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I've just realised that I've predicted he'd lose forever, now.
I said in 1992 that Dean Francis would conquer him at the ABA's, I was wrong (though almost right). Joe got the upper hand in a two-round shootout.
I said Karl Barwise would beat him because I saw what he could do when he had a training camp (and wasn't taking fights on a few hours notice) - against Mark Baker, and Joe had barely any rounds under his belt. I was left to hang my head in shame as Joe blew him away.
I said Bobbie Joe Edwards (Eubank's cousin) would beat him because he was a cruiserweight and would be too big and strong, Joe made him look pathetic.
I said Eubank would land a big right hand in the latter rounds because Calzaghe had never been in the trenches, and would go down and be taken out. I was wrong, Joe proved he was hard as nails that night.
I said Omar Sheika would be too much for him because his hand had gone in his previous three fights but Reid, Thornberry and Starie were very much counter-punchers and boxers (which allowed Joe to out-work them) while Sheika was a swarming slugger. Joe won an exciting war in exciting style - he wasn't lying when he said he hadn't seen a specialist about the hand before his previous two fights because he had a family to feed, but had done after the Starie fight and was now ready for war.
I said Mario Veit would beat him on points in Germany because Calzaghe was struggling with the weight so much and his head was all over the place with the messy divorce and custody battle, I was wrong. I now know Joe put it one of his most sizzling performances ever (having seen the fight taped from German TV).
I said Jeff Lacy would take him out in three rounds or less because I'd been informed that Joe couldn't spar or hit the bags because his hand was hurting, and expected him to fight like he usually does ie trying to take his opponents head off from the opening bell and not stopping until the fights over. I was wrong, Joe decided to 'box' for the only time I've ever seen apart from the Bobbie Joe Edwards fight and boxed Lacy's ears off.
I'm saying right now that I'd bet my house on Bernard Hopkins beating him convincingly, landing lead right hands and counter right hands alnight long because Joe is too square-on. Will Joe prove me wrong again? I hope so.
I said in 1992 that Dean Francis would conquer him at the ABA's, I was wrong (though almost right). Joe got the upper hand in a two-round shootout.
I said Karl Barwise would beat him because I saw what he could do when he had a training camp (and wasn't taking fights on a few hours notice) - against Mark Baker, and Joe had barely any rounds under his belt. I was left to hang my head in shame as Joe blew him away.
I said Bobbie Joe Edwards (Eubank's cousin) would beat him because he was a cruiserweight and would be too big and strong, Joe made him look pathetic.
I said Eubank would land a big right hand in the latter rounds because Calzaghe had never been in the trenches, and would go down and be taken out. I was wrong, Joe proved he was hard as nails that night.
I said Omar Sheika would be too much for him because his hand had gone in his previous three fights but Reid, Thornberry and Starie were very much counter-punchers and boxers (which allowed Joe to out-work them) while Sheika was a swarming slugger. Joe won an exciting war in exciting style - he wasn't lying when he said he hadn't seen a specialist about the hand before his previous two fights because he had a family to feed, but had done after the Starie fight and was now ready for war.
I said Mario Veit would beat him on points in Germany because Calzaghe was struggling with the weight so much and his head was all over the place with the messy divorce and custody battle, I was wrong. I now know Joe put it one of his most sizzling performances ever (having seen the fight taped from German TV).
I said Jeff Lacy would take him out in three rounds or less because I'd been informed that Joe couldn't spar or hit the bags because his hand was hurting, and expected him to fight like he usually does ie trying to take his opponents head off from the opening bell and not stopping until the fights over. I was wrong, Joe decided to 'box' for the only time I've ever seen apart from the Bobbie Joe Edwards fight and boxed Lacy's ears off.
I'm saying right now that I'd bet my house on Bernard Hopkins beating him convincingly, landing lead right hands and counter right hands alnight long because Joe is too square-on. Will Joe prove me wrong again? I hope so.
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