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.
Is Calzaghe busier than Johnson? Will will outmuscle who? One thing's for sure, Johnson has been fighting bigger men for a long time now. Fighting a 43yr old Bernard Hopkins - who has fought ONE LHW his whole career - wasn't a good barometer.
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