Comments Thread For: Carl Froch: Joe Calzaghe Represents a 'Bullet Dodged'

[BritJimbo]

I usually cheer for the British guy, but I hated watching Calzaghe, seems like a nice guy and terrific fighter, but just not someone I could get into. Like Orlando Canizales for some reason.

[Mick Higgs]

Well, it wasn't pretty but at least there was some action.

Carlos de Leon v Johnny Nelson and Robert Easter v Rances Barthelemy are the two ugliest I can think of offhand.

Anything with Johnny Nelson's gonna be a borefest. Just imagine Nelson Vs Okolie!!.....

[Sparked_26]

Hopkins-Calzaghe was easily one of the five ugliest fights I've ever seen.

Horrendous.

If someone watched that twice they are a sociopath

[MONGOOSE66]

I remember watching Calzaghe fight in Europe. I was never impressed till he fought an American named Jeff Lacy. I was shocked. Jeff was going through boxers like a hot knife through butter.
Then he fought Bika, Manfredo and whipped them. I thought he was a legit top guy but when he stepped into the ring against Kessler. I thought Kessler was a hell of a fighter. He whipped him. I knew he was great.
Then he beat Hopkins and RJJ. He is truly one of the most unappreciated greats out there and this is an opinion of a non English guy.
He would have whipped Froch on points easily. I remember Froch always talking sheeit about wanting to fight Calzaghe. I’m glad he sees what I saw.

[Pappy O’Daniel]

Respectful thing to say from Carl which I wouldn't have imagined lol.

[MONGOOSE66]

That's nice frochs resume is still much better especially when you factor in jones was shot and Hopkins was old and should have won that fight. Prime ward was much better than both those old guys so I don't even understand your argument. Froch beat better fighters so he's better. Calzaghe did less so why would would be greater? Cause he targeted a couple old guys? If connor benn beats Pacquiao is he great too? You must think Jeff horn is better than frocb cause he beat the FOTD. Weak arguments there. Froch has a quality resume even with losses. That's better than a Mediocre resume with no losses

LOL, what an idiot. U don’t know sheet about boxing. Luge is more your speed.

[Jack_sh*t]

Wow.. That's the 2nd time I've witnessed Gonzo wake up from his hubris and actually display some humility...
First was in the build up to Froch/Groves1 when he stated he would 'swerve Golovkin like the plague.'
Mind you, he then waited until GGG was unofficially retired before coming out with the claim that he was 'Too big, too strong for Golovkin..'

Froch was a tough customer, but his defence was suspect. He consistently dropped the left when retracting the jab and left himself wide open. Can only imagine how Calzaghe would have capitalised on that. I think Calzaghe v Froch would've looked a lot like Calzaghe v Lacy, in that Joe would've utterly schooled him.

I find it tedious how the shermans go on about him catching Jones & Hopkins late... Been as how Joe retired afterwards as a result of his hands being totally fkd whilst RJJ & BHop fought on. Offhand I'm pretty sure BHop had a dozen or so more fights after losing to Joe & RJJ quite a few more than that. However, I'd love to have witnessed RJJ V JC back when they were both prime.. BHop stank the place out when he fought Joe, just trying to spoil his way to victory, but then again white men named Joe appear to have been his Kryptonite...

[PRINCEKOOL]

Although Carl Froch would be competitive, and I do rate him extremely highly 'Stylistically Joe Calzaghe is a very difficult fight for him'.

In a battle of attrition, Froch would be competing against a fighter who has comparable if not greater levels endurance 'Calzaghe's durable was also comparable to Froch's'.

In terms of pure boxing Joe Calzaghe was also a superior fighter skill for skill 'That is why, I believe during a 12 round fight. It would be competitive, but Calzaghe would just be landing too much and winning the rounds'.

Joe Calzaghe's resume in certain area's, is very underrated 'Calzaghe's win over Eubank Senior, I believe is a better win than all of Froch's wins'.

Note: I rate Carl Froch extremely highly, I have even backed him at his peak to beat Canelo Alvarez at 168 pounds 'I have made posts before about both Calzaghe and Froch being superior Super Middle Weight Fighters than Canelo Alvarez'.

Even when there was talk of Carl Froch fighting Gennady Golovkin 'I would of backed Carl Froch to beat Golovkin'.

Carl Froch's pure boxing ability was also underrated, he was a World Amateur Championship Bronze medalist 'Both Carl Froch and David Haye won medals at the same Amateurs World Championships. And they were the first UK fighters to win medals at the World Championships for many years'.

Joe Calzaghe would of beaten Carl Froch over 12 round 'Froch has solid power. But I have always believed that his major strength, was his overall brute strength 'Which amplified his offensive attacks'.

For example, Deontay Wilder has serious punching power 'But his overall brute strength is very much under-par. I think there are potentially some fighters, many weight classes below Deontay Wilder that have greater natural brute strength'.

If Deontay Wilder had a solid level of brute strength, his fights vs Tyson Fury 'The action would been dramatically different. We saw that, with how the third fight between the two fighters played out'.

Wilder made a considerable effort, in attempting to improve his brute strength 'In preparing for the Wilder vs Fury III match up'. Wilder did improve his brute strength, but many other area's of his game did not seem to be integrated into this version of Deontay Wilder'.

And I believe this is one of the major reasons why he lost that fight 'Fury was there for the taking in that fight. Technically Fury was all over the place, making unforced errors which in my opinion would of been exploited brutally by past great heavyweight offensive fighters'.

There are no active Super Middle Weights in today's era 'That have the brute strength of Carl Froch, Alvarez has no were near his strength. And Alvarez is a strong fighter'.

I honestly believe, that we have to jump up the weight classes 'And observe fighters such as Artur Beterbiev 'Froch has that same type of brute strength, that Beterbiev is embodied with'.

This type of strength, is not entirely built up through 'Body building methodologies. I more describe it as a innate organic type of strength'.

So to conclude: All of those attributes will make Carl Froch very competitive vs Joe Calzaghe 'But the speed, combination punch ability, endurance and skill of Calzaghe would see him winning more rounds' etc.

[megas30]

Whatever stuff Froch was on when said all of this, I need some of that. Dude actually humbled himself and spoke truth to the theoretical possibility of what could have happened between them. Froch was never a defensive wizard, but he had an iron chin and unorthodox way of throwing his shots. Calzaghe's experience, hand speed, movement and activity woulda given him nightmares. Woulda been one hell of a fight if their careers would have overlapped at some point tho.

You failed to mentioned Calzaghe's chin. If he couldn't slip those Froch's haymakers, it would have been night night. Calzaghe liked to get sloppy with his punches or rushes in and get his chin checked. Froch is relentless with an iron chin, so it is really a toss up. Calzaghe on points and Froch on premature stoppage.

[bh97213]

Froch indeed dodged a bullet. Froch was stylistically all wrong for Calzaghe. Froch was sloppy, not that fast, and left himself wide open even more so than Lacy. Imagine past his prime Jermain Taylor was ahead on points until the last minute stoppage scored by Froch. While fast, Taylor did not have Calzahe's speed of hands. Froch was a borderline great fighter, but Calzaghe was a great fighter and possessed all the tools necessary to provide a one-sided beating to Froch. Froch dodged the bullet.