When was Calzaghe's prime?

[abadger]

I have actually followed joe's career for a long time, I personally believe his prime was actually missed, I think like most fighters it was his early 30's in terms of combination of speed power and experience. It just happens that this was a time when he went through major injury problems with his back and hands and had many potential fights (twice with glen johnson) called off.

As well as this it coincided with his divorce with his wife, who apparently absolutely cleaned him out financially. So I think we may have seen the back end of his prime against lacy as he was fresh and hadn't been very active. But I honestly think calzaghe in his early 30's would have stopped lacy in 9-10 rnds. I saw a slight decline in speed in the kessler fight but like other great fighters he has adapted his style.

Thats my take on it

Everything you say makes sense. No reason for Cal to be any different than anybody else. Good post.
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Gay arab

[Sugarj]

Yea I saw a slight decline in the Kessler fight too.....still a great performance though and further decline on Saturday.

We'll never see another Lacy performance!

As for Joe's peak, he was superb against Brewer too.

[StackMo]

2006-2007, imo.

[sunny31]

Thanks, yeah the brewer performance was very exciting and very good. Hopkins was absolutely pheonominal in his early 30's also but most of his big fights came in his mid to late 30's like joe.

Think roy jones made a good point about joe, as most people in the past critiscised calzaghe's resume, but it isn't always about who you beat but how you beat them. He didn't just beat lacy and kessler, and many other decent names on his resume he beat them with style and almost always very one sided.