight and if he beats kessler and has another two big fights i think that will cement it
If he beats Kessler tonight, Calzaghe will be an ATG. No more fights are necessary. But, beating Kessler is going to be a very difficult feat. Both men are top ten p4p IMO.
Toney was undefeated and was the pound for pound number one, im pretty sure of it, check it out, if im wrong, i still dont care, because toney was a better fighter at 160-168 then Calzaghe was.
maybe i think it would have been a great fight but i would still say cals the best ever at that weight and if he beats kessler and has another two big fights i think that will cement it
toney was p4p number 2 and and RJJ only had 6 fights at that weight
Toney was undefeated and was the pound for pound number one, im pretty sure of it, check it out, if im wrong, i still dont care, because toney was a better fighter at 160-168 then Calzaghe was.
Yeah, cos James Toney didnt fight anyone at 168 when he was the Pound 4 pound number one fighter in the world.
:lol1:
You ever see roy jones at 168 pounds?
:lol1:
Ill be honest now, i dont think Robin Reid would have got a split decison with either of these two guys at that weight.
toney was p4p number 2 and and RJJ only had 6 fights at that weight
Can I just remind you Joey cal is undoubtedly the best super middleweight ever
Yeah, cos James Toney didnt fight anyone at 168 when he was the Pound 4 pound number one fighter in the world.
:lol1:
You ever see roy jones at 168 pounds?
:lol1:
Ill be honest now, i dont think Robin Reid would have got a split decison with either of these two guys at that weight.
Let's get it straight people: This fight is not Leonard-Hearns. It is not Jones-Toney. It is not even Delahoya-Trinidad or Mayweather-Hatton.
This is for the European championship. These guys have 80 fights and have not faced top world-class talent in/around their weight class. The vast bulk of that talent happens to compete in America.
Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler can go have dinner at an ESPNZone and enjoy a quiet meal.
At the end of the day, this fight is a big yawn.
Can I just remind you Joey cal is undoubtedly the best super middleweight ever
Let's get it straight people: This fight is not Leonard-Hearns. It is not Jones-Toney. It is not even Delahoya-Trinidad or Mayweather-Hatton.
This is for the European championship. These guys have 80 fights and have not faced top world-class talent in/around their weight class. The vast bulk of that talent happens to compete in America.
Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler can go have dinner at an ESPNZone and enjoy a quiet meal.
At the end of the day, this fight is a big yawn.
Your right, these guys keep ducking the great American Super-Middleweights out there. Cowards, the both of them.
Calzaghe does slap because he cant afford to break his hands, to be honest though its not the power that Kessler will have trouble with, its the speed, Kessler will try and turn this fight into a chess match behind the jab, if calzaghe is smart he will swarm Kessler early and put him under pressure, because the bottom line is Kessler is not hot going forward and aint seen anything like the speed he will see tonight. If calazghe fights a slow methodical pace, he is askin for trouble, if he does what he does best, fight on instinct, he can win the fight easy.
I dont think that I can ever remember Calzaghe fighting a slow methodical pace.
Calzaghe does slap because he cant afford to break his hands, to be honest though its not the power that Kessler will have trouble with, its the speed, Kessler will try and turn this fight into a chess match behind the jab, if calzaghe is smart he will swarm Kessler early and put him under pressure, because the bottom line is Kessler is not hot going forward and aint seen anything like the speed he will see tonight. If calazghe fights a slow methodical pace, he is askin for trouble, if he does what he does best, fight on instinct, he can win the fight easy.
Idk how he will fight... Wide punches are amazing punches because they confuse opponents... hmmm.... Idk!!! fight of the year canidate this fight might be
they wont be amazing for Calzaghe if kessler counters with a straight right down the pipe and ends Calzaghe's long title rein.
you call that slapping?
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa24/elitesoldier2/l_01c10bd6ed31017821b0f70f04384399.gif
Then he slaps hard. And its entertaining. He doesn't fight the whole fight with a jab and a right cross like Kessler does.
Kessler= JAB, JAB, JAB, JAB waiting... More jabs... Right cross... It wins fights for him though... I dont like it though
Why does the slapping look like its painful to get slapped by calzaghe? Because he isn't a one punch power guy but the guy can hit hard as fuck at times.
oh i agree with you. its just that in the video he looks like he is slapping.
you call that slapping?
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa24/elitesoldier2/l_01c10bd6ed31017821b0f70f04384399.gif
Then he slaps hard. And its entertaining. He doesn't fight the whole fight with a jab and a right cross like Kessler does.
Kessler= JAB, JAB, JAB, JAB waiting... More jabs... Right cross... It wins fights for him though... I dont like it though
LMAO! in that video it does actually looks like he is slapping the hell out of that man.
18y ago
The Stats on Calzaghe-Kessler | BoxingScene Community
![Rico Verhoeven [right] clouts Oleksandr Usyk in Egypt on May 23, 2026](https://photo.boxingscene.com/uploads/Oleksandr-Usyk-Rico-Verhoeven-20.webp)
