Joe Calzaghe's brittle hands...

[Froch You]

Most know Joe Calzaghe has long struggled with hand injuries, very early in his career he was told by a doctor he could not box, but persevered against the odds. Many accuse him of slapping without full consideration of the extent of his serious hand problems having effected him. He was a renown KO artist early in the day, knocked Eubank down in the first round, something big hitter Nigel Benn never managed.

He still has a lot of power which he sometimes uses when the risks are low, but generally given he's broken his hands in fights before, it's far too risky, painful and just not doable. It's testament to his ability having lost the attribute of being able to use his KO power and knock opponents out, he's had to improve on and rely on other area's of his game. If his hands weren't brittle then given earlier career power punches, and KO's, he'd not only be favourite in any match-up of a top SMW or LHW guy as he is without it, it's reasonable with it he'd be more so, and imo, untouchable and p4p no. 1.

Thoughts...

The Calzaghe that fought Eubank and Mitchell would've had Manfredo Jr out on his back instead of overwhelming him with those combinations punches that didn't look all that hard then again I'm not on the receiving end. His left hand seems shot in my opinion. Watch early Calzaghe then watch his last few fights. Yeah he hurt Kessler but not with his power hand(left) it was a right hook to the body. If his hands weren't as brittle he'd be starching guys now.

[DiegoFuego]

Mayweather's hands are just as brittle if not more so, yet he was harrassed for not punching hard enough. So what did he do? KO'd Ricky Hatton.

[Dirt E Gomez]

Mayweather's hands are just as brittle if not more so, yet he was harrassed for not punching hard enough. So what did he do? KO'd Ricky Hatton.

Hey now... let's not go taking the ring post's credit.

I'd say Zag's hands are more brittle... initially the Lacy-Zag fight was postponed I believed and even considered being canceled a couple of times because of his hands. Granted, his shaky hands are a result of the later years of his career, whereas Floyd has had problems since a younger age I suppose.

[x-PeROxiDE-x]

Exactly. If effective punching is no longer required, then why don't they just wear headgear?

If Calzaghe's punches were not effective a lot of fighters would have climbed all over him and the harder punching ones would have probably knocked him out.

He punches harder than given credit for, even now.

[deanrw]

There's no justifying his poor punching technique. Look at Malignaggi, his hands are brittle as hell too, but he doesnt slap.

You can still punch correctly but just hold back on power.

You are right. Pavlik holds back on his punches. He never loads up as it telegraphs. Imagine if he did swing for the fences?hehe

[Kris Silver]

As you probably know my remarks was a little pay-back from the other day. I have no problem with you. I actually think you are a fine knowledgeable poster.

As for the topic I agree. He'd start a favorite vs. any LHW or SMW and he's also no.1 in my p4p after Floyd's retirement. Whats amazing is the fact that Joe's 35 years old, and one cannot help wonder what his legacy would be like had he had his american break-trough earlier in his career.

Ditto dude, wasn't referring to you so much it's all good. It is tricky to predict the extent of the difference to his career without these hand injuries that have plagued his career. I don't even know the half of the problems with his hands, I've had to dig, read up, watch interviews, fights, find out some bits from some folk on here. Even knowing that much it's huge, and I don't think ppl realise even near to the half of it. I kinda wish Joe would be more open as to the issues tbh, but it's not really his style, which you have to respect.

If he carried his early KO capabilities into his whole career I think we'd have seen a much bigger difference. He's won so many fights on other attributes, throw some more lethal early KO's into his mid-later career, he's be even more entertaining, well known, better reputation, more respected, regarded by more as no.1 in both divisions. Everything would be better to the extent I think he would have only been more likely to do better things, against better opponents having beaten others even more convincingly than he was able to. The question is to what extent.

I think a far amount, not huge but a fair amount. Imagine if he'd have KO'd Lacy, knocked down Kessler (nearly did in R8 or so) and got knocked Hopkins down once with harder shots. This is all reasonable, his style and power usage has changed so much, he doesn't have that lethal killer instinct, relentless throwing of hard shots he had back in the day, if he did it's be immense.

I'd be quite interested as to collating more info and thoughts on this.

Kessler for eg. had titanium bars put into his hands or something, are such things open to Calzaghe? What treatment has he had?

Which fights did he brake or seriously injure his hands in? I only know of 1/2 but there's more I'm sure!?

Do ppl think he'll use a little more power towards the later rounds, of his last fight or 2, knowing there's less risk to his slowly ending career?

Why did he change his glove makes to...Elvis or something, as he was saying post fight once, more protection?

[Kris Silver]

The Calzaghe that fought Eubank and Mitchell would've had Manfredo Jr out on his back instead of overwhelming him with those combinations punches that didn't look all that hard then again I'm not on the receiving end. His left hand seems shot in my opinion. Watch early Calzaghe then watch his last few fights. Yeah he hurt Kessler but not with his power hand(left) it was a right hook to the body. If his hands weren't as brittle he'd be starching guys now.

Great post, totally agree!!

And sorry, Mayweathers hands are not more brittle than Calzaghes. He was told he could not box by doctors, has broken them several times in fight, even his elbow, he's 36, complains of them more than May even for a guy that doesn't complain much. If May had Cals hands he'd be bitching all day, sorry.

[x-PeROxiDE-x]

Hey now... let's not go taking the ring post's credit.

I'd say Zag's hands are more brittle... initially the Lacy-Zag fight was postponed I believed and even considered being canceled a couple of times because of his hands. Granted, his shaky hands are a result of the later years of his career, whereas Floyd has had problems since a younger age I suppose.

Calzaghe was a teenager when he was told he could never box again...

[kayjay]

This has all been very common knowledge for many years.

Some of these posters have clearly not bothered to download his earlier fights. PM me for links if you wish to correct that.

[Dirt E Gomez]

Calzaghe was a teenager when he was told he could never box again...

Assuming that's even true.... that doesn't change the point of my statement. In his early and mid boxing career problems with his hands were few and far between and didn't really start getting brought up until later.