How Great Was Joe Calzaghe?

[daggum]

Damn I wish that was true coz I'm a Kovalev fan but unfortunately Calzaghe would have outboxed him and been too smart for Kovalev. What a great matchup though!!

calzaghe wasn't a good long range boxer so that makes no sense at all. did you watch calzaghe fights? whenever he tried to box he would lose. look at the robin reid fight, the first 5 rounds against kessler. the first 4-5 rounds against hopkins. he was too easy to hit when he stood on the outside because he had essentially no defense. the only time he had success was when he went slap happy and overwhelmed his opponent. this obviously wouldn't work because kovalev has too much skill and would time calzaghe who was wide open for counters. so he would be battered and worn down on the outside then when he tried to come forward countered and hurt badly. he also had no power to turn around a fight but he wouldn't survive long against kovalev anyway.

[deansluk]

eubank was 32 when calzaghe beat him , albeit a battle worn 32 , stles make fights , benn calzaghe would of been great ... robin reid fight of 98 is calz biggest blemish on his resume aside from whos not on there , was razor close and no rematch ... i love joe , but he wasnt a massive super middle , and bhop looked bigger than him when they fought , kovalev is a naturally far bigger guy than both.

[Tedkidlewis]

calzaghe wasn't a good long range boxer so that makes no sense at all. did you watch calzaghe fights? whenever he tried to box he would lose. look at the robin reid fight, the first 5 rounds against kessler. the first 4-5 rounds against hopkins. he was too easy to hit when he stood on the outside because he had essentially no defense. the only time he had success was when he went slap happy and overwhelmed his opponent. this obviously wouldn't work because kovalev has too much skill and would time calzaghe who was wide open for counters. so he would be battered and worn down on the outside then when he tried to come forward countered and hurt badly. he also had no power to turn around a fight but he wouldn't survive long against kovalev anyway.

Really like you're break down. That's what I'd want to happen but unfortunately Calzaghe was too fast, too smart. It would have been a clear decision for Joe but I like where you're coming from.

[Scott9945]

Calzaghe was an absolute monster. Fastest hands ever,iron chin,one punch knockout power,could throw 2000 punches in a fight an not get tired.

Their has never been a man alive that could beat Joe.

He is the greatest fighter of all time.

Desperate for attention?

[Tedkidlewis]

eubank was 32 when calzaghe beat him , albeit a battle worn 32 , stles make fights , benn calzaghe would of been great ... robin reid fight of 98 is calz biggest blemish on his resume aside from whos not on there , was razor close and no rematch ... i love joe , but he wasnt a massive super middle , and bhop looked bigger than him when they fought , kovalev is a naturally far bigger guy than both.

Interesting perspective but Calzaghe had the ring generalship and attributes to figure Kovalev out, I would have been cheering on a Kovakev victory but in boxing you have to be honest.

[jmrf4435]

Joe is in the same catagory as Hopkins, and Roy,--its hard for Americans to accept any other fighters that are not muhamed ali or mike tyson

[Scott9945]

Joe is in the same catagory as Hopkins, and Roy,--its hard for Americans to accept any other fighters that are not muhamed ali or mike tyson

What? So Americans only accept Ali and Tyson? Not Leonard, Hagler, De La Hoya, Mayweather, etc.?

[who_necks]

Calzaghe was very good but doesn't have a great resume which is a shame because i think he had the talent to beat a lot of top fighters. He had the ability to be great, but did he have the desire to prove it? Although i know it wasn't all his fault, Hopkins did price himself out of a fight with him earlier on.

Also, his win over Kessler is a very underrated win. Kessler was prime and undefeated and Calzaghe won that convincingly. Froch went life and death with a past prime Kessler twice and lost the first fight. I think it shows that when Calzaghe stepped up to the challenge, he had the ability, i just wish it happened a lot more in his career.

[SouthPawHitman]

Desperate for attention?

I'm just trying to educate the forum.

[Bigg Rigg]

He wasn't great to all IMO