Tony Booth British journeyman talks on sparring Hamed,Calzaghe,Benn etc

[RichCCFC]

I started out [professional] with the Ingles. I used to do a lot of body sparring with the likes of Bomber Graham, Johnny Nelson and Naseem Hamed. Nelson never had any bottle: he used to nick fights running away. But Naz was ****ing brilliant - so elusive and he hit really hard. Even when he were just 15, he told my uncle to get his autograph 'cos he were going to be a superstar.

Nigel Benn used me seven times over in Tenerife, including for the Gerald McClellan fight. I had a big bet, three figures, on McClellan to win in the first round at about 10-1. And he would've if the ref hadn't kept interrupting. Nige and me would spar half-an-hour a day, then both go out on the piss. We always had a headguard and 16 oz gloves and often I'd outjab him. Nigel weren't a liberty-taker.

But the best I've been inside the ring with was Joe Calzaghe in sparring. Beforehand, I thought he were quite boring to watch and looked as if he slapped but, **** me, he punches hard. If he slapped, Bernard Hopkins would've stood toe-to-toe with Joe, but he [Hopkins] got on his bike, didn't he? If Joe and Nigel had fought, I think Joe would have been able to take the pain and would've ended up hurting Nigel, bit like Michael Watson did.


For you Left Hook Tua

Booth has been in there with the likes of David Haye, Enzo Maccarinelli and Derek Chisora.

[The_One77]

good thread which only reinforces Joe's legendary legacy
The man was out of this world. Hopkins, Roy, Mike Macculam, James Toney etc etc wouldn't of lasted 12 rounds had they fought a prime Calzaghe.

[Testdead]

Ha Nigel Benn would train then go on the piss.