Joe Calzaghe Is The Best Boxer In The World!

[hunter1]

calzaghe is the best out there right now

[abadger]

I called the fight outcome before it was ever even signed, and pretty much predicted it as it happened, though I felt there was also a slight possibility of a late TKO win by Calzaghe. I knew it would be a smooth and easy victory for Joe, though I didn't feel that Kessler would be in any way humiliated, and still don't feel he was. He was just outsmarted and outclassed by a far more experienced and smarter fighter. For all his technical skills, and they are formidable, Kessler is still young and relatively (in comparison to Calzaghe) inexperienced.

I really think that Calzaghe would be nearly impossible for any fighter from any era to figure out, and about the only way to beat him would be to get him shaken badly early in a round and finish him before the bell. The guy's got a chin of solid iron, so only the biggest punchers in history would stand any serious chance, and of those, only the ones with the best handspeed and longest reach would have a legitimate shot at a win, and that's only if they got onto him early....by mid-rounds, Calzaghe would probably have them figured out and would be on his way to an easy victory.

What impressed me most was Calzaghe's boxing. From R6 onwards he stuck himself pretty much directly in the envelope and boxed Kessler from medium range, with a his hands tucked in front of him and throwing very straight, short punches, mixed with those wide left hands round the side of the guard. When I saw him throwing solely to force Kessler to throw a counter, so that he could exploit the opening with a counter of his own, and saw the way he was ducking Kessler's punches and swinging around him, I felt I was watching something very special. I considered it a technical masterclass, though perhaps a lot of it is the knid of technique you don't find in a textbook! Hence this thread really, if you are capable of modifying your technique to suit your opponent perfectly I think youra pretty complete fighter. Compare it with his Hopkins performance, where he again did exactly what was required to win, only it was totally different. I can see why you rate his smartness so highly.

As for Calzaghe up against all timers, I can see exactly what you mean when you say he would give anyone trouble, I mean how, exactly do you go about beating someone like him? I suspect that Hagler in straight ahead mode might have been too much for him, and he and Leonard would have been something else. What do you make of Calzaghe vs prime Roy? I think if Roy boxed right and staid at long range he should be able to decision Calzaghe quite comfortably, but it would have to be a very disciplined performance, which is hard against Calzaghe for sure.

[Vladimir303]

What impressed me most was Calzaghe's boxing. From R6 onwards he stuck himself pretty much directly in the envelope and boxed Kessler from medium range, with a his hands tucked in front of him and throwing very straight, short punches, mixed with those wide left hands round the side of the guard. When I saw him throwing solely to force Kessler to throw a counter, so that he could exploit the opening with a counter of his own, and saw the way he was ducking Kessler's punches and swinging around him, I felt I was watching something very special. I considered it a technical masterclass, though perhaps a lot of it is the knid of technique you don't find in a textbook! Hence this thread really, if you are capable of modifying your technique to suit your opponent perfectly I think youra pretty complete fighter. Compare it with his Hopkins performance, where he again did exactly what was required to win, only it was totally different. I can see why you rate his smartness so highly.

As for Calzaghe up against all timers, I can see exactly what you mean when you say he would give anyone trouble, I mean how, exactly do you go about beating someone like him? I suspect that Hagler in straight ahead mode might have been too much for him, and he and Leonard would have been something else. What do you make of Calzaghe vs prime Roy? I think if Roy boxed right and staid at long range he should be able to decision Calzaghe quite comfortably, but it would have to be a very disciplined performance, which is hard against Calzaghe for sure.

Now there you go overrating Calzaghe again. Just because you're 45 and 0 and nobody has found a clear cut way to beat your awkward style of fighting does not mean you can compete with prime all-time greats of the past. You must see the majority of us don't because it isn't there

That point will further be illustrated in November.

[Stickman]

What impressed me most was Calzaghe's boxing. From R6 onwards he stuck himself pretty much directly in the envelope and boxed Kessler from medium range, with a his hands tucked in front of him and throwing very straight, short punches, mixed with those wide left hands round the side of the guard. When I saw him throwing solely to force Kessler to throw a counter, so that he could exploit the opening with a counter of his own, and saw the way he was ducking Kessler's punches and swinging around him, I felt I was watching something very special. I considered it a technical masterclass, though perhaps a lot of it is the knid of technique you don't find in a textbook! Hence this thread really, if you are capable of modifying your technique to suit your opponent perfectly I think youra pretty complete fighter. Compare it with his Hopkins performance, where he again did exactly what was required to win, only it was totally different. I can see why you rate his smartness so highly.

As for Calzaghe up against all timers, I can see exactly what you mean when you say he would give anyone trouble, I mean how, exactly do you go about beating someone like him? I suspect that Hagler in straight ahead mode might have been too much for him, and he and Leonard would have been something else. What do you make of Calzaghe vs prime Roy? I think if Roy boxed right and staid at long range he should be able to decision Calzaghe quite comfortably, but it would have to be a very disciplined performance, which is hard against Calzaghe for sure.

Prime Jones Vs Prime Calzaghe, it's hard to call. Personally (and I know this won't sit well with most RJJ fans), I don't think Jones had the ring smarts to beat Calzaghe. Jones, for all his fame and fortune, was strictly an extremely physically gifted individual who used that athletecism in the ring and little else, and it worked for him almost every time. It wasn't until his reaction time slowed the tiniest bit that he started getting caught with flush punches and lost a couple of fights. He's still quick, and still very gifted, but now it isn't quite enough to keep him at that elite level. In his prime, though, he was nearly unbeatable, but I still want to lean towards Calzaghe figuring him out just like he has everyone else. It would've been a chess match, no doubt, with both fighters trying to get theirs in while keeping the other from getting his, but I think Calzaghe is just smart enough to manage it. I'm sure I'll get ripped for that opinion, but hey...who the **** cares, right?

[abadger]

Now there you go overrating Calzaghe again. Just because you're 45 and 0 and nobody has found a clear cut way to beat your awkward style of fighting does not mean you can compete with prime all-time greats of the past. You must see the majority of us don't because it isn't there

That point will further be illustrated in November.

I don't think any of my views on the Kessler fight are outlandish at all. You should have heard Manny Steward on the commentary. It's not so strange is it that an undefeated, long reigning boxer who is the current P4P #2 should have exceptional skill? I think its pretty much a given.

As for matching him with ATG boxers, don't take it up with me, take it up with stickman, it was really his point. I can't comment any further back than Hagler/Hearns/Leonard and I said I was pretty sure Hagler beats him, and RJJ too for that matter. I'll add here that I'd make the other two favourites as well, so I don't think I'm overrating him at all. Presumably most would agree with me?

[Stickman]

Now there you go overrating Calzaghe again. Just because you're 45 and 0 and nobody has found a clear cut way to beat your awkward style of fighting does not mean you can compete with prime all-time greats of the past. You must see the majority of us don't because it isn't there

That point will further be illustrated in November.

vlad.....are you saying that Jones will win this November? Please state plainly your opinion.

[ALT-Assassin]

I don't think any of my views on the Kessler fight are outlandish at all. You should have heard Manny Steward on the commentary. It's not so strange is it that an undefeated, long reigning boxer who is the current P4P #2 should have exceptional skill? I think its pretty much a given.

As for matching him with ATG boxers, don't take it up with me, take it up with stickman, it was really his point. I can't comment any further back than Hagler/Hearns/Leonard and I said I was pretty sure Hagler beats him, and RJJ too for that matter. I'll add here that I'd make the other two favourites as well, so I don't think I'm overrating him at all. Presumably most would agree with me?

Emanual Steward and Max Kellerman were overjoyed at every punch thrown.They talked about how special the fighters are and how skillfull this match was played.How each fighter could turn the momentum at any given time to take the advantage.It is amazing how the American media could be so kind to two Euros.Who would of thunk it?

[abadger]

Prime Jones Vs Prime Calzaghe, it's hard to call. Personally (and I know this won't sit well with most RJJ fans), I don't think Jones had the ring smarts to beat Calzaghe. Jones, for all his fame and fortune, was strictly an extremely physically gifted individual who used that athletecism in the ring and little else, and it worked for him almost every time. It wasn't until his reaction time slowed the tiniest bit that he started getting caught with flush punches and lost a couple of fights. He's still quick, and still very gifted, but now it isn't quite enough to keep him at that elite level. In his prime, though, he was nearly unbeatable, but I still want to lean towards Calzaghe figuring him out just like he has everyone else. It would've been a chess match, no doubt, with both fighters trying to get theirs in while keeping the other from getting his, but I think Calzaghe is just smart enough to manage it. I'm sure I'll get ripped for that opinion, but hey...who the **** cares, right?

Haha! I used to say stuff like that a long time ago, but after numerous bashings I 'modified' my thinking slightly. Weak, I know! I've really only been watching boxing with any seriousness for eighteen months or so, so its hard to have confidence in your opinions in the face of overwhelming criticism, and you wonder if you're just indulging in wishful thinking.

I could imagine it happening like you describe, Calzaghe maybe just constantly pressuring Jones and simply whethering the storm of those amazing combos? But I look at James Toney never even really getting close to Jones and I wonder if the same might not happen to Joe.

Gotta go eat now, but real good talking to you, you should post more often.

[abadger]

Emanual Stward and Max Kellerman were overjoyed at every punch thrown.They talked about how special the fighters are and how skillfull this match was played.How each fighter could turn the momentum at any given time to take the advantage.It is amazing how the American media could be so kind to two Euros.Who would of thunk it?

Maybe. They aren't the reason I hold those views though.

[Stickman]

I don't think any of my views on the Kessler fight are outlandish at all. You should have heard Manny Steward on the commentary. It's not so strange is it that an undefeated, long reigning boxer who is the current P4P #2 should have exceptional skill? I think its pretty much a given.

As for matching him with ATG boxers, don't take it up with me, take it up with stickman, it was really his point. I can't comment any further back than Hagler/Hearns/Leonard and I said I was pretty sure Hagler beats him, and RJJ too for that matter. I'll add here that I'd make the other two favourites as well, so I don't think I'm overrating him at all. Presumably most would agree with me?

Abadger....I actually think Calzaghe would beat Hearns and Haggler both. Partly because he was a little big for either of them, but also because neither of them were especially fantastic boxers. Both had a punch like a freight truck, but again....Joe, "Ironchin" Calzaghe takes a pretty good shot. Never seen the guy hurt at all. He's only been down a couple times, and was never shaken at all, just flash knockdowns. If I had to pick someone to beat Calzaghe, it would probably be Leonard. He was smaller than either Hitman or Marvin, but he was also used to fighting bigger guys. He was also very good at figuring a way to get his punches in, and he was a terrific puncher. Lightning fast hands, great chin, and one other thing...in his prime, he was in in as good a shape as Calzaghe. I still don't know if he'd manage to KO Joe (he'd have a better shot at anyone else), but he would stand an excellant chance at a draw or decision win against him.