Mikkel Kessler's fight before Calzaghe, 856 punches thrown, 532 jabs

[TheRocketMan]

Chad Dawson might very well beat the Joe we see today, he is pretty fast and slick and looks better at LHW than Joe does IMO, so if anyone could beat him I'd say Dawson.

Glen Johnson is far too one dimensional to beat Joe. His pressure attack can look good, but there is little thought behind it, he just keeps throwing over and over. Dawson had no idea how to cope with this tactically but got the verdict just because he was the younger man and was able to land harder cleaner shots when Johnson came charging in. Joe would do even better, moving to make Johnson miss and landing many more shots than Dawson did, although not as cleanly and crisply.

Nah Dawson can't keep up with Joe and wont be able to adapt when Calzaghe starts to. Too inexperienced imo and he will gass out like he did against Johnson.

[IMDAZED]

Chad Dawson might very well beat the Joe we see today, he is pretty fast and slick and looks better at LHW than Joe does IMO, so if anyone could beat him I'd say Dawson.

Glen Johnson is far too one dimensional to beat Joe. His pressure attack can look good, but there is little thought behind it, he just keeps throwing over and over. Dawson had no idea how to cope with this tactically but got the verdict just because he was the younger man and was able to land harder cleaner shots when Johnson came charging in. Joe would do even better, moving to make Johnson miss and landing many more shots than Dawson did, although not as cleanly and crisply.

You severely underrate Glen Johnson's intelligence. There's a reason Calzaghe wasn't willing to face him. Yes he keeps throwing and throwing - that's perfect against Calzaghe because it will come down to 1. who can sustain activity and 2. who can hurt the other. Johnson is pretty effin' strong...truly a pick 'em.

[IMDAZED]

Glen Johnson is a more schooled version of Lacy in the way that he keeps coming forward but actually has a jab. I don't see Calzaghe having much problems counter punching against him, he only looks bad trying to force a fight.

Chad Dawson I agree would be a very hard fight but Calzaghe would be too experienced for him, Johnson used one style against Dawson without having to go to plan B or C and it worked all the way through.

Bernard Hopkins would be a tough fight but Prime Hopkins came forward more and didn't have the experience he now has as a counter puncher and a fighter who stays on the ropes, I think it would have been a great fight because Calzaghe had more power back then too. I'd give it to Calzaghe 115-113.

You've got to be kidding. A more-schooled version of Jeff Lacy? Outside of skin color those two have very little in common...AT ALL.

But you're clearly very biased. I don't blame you but think very logically here. I won't even delve further into Johnson vs. Calzaghe because it's clear you're aren't very astute when it comes to detecting styles.

As for Dawson - I agree Calzaghe has the experience edge but style-wise he's in a world of trouble againsta fighter who lands sharp punches, works the body well, is extremely well-schooled, fast, and very fleet of foot. Truth is, I don't know too many fighters who can beat Dawson. His title-winning effort was extremely impressive and he managed to escape Glen Johnson, a very difficult test.

Prime Hopkins was a MONSTER. GO back and check tapes from 97-99. I need not say anymore.

[abadger]

Nah Dawson can't keep up with Joe and wont be able to adapt when Calzaghe starts to. Too inexperienced imo and he will gass out like he did against Johnson.

That is the same question mark I have against Dawson, he looked distinctly out of ideas when faced with something as simplistic as Johnson's piston-like straight punching, and displayed little ability to exploit the weaknesses in a predictable approach like that. Against someone like Joe who can mix it up more, then I think he might find himself somewhat befuddled.

However, Dawson looks to me to be bigger, stronger and faster than Joe in both hands and feet, which is a nice set of advantages to have over any fighter. Still, if I were betting, I'd back Joe, since picking against him rarely seems to pay off.

[TheRocketMan]

Calzaghe's best wepon is his ability to adapt, forget his physical advantages, this wins him fights with that alone.

[abadger]

You severely underrate Glen Johnson's intelligence. There's a reason Calzaghe wasn't willing to face him. Yes he keeps throwing and throwing - that's perfect against Calzaghe because it will come down to 1. who can sustain activity and 2. who can hurt the other. Johnson is pretty effin' strong...truly a pick 'em.

I don't think I'm underrating Johnson at all. I don't rate him that highly to be honest with you. His best wins have all come against old guys he could outwork at LHW and the Jones he fought was terrible. He's not a bad fighter by any means, but not in Calzaghe's class, at least I don't think so. I can see why some would like him, but I think he flatters to deceive.

[Stickman]

kessler had an injured hand so cong**** to calzaghe for beating a one handed fighter. maybe thats why he didnt throw any damn punches..........ya think! it's not like calzaghes hard to hit.

I think that rumor is bull****. Kessler didn't seem to have any trouble throwing hard, hard shots, and landed several, without any visible effects.

[IMDAZED]

I don't think I'm underrating Johnson at all. I don't rate him that highly to be honest with you. His best wins have all come against old guys he could outwork at LHW and the Jones he fought was terrible. He's not a bad fighter by any means, but not in Calzaghe's class, at least I don't think so. I can see why some would like him, but I think he flatters to deceive.

I'm not sure what "class" you're referring to. The only person on Calzaghe's resume who I MIGHT beat Glen Johnson is Mikkel Kessler. The version of Hopkins Joe C. fought wouldn't. Hence, I don't know what you mean by Johnson not being in his class. Styles make fights and Johnson is a come forward, durable, extremely strong volume puncher with a solid chin. Calzaghe will have to box a lot more against a fighter who will do what very few can do to him - OUTWORK him.

Simple.

Joe Calzaghe complained of making weight for years. Yet he never bothered to move up when all of those big fights were only seven pounds north. Simply put, guys like Johnson weren't worth the risk - not when they could conceivably negate a major part of Calzaghe's game: his strength. Man, i could go on.

[abadger]

I'm not sure what "class" you're referring to. The only person on Calzaghe's resume who I MIGHT beat Glen Johnson is Mikkel Kessler. The version of Hopkins Joe C. fought wouldn't. Hence, I don't know what you mean by Johnson not being in his class. Styles make fights and Johnson is a come forward, durable, extremely strong volume puncher with a solid chin. Calzaghe will have to box a lot more against a fighter who will do what very few can do to him - OUTWORK him.

Simple.

Joe Calzaghe complained of making weight for years. Yet he never bothered to move up when all of those big fights were only seven pounds north. Simply put, guys like Johnson weren't worth the risk - not when they could conceivably negate a major part of Calzaghe's game: his strength. Man, i could go on.

The "class" I am referring to when I talk about Joe Calzaghe has been the foundation of Joe's whole game in the last few years. All his recent biggest wins have been predicated in the main on his tactical ability to alter what he does in the ring in order to beat his opponent. These are the skills that enabled him to embarass Jeff Lacy rather than just beat him, and the skills that meant that from R6 onwards, Kessler was on the end of a tactical boxing lesson. If that's not 'class' I don't know what is.

You are completely right that styles make fights and the way you describe Johnson is accurate, and almost ideal for Joe Calzaghe. I have described Calzaghe elsewhere as an "aggressive counterpuncher", who instead of timing punches to throw counter shots, times whole attacks, makes his opponent miss and comes back with a barrage of his own. Joe has most trouble with single shot counterpunchers like Hopkins and Reid, but Johnson isn't one of those, he is aggressive and forces the fight, meaning Calzaghe wouldn't have to expose himself to his own most dangerous moments when he has to come forward an force the fight himself, thus leaving himself open to counters. The only things I think Johnson has to trouble Joe is, as you say, his strength and workrate, but both are certainly debatable advantages, Calzaghe is one of the busiest there is, so would Johnson really outwork him? Maybe, but maybe not.

As for strength, you are absolutely correct to mark this up as a major, and I might say very underrated aspect of Calzaghe's game, he looked stronger than both Lacy and Kessler to me and it helped him no end. As for whether Johnson is stronger, I really don't know, he was a SMW like Joe in his 'prime' years so I don't think we're talking about clearly the stronger man, but i certainly can't say for sure one way or the other.

[Kris Silver]

Well, on the Kessler fight...terriffic performance by him. He looked a lot more confident, durable, and looser in that fight than against Calzaghe. Ultimately really because this opponent in many ways was opposite to Calzaghe. He kept taking punishment without suddenly changing his tactics, or power, aggression much. Calzaghe would have and did change his tactics, stance, punch output, and power when faced with Kesslers successful jab and upper cuts. Result was him dealing with it all, reducing Kesslers pct, the likelyhood of getting hard shots, confused Kessler and timed, positioned himself perfectly. Exactly what Andrade didn't do, he was there to be punched several times. Only major similarity I saw was they both have tough chins.

Kesslers def #2 SMW, and will be #1 when Calzaghe puts his slippers on.