Who ranks higher all-time: Andre Ward or Joe Calzaghe?

[yankees7448]

Hmm... it's an interesting question.

More interesting is how similar Kovalev Ward 1 and Hopkins vs Calzaghe fights were.

Both fights had the fighters in question being the money guys, getting dropped in the second round and then getting an 'undeserved' decision.

Neither guy is undefeated in my eyes. Ward had better opponents on his resume and more accolades (p4p 1 for example) but Joe has more wins, long title reign and double the KO's .... it's actually a tough one.

Hopkins ranks significantly higher than either though, that's for sure.

I'm leaning Joe for now, Andre's fault for retiring without unifying LHW and not having a clean win over Kovalev.

I disagree. Ward has the better resume. Calzaghe has more KO's but he fought softer opposition. His best opposition consists of Bernard Hopkins, Chris Eubanks, Mikkel Kessler, a washed up Roy Jones Jr, Sakio Bika, Jeff Lacy, Omar Sheika, Robin Reid and Peter Manfredo. Its very much a top heavy list. Comparatively speaking Andre Ward beat Sergei Kovalev 2x (I know it was controversial but a win is a win), Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, Chad Dawson, Arthur Abraham, Sakio Bika and Edison Miranda. Ward didn't unify any of the divisions but I believe he won 3 out of the 4 major belts in 2 divisions. The only belt he didn't own at super middleweight was subsiquentially won by a guy he beat. The only belt he didn't own at light heavyweight was owned by a guy who actively avoided tough fights. So in my eyes he was the unified champion in all but name.

[CatchAndShoot]

Anyone that says Joe, and is actually serious, needs to be banned, just for being that boxing ignorant.

[SOPH~ REP.]

it even close. Ward challenged himself, calzaghe hid out in england and then fought ancient hopkins and jones. Ward took on all comers at 168 and then moved to 175 to fight the best there.

ding ding ding

[MDPopescu]

Who ranks higher all-time: Andre Ward or Joe Calzaghe?

... I can't rate "slap-slap" vs "slap-slap + headbutts + excessive clinching + low blows"... It's too demanding for me...

[2120]

I think it's pretty close.


had ward losing the kovalev fight and I know he used illegal blows to stop kovalev in the second fight but he didn't get docked any points nor do i remember him getting losing points in the Kessler fight. the guy is a real pro like bhop. I understand the hate but I appreciate the craft.

now calzaghe doesn't get enough credit. yes he slapped but hes got to be one of the hardest slappers that's ever walked the earth. his quick style and rhythm was something special in my eyes.

I think it really is a toss up ward could surpass him if he comes back and does more at light heavy but as it stands. I see argument for either guy

[GhostofDempsey]

Easily Calzaghe. He beat a still game Hopkins who went on to beat Pavlik, Jones, Pascal and Cloud and went the distance with Kov. He also beat a still game Jones who just came off a win over Trinidad.

He beat a better version of Kessler without elbows and headbutts.

[sunny31]

It's pretty close overall, considering they have had very different career paths. Calazghe had more longevity and some underrated wins. Ward had more quality in a shorter career.

I just can't overlook Wards resume though, it's undoubtedly superior and what separates them.

[Lester Tutor]

Calzaghe was making waves as an Olympian to then fight BHop and RJJ so late in their careers...

Who's the Kovalev in Calzaghe's resume?

[GrandmasterWang]

I disagree. Ward has the better resume. Calzaghe has more KO's but he fought softer opposition. His best opposition consists of Bernard Hopkins, Chris Eubanks, Mikkel Kessler, a washed up Roy Jones Jr, Sakio Bika, Jeff Lacy, Omar Sheika, Robin Reid and Peter Manfredo. Its very much a top heavy list. Comparatively speaking Andre Ward beat Sergei Kovalev 2x (I know it was controversial but a win is a win), Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, Chad Dawson, Arthur Abraham, Sakio Bika and Edison Miranda. Ward didn't unify any of the divisions but I believe he won 3 out of the 4 major belts in 2 divisions. The only belt he didn't own at super middleweight was subsiquentially won by a guy he beat. The only belt he didn't own at light heavyweight was owned by a guy who actively avoided tough fights. So in my eyes he was the unified champion in all but name.

It's a shame Ward never unified for reasons you mentioned. The name counts for a lot. I said that Ward had the better resume. I agree on Joe facing softer opposition.

[SweetPbfAli]

It's amazing that people are choosing Cal and actually trying to justify it by throwing out Roy Jones on his resume. That's like elevating Trevor Berbrick due to his win over Ali.