Sergey Kovalev vs. Joe Calzalghe at 175

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

I said quality power punchers, Lacy was struggling with journeyman Omar Sheika before fighting Calzaghe. He didn't do anything afterwards either.

Kessler racked up his KO's against journeymen, he made Andrade look like he had an ATG chin and had a very tough fight with Mundine. A 26 year old Ward, pre-prime, demolished him, Froch, and left the SMW division in the dust.

Those are decent punchers, but nobody like a Kovalev. Kovalev would **** Anthony Mundine, not get into a war with him, he showed his quality vs Ward.

You said Joe didn’t beat anyone who had a 70% KO ratio, Kessler and Lacy both did when they fought Joe. That was my point.
I agree their power is not on the same level as Kovalev though. I don’t their was anyone Joe could’ve fought at 168 who punches like Kovalev

Ward never demolished Kessler either man, he won a clear technical decision but Kessler was still competitive in that fight.

I do agree that Kovalev would beat Calzaghe as well but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as one sided as you’re suggesting. His speed, accuracy and work rate would definitely cause Kovalev problems.

[A.K]

Lacy was a GODLY win better than anything anyone ever done.

[clemenza]

Think the calzage movent and hand speed is way way to much for the Krusher.
I also believe that conditioning would lead joe in the championship rounds, TKO in 10 for the piasan

[TX_BOXNG]

Lol Calslappy barely beat B-Hop lol

KOvalev would murder him

Lol I just remembered he got dropped by B-Hop n Roy lol that chin wouldnt last

[Cutthroat]

Theres no way you can cook it that makes Cleverly near Calzaghes level. Bellew boxed at heavy in the amatuers and hes talked about how dead he was at light heavy more times than i can mention. It was not a great win because Bellew was seriously depleted. Eubank said he walked around at 13 4 hes whole career. He didnt agree to fight light heavy Mark Prince at just above the lightheavy limit because he couldn't make supermiddle, it was just an available winable fight. He said he made himself miserable trying to gain weight for Thompson. Saying several guys wouldve stopped Eubank is based on no evidence. He wasnt an ordinary fighter as far as chin and heart goes. As for everyone being a puncher at heavy, thats not true, as Mike Tyson says in hes interview with Smithy. There are men of 250lbs who cant crack an egg. As for Cunningham, he was a blown up cruiser non puncher. Theres more to stoppages than power, you need to be able to land full force. Thats the skill of boxing. Nobody stopped Calzaghe, nobody outworked or outpointed him. Kovalev only has Pascal, whod already been in a war with Froch, to speak of. Lower workrate and completely different style to Calzaghes and saus nothing at all about this fight.The 50 year old Bhop who took Kovalev the distance, was far closer in body and age to the guy who fell to Joe Smith, than the man who fought Calzaghe. Pavlic was expected to beat Bhop, who was also a career middle, and had the same dimensions, so that has nothing to do with anything.It was a boxing lesson from a man who still could box at world level. As for Hopkins being no good at 175? He beat Tarver clearly, and still had enough at 50 to go the distance with Kovalev. As usual, you ignore the fact that Calzaghe was the number one at hes weight and beat hes two main unbeaten and younger rivals. Cleverly did nothing close. He fell apart against the first non weight drained fighter he fought.Kov put Ward down but couldnt keep him there, and lost heart in both fights. Hes still go no wins against hes top rivals, Ward beat him, he wont fight Stevenson and when he fights a slightly better opponent like 50 year old Hopkins he goes the distance. Btw, Bika, Reid, Roy Jones, Eubank, Lacy, Kessler all decent punchers, but no one stopped Joe, and Kovs stopped no one at that level. Work it out.

Cleverly naturally has an advantage at 175, Joe only fought there 2x against Hopkins and RJJ where he got put down 2x in the 1st. Bellew proved his chin vs Stevenson and numerous other guys. 168 to 175 is a BIG jump proven by JP, Hopkins and Ward.

Eubank normally had weeks to make weight, not 11 days. ANY fighter dropping 19lbs that fast would be heavily favored to lose let alone a guy on the verge of retirement.

JP gave Froch a hell of a fight and Kov toyed with him. Ward also left Froch in the dust with a broken hand, these are the level these guys were at. JP-Hopkins-Froch-Kessler-Calzaghe etc. were all near each other's levels while Ward-Kov were a level higher. Ward dominated every single guy he fought, all of them at SMW, Kessler at a mere 26 years of age, Abraham at 25, Froch with a severely broken hand, none of them were any problem.

When B-Hop fought Kov he was in survival mode from round 1, it was not competitive by any means, nobody has ever done that to Hopkins. Smith knocking out Hopkins is not shocking as he hits like a mule, you can see the power when he throws and based off his record. Hopkins at any stage would struggle at 175 because he's giving up big physical advantages. At 160, 168 he was a pretty big guy at 6'1, but at 175 he's just another body, everyone matches/surpasses his physical advantages.

175 is 2 divisions in 1, there is a big gap between 175 and cruiser that's why it's so dangerous.

[Cutthroat]

You said Joe didn’t beat anyone who had a 70% KO ratio, Kessler and Lacy both did when they fought Joe. That was my point.
I agree their power is not on the same level as Kovalev though. I don’t their was anyone Joe could’ve fought at 168 who punches like Kovalev

Ward never demolished Kessler either man, he won a clear technical decision but Kessler was still competitive in that fight.

I do agree that Kovalev would beat Calzaghe as well but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as one sided as you’re suggesting. His speed, accuracy and work rate would definitely cause Kovalev problems.

Ward beat Kessler at age 25 in his 21st fight, this is a green Andre Ward we're talking about when his biggest fights were Miranda-Pudwill. He beat Kessler's ass pretty bad, there were some headbutts but the technical work is what did Kessler in.

I'm going by Ward/Hopkins' defenses as they possess vastly superior defense to Calzaghe. I've seen Joe get hit, dropped, rocked, waaaay to many times to believe he'd have a chance vs Sergey.

It takes Joe time to adjust to opponents, took him time with RJJ, Kessler, Hopkins, Bika, Reid, etc. Kovalev comes out and blitzes you, it's all wrong for a guy who starts off slow.

[Squ□redCircle34]

Krusher by knockout

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Ward beat Kessler at age 25 in his 21st fight, this is a green Andre Ward we're talking about when his biggest fights were Miranda-Pudwill. He beat Kessler's ass pretty bad, there were some headbutts but the technical work is what did Kessler in.

I'm going by Ward/Hopkins' defenses as they possess vastly superior defense to Calzaghe. I've seen Joe get hit, dropped, rocked, waaaay to many times to believe he'd have a chance vs Sergey.

It takes Joe time to adjust to opponents, took him time with RJJ, Kessler, Hopkins, Bika, Reid, etc. Kovalev comes out and blitzes you, it's all wrong for a guy who starts off slow.

I wouldn’t say green, inexperienced at the top level sure, but Ward had been a pro for 5 years when he fought Kessler, plus his extensive amateur career. Someone like Shakur Stevenson I’d describe as green.

Fair point about Calzaghe, I have similar rationale when evaluating how the fight would play out, Calzaghe was always a slow starter and I think Kovalev would definitely do his best work early on. I just think there’s a plausible argument that if Calzaghe was able to weather the storm he’d start to really trouble Kovalev later on. Kovalev tends to gas after 6 or 7 if he’s made to work which he’d definitely have to against Joe. Calzaghe was also very good at recovering and adapting and Kovalev can become a little predictable with his work once you gauge the range and distance. I could very much see it going like Kovalev-Ward 1, where Kovalev dominates early on but then starts to tire and the gap is closed going down the stretch.
Overall, I would pick Kovalev to win, but it’s a close fight IMO

[Chuckguy]

Who wins this fight???

Joe would slap the shi t out of him