Roy is NOT shot

[WESS]

I can see why you think the way you do, but my view is that the Hopkins fight has seriously skewed the correct perception of Calzaghe's power. You have pointed out yourself, quite correctly, that Calzaghe only resorts to his windmill slaps when he goes into 'panic mode', which is to say when he feels a need to physically impose himself on his opponent. He had to do this constantly against Hopkins because Hopkins was smothering any boxing he attempted, and it wasn't very effective because rather than going backwards when it happened, Hopkins kept coming forward with the aim of clinching. Joe literally was slapping at the side of Hopkins head because Hopkins was so close to him, and he was unable to mix in the harder shots he normally does. It made him look very bad, but this has really been a one-off in Calzaghe's career, but Hopkins is a one off opponent, in every other fight Calzaghe has been able to back his man up and get in harder shots, forcing his opponent to respect him.

You only have to take a brief look at Jones to see he is not Hopkins. In the face of any serious pressure, throughout his career, Jones always goes backwards, usually to the ropes where he allows his opponent to strike at will. This will give Calzaghe plenty of opportunity to get off his harder shots. Think about it really. Would a guy who literally has no power have been able to keep Kessler at bay, or have Jeff Lacy constantly on the end of his fist, or defeat a fighter as forward only and aggressive as Sakio Bika? I don't think so. The whole 'Calzaghe has no power' thing is just hyperbole spouted by his critics. He's no one punch KO artist, sure, but who is, and he doesn't batter his opponents into submission, but does he have enough to get their respect? Of course he does.

So as I said, i do understand your thinking, but what you said really relies literally on Jones being able to walk through Calzaghe's best punches. The simple fact is that this has never been Jones' way, not in his prime and not now. He has always been a relatively cautious fighter, and that won't change. The old Jones might have been able to avoid Calzaghe while simultaneously landing plenty from range, but not any more, to land on Joe he will have to engage with him, and in those circumstances I will always favour the guy who goes forward relentlessly throwing 100+ punches a round rather than the guy who likes to go back, unless the guy going back is a top class counterpuncher (Jones isn't, at least not when under real pressure) or the guy going forward has a suspect chin (Calzaghe doesn't).

No way for me to see anything other than a Calzaghe victory I'm afraid.

Well I wasn't trying to convert you! lol I know Joe did it in the HOP fight, you can also see him do this several times in the Kessler fight. You clearly see Joe drop his head down and flurry very carelessly. When Kessler tagged him with clear shots, Joe went on a rampage. Kessler didn't know how to deal with this. I think this is where jones will counter.

Joe is smart yet he gets ****** when he is tagged. Of course as history has it, he hasn't been that ****** too many times because he never lost. BUT it doesn't change the fact that he gets ******, or overly careless (a better word). I think jones will benefit from this.

I also think Jones will do well on the ropes as long as he doesn't stay on them for a long period of time. I actually think he will call calzaghe to go with him to the ropes. He can lean and counter off of them just as he did to the harder punching Hanshaw last year.

[abadger]

jones is a great counterpuncher, his counters arent as good as hopkins, but there faster and more powerful. watch jones vs tarver I & III, when Tarver has jones on the ropes, he hit him with killer bodyshots

I don't think so. Jones is pretty good at seeing what you are going to do and exploiting any opening it will leave, but IMO to do this effectively he has to be in no real danger, he has to be ready and waiting. When actually under any kind of successful attack, Jones has one direction, backwards and into a defensive shell. He's always been like that. Compared to Calzaghe, Tarver is easy to counterpunch, he's a standoffish, cagey fighter who waits before throwing himself. Calzaghe is the opposite really, and just like Hopkins was, Jones will find he has too much to worry about dealing with what's coming at him rather than having the chance to exploit any openings it might create. he will land a few good shots I'm sure, maybe even the odd fast combo, but again, like Hopkins, these will be isolated incidents in rounds that are really dominated by Calzaghe.

[hishaam15]

I don't think so. Jones is pretty good at seeing what you are going to do and exploiting any opening it will leave, but IMO to do this effectively he has to be in no real danger, he has to be ready and waiting. When actually under any kind of successful attack, Jones has one direction, backwards and into a defensive shell. He's always been like that. Compared to Calzaghe, Tarver is easy to counterpunch, he's a standoffish, cagey fighter who waits before throwing himself. Calzaghe is the opposite really, and just like Hopkins was, Jones will find he has too much to worry about dealing with what's coming at him rather than having the chance to exploit any openings it might create. he will land a few good shots I'm sure, maybe even the odd fast combo, but again, like Hopkins, these will be isolated incidents in rounds that are really dominated by Calzaghe.

yeah but like you cant compare Tarver and Calzaghe, you cant compare Hop and Jones. Jones isnt going to be on the back foot all night. remember jones is going to be the hungrier fighter that night and it isnt gong to be all ropes ropes ropes. if jones comes in with a smart gameplan it will be to keep the action in the centre of the ring, so that calzaghe cant go on his flurries. true he wont be able to do it for 12 rounds. but if hes clever and steals rounds from calzaghe early on he can win a comfortable decision.

[WESS]

yeah but like you cant compare Tarver and Calzaghe, you cant compare Hop and Jones. Jones isnt going to be on the back foot all night. remember jones is going to be the hungrier fighter that night and it isnt gong to be all ropes ropes ropes. if jones comes in with a smart gameplan it will be to keep the action in the centre of the ring, so that calzaghe cant go on his flurries. true he wont be able to do it for 12 rounds. but if hes clever and steals rounds from calzaghe early on he can win a comfortable decision.

Comfortable? Naaaa I dont think either guy will get a comfortable win....

[hishaam15]

Comfortable? Naaaa I dont think either guy will get a comfortable win....

unless we see a roy KO

[WESS]

unless we see a roy KO

Jones hasnt Ko'ed anyone in a long time. I think he will knock Joe down a few times though....

I also dont see Joe winning by a KO. When was the last time he knocked anyone down, or hurt someone badly, let alone KO them......

[Stickman]

How I see it?

After Roy's heavyweight win against Ruiz, he sealed his legacy in the sport.

Joe has sealed his legacy in the boxing history books as well.

What makes this fight intriguing is the fact that two legends, who could have met in the ring while in their primes, will now be facing each other more for pride rather than to prove their merit.

My Fast Facts:

Roy is a multi-weight and multi-title champion.
More known for his speed, slickness, and intelligent boxing skills.
Has been knocked down and out, albeit unnecessarily.
Not the same as in his prime, but not entirely washed up.
Has a decent chance at knocking Calzaghe out.

Joe is a long time reigning champion in Britain.
Known for his ring smarts, speed and stamina.
Not in his prime, but fresher than Roy physically.
Has been sent to the canvass by another legend in Hopkins.
Has a decent chance at knocking Jones out.

To me, it'll come down to who wants to win more and for what reasons.

If this will be each others' last fight of their careers, neither one will want to end it on a losing footnote, and we may just see a fight of the ages with both fighters giving it their all in one last hurrah.

Most will lean towards Calzaghe for the win, and with good reason.

Many, including myself, still feel that Roy may be apprehensive to get into a serious brawl with Joe after suffering devastating knockout losses at the height of his career.

If Roy is all there mentally and physically for the fight, I think we'll see some fireworks in that ring from both fighters.

Hopefully it lives up to the hype.

That is a gooooood post, Mindbat. Can't say much more than that.

[Stickman]

if i were Roy i would come in with he stategy of staying in the centre of the ring, reducing calzaghes workrate, and making all of calzaghes punches hit the arms and gloves, the NY judges wont give him the rounds for that. then when the last 30 seconds of the round come, do just enough to steal the round from calzaghe. boring for the fans i know, but a winning strategy nevertheless. tarver did it against jones in their first encounter, and managed to steal many rounds

If Roy were as conditioned as Calzaghe (or even close), that might work. Again, I've been wrong before, will be again, this might be one of those times, but I just don't think I am.

[hishaam15]

Jones hasnt Ko'ed anyone in a long time. I think he will knock Joe down a few times though....

I also dont see Joe winning by a KO. When was the last time he knocked anyone down, or hurt someone badly, let alone KO them......

lol but the power is there to KO joe. its possible, just not likely. joe KO wont happen, and we wont see a BS stopage either. iv never seen Roy cut, so i doubt it woud be stopped on cuts either. it will go full 12 rounds

[hishaam15]

If Roy were as conditioned as Calzaghe (or even close), that might work. Again, I've been wrong before, will be again, this might be one of those times, but I just don't think I am.

just dependz on what Roy comes to fight that night. if hes mentally there he can pull it off