When was Calzaghe's prime?

[Steak]

Ive seen a few people debate about when Calzaghe was in his prime.

Now, Ive seen all of Calzaghe's biggest wins...except for the Brewer fight. that means Kessler, Lacy, Eubank, Sheika, Veit 1 and 2, Reid...and some of his not so big fights either, like against Sobot and Mitchell.

and Im dead serious when I say that I thought that Calzaghe looked his best in his fight against Kessler. the young Calzaghe that beat an older Eubank was a bigger puncher because he sat down on his punches, but his defence was worse and I didnt think he was nearly as skilled a fighter.

I thought he looked better against Kessler and Lacy than he ever did in his career. and Im just saying in general.

Which fight was the closest to Calzaghe's prime?

[Steak]

oh, the Bika fight is also an option

[The Hammer]

Joe used to be a much more powerful puncher, like when he KOed Veit in the first round (Veit was 30-0) and when he stopped Omar Sheika. Since the hand injury in the Ashira fight, he's lost his power.

His prime in terms of speed and skills was the Lacy fight.

[Steak]

Joe used to be a much more powerful puncher, like when he KOed Veit who was 30-0 in the first round and when he stopped Omar Sheika. Since the hand injury in the Ashira fight, he's lost his power.

His prime in terms of speed and skills was the Lacy fight.

ok, so overall he is not far from his prime right now?

[Kris Silver]

I agree, his prime was about a year ago. Lacy and Kessler were brilliant performances. The only thing is he had more power before, with fragile hands and heading into late thirties, he's slipping slowly, and is right to have one more fight.

He said himself in an interview with a mens mag in the UK, Calzaghe now, would whoop Calzaghe 5 years ago. He's exaggerating but right. I think he's always had it in him to raise him game. Early example being Eubank. I just wish the doc's could sort his hands out, if he got back to knock out power again, he really would be untouchable.

[FRKO]

Prime = 2006, the Lacy beatdown era.

As for his punching power, he lost it a few years before that, maybe 2004, 2005.

[The Hammer]

He's hasn't been a dangerous puncher for several years now.

The first fight I noticed any serious decline in Joe's speed was the fight with Hopkins. Watch the Lacy fight, then the Hopkins fight - notice the difference? It happens to most fighters in their mid-thirties.

There can be a serious decline between age 34 and age 36 with most athletes. With most boxers speed goes before power, but with Joe it's been the opposite, because of his hand injuries.

[FRKO]

He's hasn't been a dangerous puncher for several years now.

The first fight I noticed any serious decline in Joe's speed was the fight with Hopkins. Watch the Lacy fight, then the Hopkins fight - notice the difference? It happens to most fighters in their mid-thirties.

There can be a serious decline between age 34 and age 36 with most athletes. With most boxers speed goes before power, but with Joe it's been the opposite, because of his hand injuries.

He was lighter for the Lacy fight though. The heavier weight coupled with the difficult style of Hopkins could have made him look significantly slower. If I was Joe I'd head back to 168 for the final fight. Which leads me to Jones. He is a cheeky ***** for asking for 2 fights, one in Wales, the other in America. Roy doesn't seem to understand that the boot is on the other foot now. Calzaghe calls the shots and Roy will never in a million years get 2 fights out of Joe right before retirement.

[Steak]

so hes not too far from his prime then...only about a year removed, at most.

I just have a hard time believing that a more prime Calzaghe was the one that fought Mitchell or Reid, like some people have been saying...cause just because he hit harder doesnt mean he was better.

[The Hammer]

so hes not too far from his prime then...only about a year removed, at most.

I just have a hard time believing that a more prime Calzaghe was the one that fought Mitchell or Reid, like some people have been saying...cause just because he hit harder doesnt mean he was better.

People were afraid of his punches then, and that makes a difference in a fight.

Joe had 19 KOs in the first two rounds, including several against undefeated fighters, but none since Bryan Mitchell in 2003.

Tell me Blackirish, do you not like Joe Calzaghe for some reason? If so, what do you have against him?