Calzaghe versus other great fighters of his era

[-CANE-]

I'm a big Calzaghe fan and think he is a great fighter, but he should have mixed it with the best earlier in his career IMO.

I was thinking how he would've fared against other middle/super-middles in their prime and he was in his prime.

Roy Jones Jnr - Jones too quick and good and Roy wins a unanimous decision.

Hopkins - Hopkins would have had more stamina and won a close decision.

Toney - I pick Calzaghe in this one by decision.

Nunn - My favourite ever fighter, had the speed and skills to outbox Joe, but Nunn was lazy and Joe's workrate would be too much and a late stoppage or points win for Joe in this one.

Benn - Benn would always be dangerous, but Joe would have stopped him in 10.

Eubank - Although Eubank was at the end of his career, I still think the result would have been much the same as it was and a close decision win for Joe.

Collins - Again I pick Joe against the tough Collins and a unanimous decision.


Anyone agree or disagree with these assesments.

[-CANE-]

No one cares then.............

[Orange Sneakers]

Probably agree, style-wise, with those... not that he's greater than Toney, Benn or Jones

Michael Watson was too stiff for Calzaghe's loose style...

Though the Eubank and Watson who fought in The Rematch are probably the two best British fighters of the last 20 years

[-CANE-]

Probably agree, style-wise, with those... not that he's greater than Toney, Benn or Jones

Michael Watson was too stiff for Calzaghe's loose style...

Though the Eubank and Watson who fought in The Rematch are probably the two best British fighters of the last 20 years

How do you see him in fights against McCallum, McClellan, Jackson and Graham?

[Orange Sneakers]

How do you see him in fights against McCallum, McClellan, Jackson and Graham?

McCallum too gifted and fluid for him or anybody (who isn't a master at slipping-and-countering) who tries to claim ring centre, Mike only struggled with movers or guys who slipped-and-countered

McClellan. Those Mitchell body shots really hurt Calzaghe. McClellan gave 15 men 10-counts with a left to the body. If Joe didn't go down, he'd then have a big overarm right coming his way anyway, and a leaping follow-up combination for good measure, and another (perfectly placed) left to the body when the next big right misses

Jackson would be beaten

Calzaghe always looks poor when an opponent doesn't initiate, such as David Starie, and his come-forward boxing would have to be better than ever to win a few rounds of the first six against Graham. Graham always tired after six, a lazy bugger in the gym and his 'bottom-heavy' physique and leggy, elastic, twisty, peppering style was tiring... so Calzaghe would probably take the last six

[Don Gorgon]

The thing is Calzaghe's prime was late 90's, therefore he couldn't have fought Benn, Eubank, McCallum, Graham at their respective peaks.

RJJ didn't want to face Collins or Calzaghe but that's not how we'll remember it, I think he lacked ambition and as a result we can only wonder how he would have fared.

I haven't seen enough of Nunn, Toney to have an opinion.

[-CANE-]

McCallum too gifted and fluid for him or anybody (who isn't a master at slipping-and-countering) who tries to claim ring centre, Mike only struggled with movers or guys who slipped-and-countered

McClellan. Those Mitchell body shots really hurt Calzaghe. McClellan gave 15 men 10-counts with a left to the body. If Joe didn't go down, he'd then have a big overarm right coming his way anyway, and a leaping follow-up combination for good measure, and another (perfectly placed) left to the body when the next big right misses

Jackson would be beaten

Calzaghe always looks poor when an opponent doesn't initiate, such as David Starie, and his come-forward boxing would have to be better than ever to win a few rounds of the first six against Graham. Graham always tired after six, a lazy bugger in the gym and his 'bottom-heavy' physique and leggy, elastic, twisty, peppering style was tiring... so Calzaghe would probably take the last six

Pretty much agree with that, except for the McClellan fight. McClellan could hurt Joe no doubt to either the head or body but Joe is much tougher than Benn and if he can see out the first 5 rounds then I see him winning a decision.

[Orange Sneakers]

I haven't seen enough of Nunn, Toney to have an opinion.

They were every bit as good as the three men in your avatar, and that's not exaggerating (honestly)

[-CANE-]

They were every bit as good as the three men in your avatar, and that's not exaggerating (honestly)

They were both class, Nunn wasted his talent, and he had as much if not more natural ability than the man in your avvy (Kirkland Laing, another favourite of mine)


Here are some Michael Nunn fights:-

First up in a middleweight unification against Sumbu Kalambay who had never been stopped in over 50 fights (and they say Nunn can't punch)




Next up against Toney in a fight I think he should have won, he got lazy and ****y, but props to Toney who stuck at it and forced his way back into the fight. (Saddest moment in boxing for me)

Part 1.


Part 2.



Part 3.

[Don Gorgon]

They were both class, Nunn wasted his talent, and he had as much if not more natural ability than the man in your avvy (Kirkland Laing, another favourite of mine)


Here are some Michael Nunn fights:-

First up in a middleweight unification against Sumbu Kalambay who had never been stopped in over 50 fights (and they say Nunn can't punch)




Next up against Toney in a fight I think he should have won, he got lazy and ****y, but props to Toney who stuck at it and forced his way back into the fight. (Saddest moment in boxing for me)

Part 1.


Part 2.



Part 3.

Thanks mate, I'm at work but I'll have a butchers when I get home.

Kirklaind Laing was someone I saw at the tail end of his career, he was an enigma! But it was always fun watching him.