Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones Jr: Final Fight For Joe?

[THE REED]

Badge,

Calzaghe isn't without flaws himself. And his worst are his pension for squaring up against his opponent and leaving himself open to the head and body. He does this A LOT, especially when he's flurrying and even more so when his opponent is against the ropes.

So I think that especially against Calzaghe, Jones wants to have his back against the ropes. If Hops can counter him hard, Jones will do so even harder.

i agree... the more punches you throw.. the more openings you leave..... so flurry away joe.... flurry away

[abadger]

Badge,

Calzaghe isn't without flaws himself. And his worst are his pension for squaring up against his opponent and leaving himself open to the head and body. He does this A LOT, especially when he's flurrying and even more so when his opponent is against the ropes.

So I think that especially against Calzaghe, Jones wants to have his back against the ropes. If Hops can counter him hard, Jones will do so even harder.

Sure, but in this particular fight, taking into account what Roy has left, I think in any exchanges on the ropes Jones will have to worry far more about what is hitting him and find it fairly hard to return fire, at least anywhere near enough to actually win.

The only scenario in which I can envisage a Jones victory is one in which Calzaghe slows down to Jones' pace and stands boxing with him in the centre of the ring. Jones is still fast enough that if the two boxers are in any way being patient and picking their shots then Jones may at times make Calzaghe look a bit ******, slipping his punches and catching him as he comes in.

(I don't find that scenario very likely though!)

[WESS]

Badge,

Calzaghe isn't without flaws himself. And his worst are his pension for squaring up against his opponent and leaving himself open to the head and body. He does this A LOT, especially when he's flurrying and even more so when his opponent is against the ropes.

So I think that especially against Calzaghe, Jones wants to have his back against the ropes. If Hops can counter him hard, Jones will do so even harder.

I think you both are very correct. Like everyone has been saying It just depends on which Roy shows up. I think it could be a win win situation for both fighters by going to the ropes... it will be interesting to see.... Like everyone has been saying "STYLE WISE" this will be an awesome fight..... I just hope its clean and we don't get intentional low blows again...

[IMDAZED]

Sure, but in this particular fight, taking into account what Roy has left, I think in any exchanges on the ropes Jones will have to worry far more about what is hitting him and find it fairly hard to return fire, at least anywhere near enough to actually win.

The only scenario in which I can envisage a Jones victory is one in which Calzaghe slows down to Jones' pace and stands boxing with him in the centre of the ring. Jones is still fast enough that if the two boxers are in any way being patient and picking their shots then Jones may at times make Calzaghe look a bit ******, slipping his punches and catching him as he comes in.

(I don't find that scenario very likely though!)

Well this is boxing - they both have to worry about exchanges. And Jones can still cover up lol. being shot doesn't mean he can't lift up his hands.

Calzaghe won't slow down his pace and that will hurt him, especially in the latter rounds. Jones is still an excellent body puncher and Calzaghe has been troubled by such shots before. Calzaghe throwing a lot + Jones working the body can lead to a slowed output in the latter rounds. It will also lead to more openings upstairs. Hopkins was able to slow Calzaghe's output simply by landing a few sharp counters. That will ALWAYS make a fighter re-think his strategy.

[abadger]

Well this is boxing - they both have to worry about exchanges. And Jones can still cover up lol. being shot doesn't mean he can't lift up his hands.

Calzaghe won't slow down his pace and that will hurt him, especially in the latter rounds. Jones is still an excellent body puncher and Calzaghe has been troubled by such shots before. Calzaghe throwing a lot + Jones working the body can lead to a slowed output in the latter rounds. It will also lead to more openings upstairs. Hopkins was able to slow Calzaghe's output simply by landing a few sharp counters. That will ALWAYS make a fighter re-think his strategy.

Everything you say is technically correct, but I will be surprised in the extreme if Jones is able to either make Calzaghe cautious or to slow his workrate. In fact I think that Calzaghe's relative lack of caution will probably win him the fight.

Take Joe v Hopkins as an example. Throughout his career Hopkins had a knack of making his opponents reluctant to throw punches at him, thus enabling him to utilise his low workrate gameplan. It worked so well that no-one, not even Roy Jones was able to ever place him under sustained pressure, disregarding what is coming back at them. Then along comes Joe Calzaghe and does exactly that, despite being dropped in the first round. Joe wasn't reluctant to throw in that fight at all.

I don't really know how to explain Calzaghe's method because on paper it seems so vulnerable and even sloppy, but I think Tunney explained it once by saying that Calzaghe's secret weapons are his iron chin and naked aggression. He just keeps trying to beat you no matter what. On paper he is taking risks, but it always, always works for him and I think it will against Jones too. In this fight in particular a fast pace and being forced to fight are exactly what Jones doesn't want, and exactly what Calzaghe does and i think Jones will have to find something extra special if he is to make Calzaghe deviate from what has been his method for his entire career.

[IMDAZED]

Badge...

Everything you say is technically correct, but I will be surprised in the extreme if Jones is able to either make Calzaghe cautious or to slow his workrate. In fact I think that Calzaghe's relative lack of caution will probably win him the fight.

Hops already showed you how Jones will do it. but I do agree with that last part - the less Calzaghe throws, the better for him.

Take Joe v Hopkins as an example. Throughout his career Hopkins had a knack of making his opponents reluctant to throw punches at him, thus enabling him to utilise his low workrate gameplan.

False. Hops has NOT done that throughout his career. Even past his prime against Tito, he averaged 70-80 punches a round in the latter part of the fight. A prime Hops was extremely active.

It worked so well that no-one, not even Roy Jones was able to ever place him under sustained pressure, disregarding what is coming back at them. Then along comes Joe Calzaghe and does exactly that, despite being dropped in the first round. Joe wasn't reluctant to throw in that fight at all.

Did you see Jones vs. Hopkins? Hops was VERY active, threw a lot of punches and kept Jones' back against the ropes for good portions of the second half of the fight.

And Joe threw a lot against Hops but certainly not as much as we're accustomed to seeing from him.

I don't really know how to explain Calzaghe's method because on paper it seems so vulnerable and even sloppy, but I think Tunney explained it once by saying that Calzaghe's secret weapons are his iron chin and naked aggression. He just keeps trying to beat you no matter what.

Agreed. In fact, those two traits are why I'm positive Jones would've stopped him in his prime.

On paper he is taking risks, but it always, always works for him and I think it will against Jones too. In this fight in particular a fast pace and being forced to fight are exactly what Jones doesn't want, and exactly what Calzaghe does and i think Jones will have to find something extra special if he is to make Calzaghe deviate from what has been his method for his entire career.

Maybe. But methinks Calzaghe is versatile - and can beat by Roy by boxing in and out like he did against Kessler (although I think that will be difficult as well). But if he fights like he did against Hopkins - he'll be getting countered by a much harder puncher and a much more active one.

[abadger]

Alright man, nice posts today. I have to leave work to go to the pub now. You're a great poster even if we've disagreed in the past.

[IMDAZED]

Alright man, nice posts today. I have to leave work to go to the pub now. You're a great poster even if we've disagreed in the past.

So are you. I look forward to debating some more - have a drink for me.

[RichCCFC]

I think Calzaghe will win by TKO late rounds, a fatigue TKO.