Joe calzaghe v the current light heavyweights

[Madison Boxing]

Although naturally a super middleweight, joe calzaghe stepped up to light heavy for his last couple of fights and showed no signs of slowing down. How would joe calzaghe have got on in in this division versus the likes of ward, stevenson, kovalev and beterbiev?

[TheBoxingXpert]

Although naturally a super middleweight, joe calzaghe stepped up to light heavy for his last couple of fights and showed no signs of slowing down. How would joe calzaghe have got on in in this division versus the likes of ward, stevenson, kovalev and beterbiev?

Both Ward and Calzaghe are classes above Stevenson, Kovalev and Beterbiev. Those 3 needs to prove themselves before they can be regarded as equal to the elite.

[Madison Boxing]

Both Ward and Calzaghe are classes above Stevenson, Kovalev and Beterbiev. Those 3 needs to prove themselves before they can be regarded as equal to the elite.

yeah i'd fancy calzaghe to beat them all, think he'd box rings around stevenson and beterbiev, climb off the deck to beat kovalev in close fight, and outwork ward to a UD.

[TheBoxingXpert]

yeah i'd fancy calzaghe to beat them all, think he'd box rings around stevenson and beterbiev, climb off the deck to beat kovalev in close fight, and outwork ward to a UD.

That sounds correct.

[bboy80]

yeah i'd fancy calzaghe to beat them all, think he'd box rings around stevenson and beterbiev, climb off the deck to beat kovalev in close fight, and outwork ward to a UD.

The version who went to LHW wouldnt, his hands were well gone by then. he did however find A way to beat everyone, but Ward & Kovalev are higher rated in my eyes then anyone Joe ever fought. Joe would need the power he had in his early twenties when his hand were not shot to ****.

It would be very close with Ward with the version that went up, A toss up infact. Kov is a different story, Joe would most likely last the 12 but lose on points.

If Joe's hands were in perfect working order, and he had the power he had in his mid twenties it could be a different story anybodies guess.

[SugarRayCurtain]

calzaghes slaps aint gonna do **** against krusher and Andre ward
Overrated and so unappealing to watch, he was a slow guy trying to appear fast by slapping

[Redd Foxx]

His hands were gone when he went to 175 but if you took a healthy Calzaghe and put him with today's LHWs I think he might take the division, with his main competition being Ward.

I have a ton of respect for Kovalev but Joe's super awkward movement and constant output would cause huge stylistic problems for the Crusher. The lateral (sometimes circular) movement alone would neutralize him.

Ward vs Calzaghe is a real head scratcher. Ward isn't at his best when he's on the back foot but Joe never had anyone as precise as Andre. Make em fight 10 times and you might see each winning 5 fights.

[soul_survivor]

The version who went to LHW wouldnt, his hands were well gone by then. he did however find A way to beat everyone, but Ward & Kovalev are higher rated in my eyes then anyone Joe ever fought. Joe would need the power he had in his early twenties when his hand were not shot to ****.

It would be very close with Ward with the version that went up, A toss up infact. Kov is a different story, Joe would most likely last the 12 but lose on points.

If Joe's hands were in perfect working order, and he had the power he had in his mid twenties it could be a different story anybodies guess.

The hands issue is a pertinent point but I reckon the op means, if Calzaghe at his best was at light heavy, how would he handle it and in all honesty, I don't see any light heavy troubling him too much. Stev and Kov have the power to hurt anyone and Calzaghe could be knocked down but he always got up and I think he'd be too quick and too skillful for both men.

Ward v Calzaghe would probably be uglier than the Hopkins fight but we all know about Calz punch output and tenacity and he would simply outwork Ward. Beterbeiv and co are not tested enough to be worthy of fantasy match ups.

[dan_cov]

Kovalev easily stops him, Ward cruises to a decision Joe decisions the rest

[MDPopescu]

Calzaghe was brilliant back then! But boxing evolved somehow.