Calzaghe-Kessler: I was wrong

[SHB]

No, not about the outcome. I was very confident that Calzaghe would win. I predicted a late stoppage in a fit of bravado but really I knew this was going to points and that it would be a relatively wide UD. I also knew that Calzaghe was that damn good. Best British boxer of his generation and you have to have him pretty high in the all-time list for this island.

What I was wrong about was Kessler. Before the fight I couldn't see how he could get to Calzaghe but I'm telling you he must have some serious skills to land the jab and some very heavy right hands and uppercuts on the old man. No-one since Reid in the last 8 years has made a fight against Calzaghe competitive and Kessler undoubtedly did so. This might sounds daft but, if it's possible, Kessler might have pushed himself into the P4P reckoning even in defeat, and a conclusive one at that. I was also very impressed with him after the fight in which he acted as he had during the buildup - like a class act. He made a fan out of me last night and I'll certainly be following his career with renewed interest from now on.

As for the future, I see Kessler dominating at 168 for as long as he wants. No-one will touch him there, certainly not anyone currently in the division and the likes of Pavlik and Taylor have little to no chance against him if they come up. Miranda will get knocked out of the ring in 30 seconds flat.

Calzaghe - it's MSG and Hopkins in the spring. I'll be there for that. IMO he cemented his position in the top 3 P4P and possibly in #2 now. No-one can doubt him now. No-one.

[Peder]

Cheers.


I was dead wrong.
The first 5 rounds Kessler got to show how dangerous he is at the distance, much like I expected, and Kessler did land some bloody hard punches when Calzaghe went in, even had him stunned.
Calzaghe's chin and heart won it. He was supposed to go down, or at least think twice before getting close again.

I would have liked a little more aggression from Kessler in rounds 6-11, like he did in the very last. Kessler is a defensive fighter, and in this case he should have tried to take the battle.

Good win by Calzaghe.


Kessler showed he does know how to throw a uppercut

[Technical_Skill]

So you now delcare Calzaghe to be Pound for pound better than Winky Wright, Rafeal Marquez and Shane Mosley?

Not hating on joe, just facts here, when was the last time he fought a legitmate pound for pound fighter?

When was the last time he fought a proven world class fighter with World class wins on his record?

This year the following p4p fighters have or will fight each other (they have all been on the list at some stage thhis year)

Mayweather-Hatton
Cotto-Mosely
Wright-Hopkins
Barrera-Marquez
Vazquez- R.Marquez

Joe Calzaghe beats Mikkel Kessler and that makes him better than these guys, who have fought far better oppositon this year than 95% of the guys calzaghe has ever fought?



Who did Kessler ever beat to make people think he was in the same league as Calzaghe.

****s sake even Kelly Pavlik got in the ring with a p4p guy and knocked him out, yet your quick to put Kessler over pavlik, makes no sense.

[Dynamite Kid]

Kessler was made to look ordinary the only thing keping him in that fight was hsi power a masterfull performance by Joe i thought he was good i did'nt realise he was that good what a fighter, IMO he is an ATG no question i dont care what people say about Kessler or his oposition that guy is special

bring on Hopkins Joe will take him

[Technical_Skill]

Kessler was made to look ordinary the only thing keping him in that fight was hsi power a masterfull performance by Joe i thought he was good i did'nt realise he was that good what a fighter, IMO he is an ATG no question i dont care what people say about Kessler or his oposition that guy is special

bring on Hopkins Joe will take him

Calzaghe is good, very good, but people just overdo him so much, there are a few insightful people on this site, who for months were trying to explain that Kessler is and was hype, a good solid fighter, who hasnt fought anyone and has two belts he really shouldnt. The whole thing got out of hand when a few people actually thought Kessler would win, if you look at my posts from months back i was saying this was an easy win for calzaghe, and that Kessler is overrated.

Now people are saying calzaghe is top 3 p4p, when he has never fought anyone on the p4p list in 10 years of boxing, yet this year around 8 guys on the P4P list fought each other and they arent as good as him?



Seriously, next week Cotto vs Mosely, two p4p guys fighting each other again compare Cotto's resume to calzaghe entire resume, even at this stage in his career cotto has fought 2 guys who have been p4p (when he fights mosely next week) and his resume isn't much worse than calzaghe's.

So why am i seeing guys saying Joe is P4P number one? a little perspective wouldnt go a miss you know.

[FUMIN 88]

Cheers.


I was dead wrong.
The first 5 rounds Kessler got to show how dangerous he is at the distance, much like I expected, and Kessler did land some bloody hard punches when Calzaghe went in, even had him stunned.
Calzaghe's chin and heart won it. He was supposed to go down, or at least think twice before getting close again.

I would have liked a little more aggression from Kessler in rounds 6-11, like he did in the very last. Kessler is a defensive fighter, and in this case he should have tried to take the battle.

Good win by Calzaghe.


Kessler showed he does know how to throw a uppercut

yes you was wrong now pay up

[SHB]

So you now delcare Calzaghe to be Pound for pound better than Winky Wright, Rafeal Marquez and Shane Mosley?

He was before yesterday and he is today.

Just who on the P4P rankings could he have fought? Hopkins turned down the fight after agreeing terms 5 years ago and Jones was at LHW during his reign and had no interest in the fight. Winky is a light-middle. Taylor's promoter said that Taylor had no chance.

Has Calzaghe been overprotected? Probably. However there simply haven't been the opportunities there for him.

[Technical_Skill]

He was before yesterday and he is today.

Just who on the P4P rankings could he have fought? Hopkins turned down the fight after agreeing terms 5 years ago and Jones was at LHW during his reign and had no interest in the fight. Winky is a light-middle. Taylor's promoter said that Taylor had no chance.

Has Calzaghe been overprotected? Probably. However there simply haven't been the opportunities there for him.

First of all Frank Warren wanted Jones to come over the to UK knowing full well jones wouldn't travel at that time after the olympics screwjob.

second, im talking about his 10 year career as well, he could have moved up years ago, but decided to carry on fight Evans Ashira etc, he could have moved up and chased the big names like Roy Jones, but he didnt.

Thirdly this year Jones offered to take 40% to come to wales and fight Calzaghe, calzaghe declined and fought Kessler.

Fourth, Hopkins has called him out now, let hope he signs for that fight next, its a fight he can win anyways. That fight means alot more than ****in Kessler, you think HBO will make Calzaghe vs Hopkins free to air,

I think not.

[msagrain]

Calzaghe is good, very good, but people just overdo him so much, there are a few insightful people on this site, who for months were trying to explain that Kessler is and was hype, a good solid fighter, who hasnt fought anyone and has two belts he really shouldnt. The whole thing got out of hand when a few people actually thought Kessler would win, if you look at my posts from months back i was saying this was an easy win for calzaghe, and that Kessler is overrated.

Now people are saying calzaghe is top 3 p4p, when he has never fought anyone on the p4p list in 10 years of boxing, yet this year around 8 guys on the P4P list fought each other and they arent as good as him?



Seriously, next week Cotto vs Mosely, two p4p guys fighting each other again compare Cotto's resume to calzaghe entire resume, even at this stage in his career cotto has fought 2 guys who have been p4p (when he fights mosely next week) and his resume isn't much worse than calzaghe's.

So why am i seeing guys saying Joe is P4P number one? a little perspective wouldnt go a miss you know.

ok all the p4p list is different wight classes the only on on there who are 1 weight class out there is Ronald Wright and Bernard Hopkins and we all know b-hop dodged joe. i think joe would seriould out class winkey an it would be another beating like the lacey fight.

[SHB]

First of all Frank Warren wanted Jones to come over the to UK knowing full well jones wouldn't travel at that time after the olympics screwjob.

second, im talking about his 10 year career as well, he could have moved up years ago, but decided to carry on fight Evans Ashira etc, he could have moved up and chased the big names like Roy Jones, but he didnt.

Thirdly this year Jones offered to take 40% to come to wales and fight Calzaghe, calzaghe declined and fought Kessler.

Fourth, Hopkins has called him out now, let hope he signs for that fight next, its a fight he can win anyways. That fight means alot more than ****in Kessler, you think HBO will make Calzaghe vs Hopkins free to air,

I think not.

Calzaghe called out Jones in the US. Jones wasn't interested in facing an unheralded and risky European. I know this was before your time but that's the facts. As for mentioned Jones last year, a) Jones is done and b) whatJones says and what Jones does are two different things. Hemakes Warren look honourable. Apart from Jones I really don't see the reasons for moving up.

Not that I really give a stuff about the US, HBO and what they put on PPV over there (and I'm a little surprised anyone this side of the water would be) but is Calzaghe vs the American Hopkins a bigger fight to US audiences? Er ... let me think about that one. Is it the tougher fight? Before last night I would have said yes but Kessler really impressed me and showed he had a lot more than I thought he did. Now, I'd say Hopkins will be an easier fight. It's a damn shame it didnt happen when it should have.