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

[Silencers]

This is what I think will happen, I'm just copying and pasting another post of mine.

Calzaghe by decision.

I think Jones will come out looking to end the fight early, he'll be throwing straights and combos early to get Calzaghe's respect and to not let Calzaghe get into his rhythm, I think Jones can win some of the early rounds because of this.

After about 4 or 5 rounds, Jones' legs will start to show their age and Calzaghe would have adapted by then and he'd start to push Jones back to the ropes to unload punches on him, Jones will be trying to counter Calzaghe off the ropes at this point with moderate success, I think he can catch Calzaghe once or twice on the way in or when Calzaghe gets wild.

But I don't think it'll be enough, Calzaghe's workrate and pressure would get to Jones late because Jones can't fight 3 minutes of every round anymore, Calzaghe can.

Calzaghe should pull away from rounds 10-12 when Jones' age will start to make itself even more apparent.

Calzaghe by decision, something like 116-112 or 115-113. Close but clear.

[SHB]

If Joe finishes undefeated, he will be paddling away from boxing on a stream of money offers. Won’t there be a limit to how much $ Joe can say no to?

Yep. I reckon the Calzaghe mindset is that he'll retire unless a mega offer comes in. There's nothing left for him to achieve and pretty much nobody left to face. And before any ****tard mentions Pavlik, it'd be an one-sided beatdown that'd make the Lacy fight look competitive. Horrible matchup for Kelly and I love the kid.

[IMDAZED]

OK, quickly I think:

Calzaghes best strategy: jump on Roy from the opening bell and never ever let up. see Glen Johnson.

Jones' best strategy: Hit Calzaghe with something very hard early to try and slow the fight down into a technical boxing match. If that fails, get on his bike so Calzaghe can't land anything much and try to counter as much as possible when he does catch up. Avoid the ropes.

I think Calzaghe should jump on Jones too - but that's a dangerous strategy. It assumes Jones is still shell-shocked and confidence is still shot. If it's not, Calzaghe's gonna be walking into straight rights that are harder and faster than the ones Hops hit him with.

Calzaghe can and should box from the outside. He shouldn't get into a slugging match. He has to make Jones use his legs which are his weak spot right now.

[abadger]

I think Calzaghe should jump on Jones too - but that's a dangerous strategy. It assumes Jones is still shell-shocked and confidence is still shot. If it's not, Calzaghe's gonna be walking into straight rights that are harder and faster than the ones Hops hit him with.

Calzaghe can and should box from the outside. He shouldn't get into a slugging match. He has to make Jones use his legs which are his weak spot right now.

I disagree. Boxing on the outside Calzaghe will be vulnerable to Jones faster hands and at the very least allow Jones to impress the judges with a little reflexes/ speed/ unorthodox punching showboating. A slugging match is something that Roy basically cannot do, and I don't believe he can KO Calzaghe or even get close, so if I were Calzaghe I would just wade into him. If he does I think the fight could be over pretty quick.

[IMDAZED]

I disagree. Boxing on the outside Calzaghe will be vulnerable to Jones faster hands and at the very least allow Jones to impress the judges with a little reflexes/ speed/ unorthodox punching showboating. A slugging match is something that Roy basically cannot do, and I don't believe he can KO Calzaghe or even get close, so if I were Calzaghe I would just wade into him. If he does I think the fight could be over pretty quick.

You guys are gonna make me look like a genius and really, I'm not that smart.

Jones' legs are GONE. He can only box in the center of the ring for spots at a time. Plus, he's far more vulnerable in the center of the ring because his reflexes don't allow him to leap out of the way of the incoming.

Jones wanted the the Calzaghe fight so bad because he knows, style-wise, it's the best chance he has. Calzaghe won't make him use his legs or his reflexes; he'll bully Roy towards the ropes where Roy is supposedly weak and then wail away.

That's what Jones wants.

He won't have to use his legs and he can block by simply using his arms and twisting his body. He has spent the past three years working on fighting off the ropes and building his confidence. Both have improved tremendously.

If you notice, the third Tarver fight was nothing like the first two. How? Jones had his most success when his back was against the ropes but could do little when they were in the center of the ring. Ahh, how quickly we forget. So that's where Roy wants the fight.

[JWPearce3]

The problem is, Roy is not the same fighter. Takes a lot out of the fight. Still, I'm psyched and will be there live.

OK, quickly I think:

Calzaghes best strategy: jump on Roy from the opening bell and never ever let up. see Glen Johnson.

Jones' best strategy: Hit Calzaghe with something very hard early to try and slow the fight down into a technical boxing match. If that fails, get on his bike so Calzaghe can't land anything much and try to counter as much as possible when he does catch up. Avoid the ropes.

I think you are right. Looking back at the Trinidad fight, Tito throws his first punch and Roy takes 2 steps back looking to lean on the ropes if Tito engages. Joe has the stamina to put pressure on him the entire fight but he has to be willing to take counter hooks that have alot more on them than any hook B-Hop threw. Then again, Joe throws from all angles and his head tends to drop when he throws which would be open to a counter uppercut, that is if Roy is willing to throw it.

[IMDAZED]

I think you are right. Looking back at the Trinidad fight, Tito throws his first punch and Roy takes 2 steps back looking to lean on the ropes if Tito engages. Joe has the stamina to put pressure on him the entire fight but he has to be willing to take counter hooks that have alot more on them than any hook B-Hop threw. Then again, Joe throws from all angles and his head tends to drop when he throws which would be open to a counter uppercut, that is if Roy is willing to throw it.

Roy WANTED Tito to push him towards the ropes and fight him there. He practically begged for it. Actually, he really did - motioning for Tito to fight inside as he lay against the ropes.

But Tito was too smart. He kept his distance.

You guys are missing the clues.

[THE REED]

COntrary to what everyone thinks... the ropes is where Roy wants to be...

Joes legs are fresher than Roys... Roy would lose in the middle of the ring IMO... but on the ropes.. where hes been working his defense and countering abilities... he gets rid of joes legs advantage, and now its just whose better with the hands...

THe ropes is not a bad place for Roy.

[abadger]

You guys are gonna make me look like a genius and really, I'm not that smart.

Jones' legs are GONE. He can only box in the center of the ring for spots at a time. Plus, he's far more vulnerable in the center of the ring because his reflexes don't allow him to leap out of the way of the incoming.

Jones wanted the the Calzaghe fight so bad because he knows, style-wise, it's the best chance he has. Calzaghe won't make him use his legs or his reflexes; he'll bully Roy towards the ropes where Roy is supposedly weak and then wail away.

That's what Jones wants.

He won't have to use his legs and he can block by simply using his arms and twisting his body. He has spent the past three years working on fighting off the ropes and building his confidence. Both have improved tremendously.

If you notice, the third Tarver fight was nothing like the first two. How? Jones had his most success when his back was against the ropes but could do little when they were in the center of the ring. Ahh, how quickly we forget. So that's where Roy wants the fight.

COntrary to what everyone thinks... the ropes is where Roy wants to be...

Joes legs are fresher than Roys... Roy would lose in the middle of the ring IMO... but on the ropes.. where hes been working his defense and countering abilities... he gets rid of joes legs advantage, and now its just whose better with the hands...

THe ropes is not a bad place for Roy.

I think the ropes is a disastrous place for Roy, against Calzaghe, I think if he stays there too much the fight will wind up being stopped. You are forgetting that Calzaghe can throw punches like a mother****er. Even if it isn't stopped, it is a one way ticket to a Joe UD.

IMDAZED, I see what you're saying about Roys legs. If Joe were to for example box on the outside and ensure that he is constantly moving then that too would cause Roy no end of problems, however, it would allow Roy to box too which I basically don't want to see happening.

[IMDAZED]

I think the ropes is a disastrous place for Roy, against Calzaghe, I think if he stays there too much the fight will wind up being stopped. You are forgetting that Calzaghe can throw punches like a mother****er. Even if it isn't stopped, it is a one way ticket to a Joe UD.

IMDAZED, I see what you're saying about Roys legs. If Joe were to for example box on the outside and ensure that he is constantly moving then that too would cause Roy no end of problems, however, it would allow Roy to box too which I basically don't want to see happening.

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.