How good is Joe Calzaghe?

[PRboxingfan]

He was relatively unknown before the Lacy fight (at least outside the UK), but hardcore fans knew of him back then and knew he was good. I never thought he was as good as he is until he totally demolished Lacy (a green fighter who was a champion before his time), tho. I always thought he was good, but not great. He's proven me wrong.

I picked Lacy and Kessler and in both fights Joe showed he has the stamina, speed, accuracy, and ability to be one of the best Supermiddleweights and Lightheavyweights of all time (and that list includes RJJ). I don't know if I'd rank him above the roy of 1997-2003, but he's a close second.

Calzaghe has nothing left to prove, IMHO, and can retire a happy, unbeaten fighter. Most will call for a Chad Dawson fight, but I don't really think Joe wants to end his career against a young bull (even though I'd pick him to win).

[Ray*]

beat an old rjj/b-hop. he would have lost 5-8 years ago, and I'm a bitter ****.

Am not saying he wouldnt have lost but i wouldnt have ruled out a Joe C win even in RJJ's prime..

[Pugilistic™]

Joe has had an impressive career. And his resume at first glance is very special. But is Calzaghe really that good?


This should be a good discussion...

Calzaghe is a very good fighter and has a decent resume. He has proved himself to be one of Britains finest.

I do feel though he would have lost to Hopkins and Jones in their primes.

[Allucard]

i'm not convinced that his skills are all that good (very good obviously, but not special), but he has something... his boxing brain, his physical attributes, his heart... and a pretty good record too (despite what certain ignorant people say)

he's a great fighter who's had a great career

But he will will lose to Chad Dawson Yeah gotta give him specially the boxing brain, taking the right fights when the time was right was crucial for JC. I think Hopkins and Jones were specially dumb for doing the exact opposite. With Jones' skills Zaghe would make it into one of the greatest of all times, definitely! Maybe only Ali, Robbinson, Leonard, Foreman and Louis would rival him if he had Roy skills. Because with Roy skills he would have beat prime version of Hopkins (and accordingly have looked to fight him earlier) and everyone else. He would have moved up in weight too. The most specially thing about Joe Calzaghe is his boxing brain and timing. I wonder if Roy suspected he had lost to Joe Calzaghe (in more than 1 way) the moment he agreed to fight him at age 39 and being shot like he was (and i think he knows he is) since 03. I think Dawson would put many new problems to JC like fighting fast and active for 12 rounds. JC wins over Bernard and Jones remind me of Cotto's over Shane Mosley and Zab Judah. The moment Cotto met someone who could fight 12 rounds he was DONE. The difference here is at WW in America you are forced to fight high level competition on regular basis to stay relevant and Cotto had to eventually fight Margarito, while in his prime, whereas Joe Calzaghe managed to get away with fighting his best opponents both past their primes. He is Marciano good in my book and he will be until he fights the deciding fight, this time against the odds.

[Truth]

I'm just asking the question. I'm don't have an opinion on this right now, just interested in what other people have to say.

[LightsOut360]

when they talk about all the people calzaghe beat the only big names they bring up is lacy, kessler, hopkins and now jones...

lacy and kessler haven't beaten anyone big... I don't think beating them makes calzaghe an all time greatest. Hopkins and Roy Jones... Come on now.. you actually think beating guys way outta there primes matter ? if Calzaghe had balls and woulve fought these guys in there prime he'd lose. He barely beat Hopkins...which in my opinion was a draw or Hopkins won.

I understand Calzaghe fans are brainwashed by the hype... but calzaghe isn't an all time greatest. He's GOOD. but not ATM.

[S.G.]

fights the deciding fight, this time against the odds.

you could say the Lacy or Kessler fights were that though

the Lacy one in particular

[LightsOut360]

what i meant was... ATG

[Pullcounter]

Joe has had an impressive career. And his resume at first glance is very special. But is Calzaghe really that good?


This should be a good discussion...

c'mon now... he beat a shot rjj.