Calzaghe vs Hagler catch weight?

[sunny31]

Calzaghe has a great shot in this fight, I would match him against any middleweight in history and I think he could compete with any of them...that doesn't mean he is better or should be ranked higher all-time, because he would have had a big size advantage over hagler, he was a huge smw. He would re-hydrate to 180 pounds easy, even at a catch weight. He is faster than hagler also, and that is the main reason why I think he would win. Hagler does not punch as hard as roy jones imo, and calzaghe shook off that kd well even if it was a forearm smash, and before anyone says anything I know jones was shot, but his power would still be there.

Its a great match up, and who knows maybe hagler wears calzaghe down or catches him with something big, hagler was so cute on the inside that this outcome is a distinct possibility, but I don't see it like that because calzaghe would have been the bigger man, longer reach, and I don't think he would have been over matched in terms of strength. Anyone who thinks calzaghe wouldn't even belong in a ring with hagler doesn't understand boxing styles.

Its funny because Hagler on more than one occasion told british press that he thought calzaghe was one of the best p4p in the world, way before he beat lacy or kessler. (At a time when many people outside the UK thought calzaghe was a total bum)

[RubenSonny]

Calzaghe has a great shot in this fight, I would match him against any middleweight in history and I think he could compete with any of them...that doesn't mean he is better or should be ranked higher all-time, because he would have had a big size advantage over hagler, he was a huge smw. He would re-hydrate to 180 pounds easy, even at a catch weight. He is faster than hagler also, and that is the main reason why I think he would win. Hagler does not punch as hard as roy jones imo, and calzaghe shook off that kd well even if it was a forearm smash, and before anyone says anything I know jones was shot, but his power would still be there.

Its a great match up, and who knows maybe hagler wears calzaghe down or catches him with something big, hagler was so cute on the inside that this outcome is a distinct possibility, but I don't see it like that because calzaghe would have been the bigger man, longer reach, and I don't think he would have been over matched in terms of strength. Anyone who thinks calzaghe wouldn't even belong in a ring with hagler doesn't understand boxing styles.

It wasn't a particularly good punch that put Joe down and as we know Hagler after Antuofermo was one of the greatest finishers of all time. Roy Jones power was not bad against Calzaghe but had somewhat deteriorated from his prime also a good punch doesn't equate to a knockout and we know that there are certain things needed (things Hagler had in abundance and things RJ no longer had) in order to get the knockout. The fact that a shot Roy wasn't able to finish off Calzaghe doesn't mean a smaller and possibly (I don't know?) weaker puncher in Hagler wouldn't be able to. Also Calzaghe doesn't have a longer reach, as already mentioned in the thread. I respect your opinion and I can't say Calzaghe doesn't have a chance I just think Hagler should be the favourite a significantly more complete fighter imo.

[sunny31]

It wasn't a particularly good punch that put Joe down and as we know Hagler after Antuofermo was one of the greatest finishers of all time. Roy Jones power was not bad against Calzaghe but had somewhat deteriorated from his prime also a good punch doesn't equate to a knockout and we know that there are certain things needed (things Hagler had in abundance and things RJ no longer had) in order to get the knockout. The fact that a shot Roy wasn't able to finish off Calzaghe doesn't mean a smaller and possibly (I don't know?) weaker puncher in Hagler wouldn't be able to. Also Calzaghe doesn't have a longer reach, as already mentioned in the thread. I respect your opinion and I can't say Calzaghe doesn't have a chance I just think Hagler should be the favourite a significantly more complete fighter imo.

Well like I said it was the forearm that hit joe if you observe the knockdown, and I just think calzaghe is seriously hard to knock out, he is one of those fighters that his head just clears very quickly ala juan marquez. I think marvin hagler was a terrific fighter for his time, and thanks for correcting me on his reach, but I just don't think he was a big middleweight, physically, comparible probably most to winky wright during this generation in terms of size, (hagler stronger man) and I agree that Hagler is a much more complete fighter and I think thats why people struggle to pick calzaghe, but wouldn't you say that winky is a more complete fighter? I would, but I think calzaghe would have dominated winky prime for prime, now Hagler is certainly a far superior fighter to wright, but I just used him to point out the fact that the better technician doesn't always win. He wouldn't be as imposing nowadays as he was back in the 80's imo, I think even someone like jermain taylor when he was fresh and unbeaten would have given hagler hell because of his size, jab, athleticism, and speed, who again is inferior to hagler in many ways.

I think its hard for people to pick calzghe over hagler because of what hagler represents, his legacy, one of the all-time greats and he means so much to certain geographical regions in the US and he was a complete master of his trade, calzaghe on the other hand was a natural talent, who was gifted but sloppy and technically inferior. But the size difference and speed would make a difference, remember back then calzaghe would have never made 160, and smw didn't exist until 84 so he would have been a light-heavy back then as he just about squeezed down to 168 for most of his career. I respect your opinion, I would love to see it...hell I would love to see hagler against calzaghe, hopkins, jones, toney etc. Just to see how he would have faired.

[sunny31]

Oh and in terms of hagler's winning streak during his prime...I feel a lot of the guys he fought were not on his level or smaller guys like duran and hearns, although I give him a lot of credit for both wins, which is why I regard him as one of the top 5 middleweights ever.

[geribeetus]

i like calzaghe more than most people around here. but size difference aside, i can't really think of anything hagler doesn't do better. faster. better finisher. technically more sound. marvin's an iron chinned bulldog who grinned at hearns' punches. i have to think there's nothing calzaghe can throw that would make him think twice.

[Canelo Phresh]

hagler wins by ko

[RubenSonny]

Well like I said it was the forearm that hit joe if you observe the knockdown, and I just think calzaghe is seriously hard to knock out, he is one of those fighters that his head just clears very quickly ala juan marquez. I think marvin hagler was a terrific fighter for his time, and thanks for correcting me on his reach, but I just don't think he was a big middleweight, physically, comparible probably most to winky wright during this generation in terms of size, (hagler stronger man) and I agree that Hagler is a much more complete fighter and I think thats why people struggle to pick calzaghe, but wouldn't you say that winky is a more complete fighter? I would, but I think calzaghe would have dominated winky prime for prime, now Hagler is certainly a far superior fighter to wright, but I just used him to point out the fact that the better technician doesn't always win. He wouldn't be as imposing nowadays as he was back in the 80's imo, I think even someone like jermain taylor when he was fresh and unbeaten would have given hagler hell because of his size, jab, athleticism, and speed, who again is inferior to hagler in many ways.

I think its hard for people to pick calzghe over hagler because of what hagler represents, his legacy, one of the all-time greats and he means so much to certain geographical regions in the US and he was a complete master of his trade, calzaghe on the other hand was a natural talent, who was gifted but sloppy and technically inferior. But the size difference and speed would make a difference, remember back then calzaghe would have never made 160, and smw didn't exist until 84 so he would have been a light-heavy back then as he just about squeezed down to 168 for most of his career. I respect your opinion, I would love to see it...hell I would love to see hagler against calzaghe, hopkins, jones, toney etc. Just to see how he would have faired.

Good post and valid points, imo size generally gets overrated, lets just agree to disagree. A lot of people are flat out counting out Calzaghe just because they don't like him which is of course unfair.

[the niggest]

Hagler all night. Calzaghe ain't and never was on Hagler's level... Hagler is a legit ATG. Calzaghe is not.

[SirTomJones]

Good post and valid points, imo size generally gets overrated, lets just agree to disagree. A lot of people are flat out counting out Calzaghe just because they don't like him which is of course unfair.

Sadly this is the case and not just the Calzaghe who gets targeted on this forum.

[RubenSonny]

Swings both ways some of these Brits are very jingoistic.