52 fight challenge: Week 1: Joe Calzaghe vs Robin Reid

[Andrew]

Watched this a few weeks ago for the first time. I felt it was dead close and should have been a rematch. Robin Reid was unlucky when you consider he was clearly robbed against Ottke in Germany he won that quite wide IMO

[bripez]

“I made three successful defences of my WBC title but I only got paid £75,000 and with all the take-offs for my manager, training camp etc I ended up with £20,000.

“I thought bearing in mind how close the first fight was I would get paid a decent amount for a return, especially when so many people thought I won the first one. We genuinely didn’t like each other and the public love those fights don’t they?

“I was told I would get paid what I was worth, I was told it would be an offer I couldn’t refuse, but it all dragged on for about three to four months. Frank eventually took me out for a big meal at the Savoy Hotel and told me the offer was 90k – that was only 15k more than the first time around. I was flabbergasted.

“All I wanted was to be paid what I was worth. To be honest I thought I was going to be offered £150,000 and I was offered 90k. That’s why the second fight never happened. Shortly afterwards I signed with Jess Harding.”

Interesting, but pretty depressing also.

I remember reading that he got about USD 70k (about 50 Grand) for the Lacey fight - obviously before deductions etc.

I am sure I have also read that Brian Hughes (who was his trainer - not sure if he was also his manager ?) liked to culture a reputation as a kindly old bloke who helped the community out of the goodness of his heart yet was happy to take a very large wedge from boxers purses.

[davie]

Daviddee - 115-112 Calzaghe
Horse - 116-111 Calzaghe
Davie 116-112 Calzaghe
Couter-puncher - 115-112 Calzaghe
Clopix - 115-114 Reid
Banjo - 115-114 Reid

Average so far 114- 112.67 in favour of Joe.
So just over a point in it.

Well worth a rematch but as a few have said, no way can you see the result wide to Reid.

Just noticed Mfc_se15 gives it to Joe by 2 but never gave an exact score, doesn't change the above averages by much

[davie]

“I made three successful defences of my WBC title but I only got paid £75,000 and with all the take-offs for my manager, training camp etc I ended up with £20,000.

“I thought bearing in mind how close the first fight was I would get paid a decent amount for a return, especially when so many people thought I won the first one. We genuinely didn’t like each other and the public love those fights don’t they?

“I was told I would get paid what I was worth, I was told it would be an offer I couldn’t refuse, but it all dragged on for about three to four months. Frank eventually took me out for a big meal at the Savoy Hotel and told me the offer was 90k – that was only 15k more than the first time around. I was flabbergasted.

“All I wanted was to be paid what I was worth. To be honest I thought I was going to be offered £150,000 and I was offered 90k. That’s why the second fight never happened. Shortly afterwards I signed with Jess Harding.”

Interesting, but pretty depressing also.

I remember reading that he got about USD 70k (about 50 Grand) for the Lacey fight - obviously before deductions etc.

I am sure I have also read that Brian Hughes (who was his trainer - not sure if he was also his manager ?) liked to culture a reputation as a kindly old bloke who helped the community out of the goodness of his heart yet was happy to take a very large wedge from boxers purses.

Boxing was just a side line to top up his earnings from modelling and acting to be fair

[Josh1111]

JC RR
Rd 1. 10 9
Rd 2. 10 9
Rd 3. 10 9
Rd 4. 10 9
Rd 5. 9 10
Rd 6. 9 10
Rd 7. 9 10
Rd 8. 10 8
Rd 9. 9 10
Rd 10. 9 10
Rd 11. 9 10
Rd 12. 10 9
114 113

I had Calzaghe winning by 1 point, draw if you don't include the deduction. Loved watching that though, great scrap. Didn't realise how dirty Robin fought in that fight

[jameswilson]

“I made three successful defences of my WBC title but I only got paid £75,000 and with all the take-offs for my manager, training camp etc I ended up with £20,000.

“I thought bearing in mind how close the first fight was I would get paid a decent amount for a return, especially when so many people thought I won the first one. We genuinely didn’t like each other and the public love those fights don’t they?

“I was told I would get paid what I was worth, I was told it would be an offer I couldn’t refuse, but it all dragged on for about three to four months. Frank eventually took me out for a big meal at the Savoy Hotel and told me the offer was 90k – that was only 15k more than the first time around. I was flabbergasted.

“All I wanted was to be paid what I was worth. To be honest I thought I was going to be offered £150,000 and I was offered 90k. That’s why the second fight never happened. Shortly afterwards I signed with Jess Harding.”

Interesting, but pretty depressing also.

I remember reading that he got about USD 70k (about 50 Grand) for the Lacey fight - obviously before deductions etc.

I am sure I have also read that Brian Hughes (who was his trainer - not sure if he was also his manager ?) liked to culture a reputation as a kindly old bloke who helped the community out of the goodness of his heart yet was happy to take a very large wedge from boxers purses.

If you get much more than $70k for challenging (not defending) for a WT in the USA at about that weight then you're either doing very well or you are facing one of the very big boys. Andy Lee got $65k for his fight vs Korobov. Granted I haven't looked into that many purses, but the ones I'v seen for guys challenging for WTs, at around that weight against guys of around that kind of level of draw are around the $60k-$70k mark.

[banjo]

He was an odd one Robin Reid, turned pro after winning bronze at Barcelona '92 and compiled a 21-0-1 record against journeymen before getting his unexpected shot at Nardiello. What happened there? Why did he spend so long fighting nobodies? Was he avoided or something? It just seems odd that an Olympian spent the formative part of his career fighting in leisure centres as an undercard filler. Most Olympians turn pro with a bit of fanfare like Harrison, Khan, Degale etc. but it was like Reid was cast aside.

[Boxerbeetle]

I'll hopefully be watching this later tonight or tomorrow. Haven't watched it since it was first broadcast, so will be interested to see how my memory of it holds up.

[orbtastic]

I remember watching it from Ringside at the time and thinking Reid was unlucky not to win, he certainly thought the same walking out of the ring.

I think I've watched it maybe once since (on TV the next day) and thinking Reid won but it certainly wasn't by a huge margin.

[garethhop]

Great idea this Horse, looking forward to it.

First time watching it since the actual fight night itself. Isn't the commentary refreshing? Makes me wonder when was the last exciting top quality twelve rounder we had between two Brits. Would Eubank/Saunders qualify?

I scored it 115-113 to Calzaghe. Includes one drawn round - the seventh. And think I may have been generous giving Reid the last.

How did anyone only give Joe three rounds in that fight I'll never know.

[palooka]

Robin could be very destructive when boxing journeymen and was a solid, tough man. His heart didn't really look in it all for a long time and its no wonder if he felt he wasn't being paid his worth. The porno thing was a bit ropey but each to their own.

[LGilsenan]

Had it 114-113 in favor of Joe Calzaghe. Reid was filthy in this fight and could, and probably should have, had more points off.

RR-JC
1 10-9
2 9-10
3 9-10
4 9-10
5 10-9
6 10-9
7 9-10
8 8-10
9 10-9
10 10-9
11 9-10
12 10-9 113-114.

Love the idea of this, and can't wait too see what the next fight is!

[forestbox]

Scored the fight a draw 114-114.thought Reid was landing the more cleaner shots,but calzaghe had the higher work rate was a good fight.looking forward to see what next weeks fight is.

[reggaereggae]

This fight was Reid at his best, and Calzaghe at his worst. There is no doubt who the better fighter is. I seem to remember that due to his hands, Joe did t spar a single round for this

[Bard of Boxrec]

He was an odd one Robin Reid, turned pro after winning bronze at Barcelona '92 and compiled a 21-0-1 record against journeymen before getting his unexpected shot at Nardiello. What happened there? Why did he spend so long fighting nobodies? Was he avoided or something? It just seems odd that an Olympian spent the formative part of his career fighting in leisure centres as an undercard filler. Most Olympians turn pro with a bit of fanfare like Harrison, Khan, Degale etc. but it was like Reid was cast aside.

I've always liked Reid and I'd be interested to know too. Seemed like he was brought over as fodder to Italy rather than someone having invested in his career a bit. From their perspective, Nardiello's team should probably have gone for someone beatable who was a bit more of a known quantity for their first defence, because the Italian wasn't very good. Yet the WBC loved him for some reason...

[PredatorHayds]

I've got Robin Reid winning it 114-113.

He landed the cleaner punches late on and seemed to have the power in the exchanges.

Reid was lucky not to get more points off though.

[Old Jack J]

Calzaghe 115 - 112 Reid.

I still think Reid landed the better punches but the sheer workload just edged Calzaghe the close rounds.

[Boxerbeetle]

Finally got around to watching this; if nothing else, this challenge has made me realise how little free time I have

I scored it 116-112 to Calzaghe. Didn't actually think it was as close as I thought it was at the time. Enjoyable fight though.

[reggaereggae]

Finally got around to watching this; if nothing else, this challenge has made me realise how little free time I have

I scored it 116-112 to Calzaghe. Didn't actually think it was as close as I thought it was at the time. Enjoyable fight though.

I agree. And Joe didn't spar a round for this and his hands were a disaster. If he was fully healthy Reid would've been battered and would need 4 weeks to recover before he could perform a DP for his next payday

[Dixonian]

For my tuppence worth... I had it a draw. Identical to Mccrory's card, except I had the 1st round to Calzaghe and the 4th round a draw.

Definitely looked as if Calzaghe lost use of the left in the 4th or 5th. Decent fight though. Thought Reid was quite sportsmanlike after while Calzaghe was his usual aloof self.

Credit to Horse, it's a good idea this... I've just got to keep up with it.

As a couple of people asked, why no rematch?

[dookus]

Had it to Calzaghe 7-4-1. But a few of those rounds could have gone the other way depending on your preference. Calzaghe won the majority of exchanges but Reid landed all the best shots of the fight.

Reid figured out early that the way through Calzaghe's guard was that strange looping right hook/uppercut for which Calzaghe seemed to have no defence. Luckily for Calzaghe, Reid didn't work out the right set of tactics until round 5 or 6, by which time Calzaghe was 4 points up and didn't need to chase the fight.

There definitely should have been a rematch.

[handsofstone]

Just watched this for 1st time having read for years that this was a fight Calzaghe was very fortunate to win,i had him winning 116-112 but it was a tough fight to score with a lot of close rounds that i couldve give to Reid had he been a little busier,when he upped the workrate in the 2nd half he was beating Joe with harder more quality shots,he just allowed Calzaghe to outwork him early doors and the point deduction didnt help,he was dangerous with the head all night rubbing it into Joe's face and probably shouldve been docked earlier

All in all an ok fight

[PredatorHayds]

This fight is the subject of a night to remember tomorrow on allegedly

[expe]

This fight is the subject of a night to remember tomorrow on allegedly

Starting in a couple of minutes.

[ElJefe]

Bit late but I'm watching it now.

- JC RR
1. 9 10 - Joe busier but Reid landed cleaner imo with a couple of solid right hands upstairs and a couple more to the body.
2. 10 9 - Calzaghe got his jab working better to avoid as many clinches, put a few body shots behind the jab as well.
3. 10 9 - Clearest round so far. Calzaghe landed cleanly plenty of times, started to find a home for his straight left. Reid hardly made contact.
4. 10 9 - Another Calzaghe round. Again out landing Reid with clean head shots. Caught him coming in with a couple of slightly looping punches as well.
5. 9 10 - Very good round for Reid. Landed several right hands to the head and body. Calzaghe's threw and landed far fewer punches than in previous rounds.
6. 9 10 - Another good round for Reid. Turning into a really good fight. Surprised at how often Calzaghe is getting tagged by the same punch. 57-57 at the half way stage.
7. 10 9 - Cagey. Not much clean work. Calzaghe avoided Reid's right hand. The flurries early in the round won it for Joe. Used the jab a bit more as well.
8. 10 8 - Calzaghe throwing more combinations. Mixing it up with the odd right hand to the body. Point deduction for Reid makes it a 10-8.
9. 9 10 - Good comeback round for Reid. Started landing his right hand again. Joe's power seems to have gone, throwing lots of flurries with little to no power.
10. 9 10 - Another one for Reid. Similar to Rd9, Calzaghe with flurries but Reid landing the cleaner, heavier punches. Can't believe Joe is still getting hit with the same punch.
11. 9 10 - Hard round to score. Calzaghe started ok but Reid came back and got the better of the exchanges with big right hands despite looking exhausted. Reid edges it. 104-104.
12. 10 9 - Another close round. Thought Reid just ran out of gas and couldn't throw the right hand like before. Calzaghe stayed out of trouble and outworked him to knick a close one.

114-113 Calzaghe.

Great fight. Really surprised at how much Calzaghe got hit. Reid did well but it was just that big right hand, he kept dipping before he threw it, no idea why Calzaghe hung around to get a whack on the chin so often. Also thought Calzaghe stopped throwing his left hand after about 4 or 5 rounds, Reid didn't seem to respect his power much after that and was prepared to throw bombs. Would have had it a draw if not for Reid having a point taken off.