Honestly, the way people talk about Calzaghe fighting a shot and past his sell by date Jones, you would think that Calzaghe is a young, in his prime fighter. The fact is Calzaghe is almost 37 years old. One could argue he is a relic of the Calzaghe that was around from 1997-2005. Some people argue that his best wins came in the last few years and they would be right, but come on, if a 27 year old Calzaghe fought Lacy and Kessler he would have knocked them out. I just can't understand why people don't acknowledge that Calzaghe is an old man in boxing terms. There is only 2 years between Joe and Roy. If anybody should be labelled as a OAP basher, it should be Pavlik not Joe. I'm not a Calzaghe fan boy, I just think that people are unwarranted in their criticism of Joe's choice of fight. Anyway, I think it will be a good show and a good way to say goodbye to two great fighters. I just hope Jones retires after this so Pavlik doesn't jump on the old man bandwagon.
i think joe is still hungry though and joe still fights like a young man. i was watching a documentary about marvin hagler at one point and how he was always overlooked and he felt as though he never get the recognition that he deserved, i think in may ways calzaghe is the modern day fighter that hasn't been given his due credit.
like marvin joe sat on the top of his division for years he beat all of the top 10 in his division whether they were ex champs or champs but the praise always eluded him in favour of the other fighters like leonard (the good looks and silky skills) and duran and hearns (there always was huge interest in hearns it was the first time there was such a big welterweight).
both fighters only really got their big fights and money makers during the end of their careers and beause of that we never really saw the best of them however both fighters even when they were older were still hungry to take on and beat the best big names because they felt that they had point to prove.
marvin had to take on duran before he got hearns and mugabi before he got leanoard, joe had to take on lacy before he finally got a unification fight as well.
joe fights like a young man, he fights like that because his windmilling style is effective because of his brittle hands but also because he is naturally an aggressive fighter i dont think joe could fight like bernard hopkins does. not that he doesn't have that boxing brain but he just loves a good tear up. imo prime calzaghe was between mario veit omar sheika (2000 - 2002), against lacey he was not far off his prime. personally i think that the joe of 200-2002 was the best joe we will ever see he had the blinding handpeed could set a ridiculously high pace for the fight but at the same time he had a boxing brain that is alsmot as good as now.
but since then his speed has vastly deteriorated,in fact i think hes lost too much off it yet i still think he could beat anyone at 168-175, in fact most people do so imagine what he could have done in his prime!! the fact that a past hisprime calzaghe is so highly regarded speaks volumes of his talent ability and most importantly like marvin hagler his mentailty and self confidence.
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PAK SUZUKI MOTOR HISTORY
Calzaghe has not shown any evidence of being past his best, with the exception of his brittle hands of course. He even has more true skill then he was when he was peaking, he uses more angles and is a better boxer. The young Calzaghe relied on his power more, and Hopkins even at that stage would have beaten him if he had that style because it would have made him more easy to figure out.
Oh and i think that Dawson and Johnson would give Calzaghe life and death. I wish Dawson and Joe fight if they both took care of their upcoming opponents.
There's some validity in this, Calzaghe wasn't quite as good technically, didn't use quite as many angles say 5 years ago. However it's not by a big margin and most boxers get better technically over time. Furthermore, it was Joe and his angles and looping that got him floored and countered, so not doing so as much may well have helped him.
A bigger difference 5 years ago between them would have been Hopkins defence and countering. It also wasn't as good 5 years ago as it is now, and by a bigger margin. So I'd still see Calzaghe winning.
As for Dawson and Johnson, I don't see Joe being caught by more than the usual couple of really hard shots which generally don't hinder him, if anything charge him up. I don't thing either have the adaptability or astuteness to pull off a win over a confusing Calzaghe with varying styles over 12 rounds. Johnson isn't the most varying and tactical guy changing throughout, and nor was Dawson against just that. Infact he looked confused faced with a simpler opponent.
Seriously? Is this a joke thread or something? Joe is a good fighter but he is soo overrated it's ridiculous we've never seen the man against top, prime opposition until the last few fights in his career and don't think this is the first time he's fought old men he's been beating down old men his whole career. *Tarver, Dawson, Johnson and Erdei would beat the bricks off Joe C's overrated ass.
*I think he would beat all of them, quite easily.
People just see Roy as older and more worn than Joe C, which is true. I don't see Joe gettin old overnite tho, so if RJ wins he's gonna have to fight hard to do it.
It's not about age, people age differently, Calzaghe is 37, but that doesn't make him washed up,he may not be in his prime, but you can't just look at the number, you have to see how he fights, and he hasn't really shown much signs of him wearing out during fights.
haha your takin the piss right??? tarver, dawson, johnson, erdie?? calzaghe would beat the shit out off all of those, kessler would easly beat them all and calzaghe beat him by a reasonably wide margin.
and this is based on.............................no idea but heres a cool gif of your hero doing his "thang"
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/barobinson1/hopcalz-1.gif?t=1218784000
haha your takin the piss right??? tarver, dawson, johnson, erdie?? calzaghe would beat the shit out off all of those, kessler would easly beat them all and calzaghe beat him by a reasonably wide margin.
Calzaghe has not shown any evidence of being past his best, with the exception of his brittle hands of course. He even has more true skill then he was when he was peaking, he uses more angles and is a better boxer. The young Calzaghe relied on his power more, and Hopkins even at that stage would have beaten him if he had that style because it would have made him more easy to figure out.
Oh and i think that Dawson and Johnson would give Calzaghe life and death. I wish Dawson and Joe fight if they both took care of their upcoming opponents.
Seriously? Is this a joke thread or something? Joe is a good fighter but he is soo overrated it's ridiculous we've never seen the man against top, prime opposition until the last few fights in his career and don't think this is the first time he's fought old men he's been beating down old men his whole career. Tarver, Dawson, Johnson and Erdei would beat the bricks off Joe C's overrated ass.
haha your takin the piss right??? tarver, dawson, johnson, erdie?? calzaghe would beat the shit out off all of those, kessler would easly beat them all and calzaghe beat him by a reasonably wide margin.
Even a few years past his prime Calzaghe is still better than anyone at 168-175.
Seriously? Is this a joke thread or something? Joe is a good fighter but he is soo overrated it's ridiculous we've never seen the man against top, prime opposition until the last few fights in his career and don't think this is the first time he's fought old men he's been beating down old men his whole career. Tarver, Dawson, Johnson and Erdei would beat the bricks off Joe C's overrated ass.
Joe Calzaghe in his physical prime was taking the piss out of Tocker Pudwill, and Mger Mgertchian.
I think Old Calzaghe beats Young Calzaghe UD. Unless old Calzaghe breaks his hands, then young Calzaghe might even stop himself.
Even a few years past his prime Calzaghe is still better than anyone at 168-175.
Is true. He's still at least 5 years past his prime though.
A prime Calzaghe vs a prime Jones would have been the stuff of legends. Never an option sadly as their primes never really coincided.