Comments Thread For: Carl Froch Tears Apart The Career Record of Joe Calzaghe

[markther]

I have to disagree with Froch on BHOP. Although BHOP was 43 when he fought Joe, he was still a very formidable fighter. 1 to 2 years prior to their fight, BHOP dominated Tarver and Winky Wright. Even after losing to Joe, BHOP dominated Kelly Pavlik JUST 6 months later.

But Joe did not beat a very formidable fighter in Roy Jones Jr, that fighter was past his prime after losing (3) consecutive times, 3 to 4 years prior to their fight, 2 by stoppage. Roy beat a Trinidad that hadn’t fought in almost 3 years after getting dominated by Winky Wright.

I do agree with Froch that there isn’t much else on the resume when you look at it “objectively,” without any bias. Are the wins against fighters like Kessler, Bika, Mandredy, and Lacy super impressive and HOF worthy, I don’t think so, just my personal opinion.

And give Froch some props, only (2) losses, future HOF’er Andre Ward and Kessler. But Froch avenged the loss to Kessler. Really only (1) stain loss and that’s to a HOF’er.

Froch wins: Not a fan of Froch, pretty impressive right?

Mike Kessler

Jermain Taylor

Arthur Abraham

Glen Johnson

Lucian Bute

Andre Dirrell

Yusif Mack

Jean Pascal

George Groves (beat Chris Eubank Jr & Martin Murray, and lost a split decision to Badou Jack)

[Oregonian]

There were different players when Froch fought. Do you really think Calzaghe could beat Ward?

———-

Now, that’s a valid question! I think anyone that fought or fights Ward would have his hands full.
Ward is a very resourceful fighter. He can make a good boxer look really bad, he can be very cagey and make the fight a war of attrition and find a way to win.
That’s why a similar-styled (but extremely dirty) Hopkins was a bad fight for Calzaghe style-wise.
I re-watched that fight last week and even though I thought Calzaghe won when I saw it live, I think it was a toss-up fight now. I never liked Hopkins style so I leaned towards Calzaghe but over the years I’ve come to really appreciate Hopkins so I am torn but I’m fine with Calzaghe getting the nod.

A fight like Hatton-Collazo was in no way a win for Hatton. It was just too obvious a robbery.

What I can tell you is this, I know you reduce Calzaghe to a mere volume puncher which is too harsh I think, because it’s exactly that style that overwhelmed guys like Lacy plus a lot others, so I can’t say Calzaghe would have beaten Ward but it would have been a pretty good scrappy fight.

[archiemoore1]

Carl Crotch is becoming the #1 ranked contender keyboard warrior these days. Dust yourself off, put the scones down, get in shape and make a comeback like other past greats are now doing. Get off the keyboard and ask Joe is he would face you in the ring. He may decide not to, but i think he can still whip you if he gets in shape again. Yes, he had mediocre opposition for many years, but skillwise when u do an objective eye test, joe beats you decisively with hard slaps for 12 rounds.

[rocktop]

Anyone who knows boxing knows Hopkins was screwed

Adalide byrd really knows boxing than in your world

[JK1700]

He has a point but at the same time no man should be this obsessed with another man.

[angkag]

Froch was a monster, but I think he would take a L from Calzaghe... who is under-rated, and VERY difficult to beat... insane stamina/workrate, excellent boxing skills, three distinctly different punching styles... he was also pretty tough and a under-rated puncher, but he slapped a bit with his mid-range combo's

I am a big Ward guy, but he would have given Ward fits... Ward would have found it much more difficult to negate Calzaghe like he negated just about everyone else

Froch had a great career, big over-achiever

#timing

Calzhage/Ward would have been fascinating prime to prime, they would have both given each other fits figuring out how to win, and if ever there was a matching that could go to I, II and III, that could have been it.

[Mindgames]

beating a finished unranked eubank who wasnt even fighting at that weight is better than beating pascal who went on to be #1 at 175? hmm dont think so. you falling for those big names on resumes again aren't you? context is key

Who says Eubank was finished? It's very hard to judge. Collins beat him yes, but the fact he could go up and give such weight away to a powerhouse such as Thompson, who even old stopped Haye shows Eubank had something left. Pascal didn't have any great performances as a super middle that I can put my finger on. The context is nobody described Eubank as finished then, nor Pascal as a world beater. But we do know Kessler was top level when Calzaghe beat him, Kessler was older when he beat Froch. Bute was nearly stopped against Andrade before Carl got him. But Hopkins went on to shut out Pavlik after Calzaghe beat him..

[1Eriugenus]

'Who says Eubank was finished? It's very hard to judge. Collins beat him yes, but the fact he could go up and give such weight away to a powerhouse such as Thompson, who even old stopped Haye shows Eubank had something left.'

At C/W. He didn't even stop at 175. Eubank was dead as a dodo at 168

Best names on Joe's record at 168 are Richie Woodhall, Robin Reid & Kessler Best name overall is BHop.
He beat Richie but TBH he was a very limited boxer. Robin beat him on my scorecard but never got a rematch. Kessler, in fairness, is a v good win. BHop I had a draw. In fairness, the draw is a damn good achievement by Joe, no-one else at the time got close to that.

Definitely, Joe could fight & he might've beat Froch. He ducked a rematch with Reid & he ran from Glenn Johnson like a rabbit from a fox. That has to be taken into account.

[W1LL]

Sakio Bika would have leathered Carl Froch. Nuff said.

[Upon9]

Calzaghe is a Hall of Famer without ifs and buts

Froch was very unfair to Calzaghe. Joe came along at a time after the golden era of British Middleweights - Benn, Eubanks, Collins etc so there was not as much quality around but you can only fight what's in front of you. That said, Robin Reid, Jeff Lacey and Kessler were all quality opponents and each time Calzaghe found the answer. Eubanks at 31 was far from washed up and gave Calzaghe a stern test in the first half of that fight. Roy Jones like some others didn't want to fight Calzaghe sooner as they knew they would be beaten. Jones also ran away from Stephen Collins before that. You would like Calzaghe's CV to include a few more greats of boxing but that was not to be. What cannot be denied is his all round boxing skills: his speed, work-rate, stamina, accuracy, his ability to give and take a punch and his boxing game and his ability to adapt. Few British boxers at any weight had that amount of weaponry. I'm not into labels except to say that the stunning displays of Calzaghe rightly earned him a place in the Hall of Famers.