Joe calzaghe v the current light heavyweights

[Ruthless-RKO]

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 Calzaghe have got on in in this division versus the likes of Froch, Ward, Stevenson, Kovalev and Beterbiev?

Would he have reached 49-0? Did he retire at the right time?

[Woldemar]

Kovalev and Stevenson would stop him,Ward would outbox him,and he would outbox Beterbiev.

[Kalan]

Calzaghe would have beaten Chickenson... Froch would have beaten Calzaghe like he did George Groves. Groves is another face first guy. Froch wouldn't stop Calzaghe like he did Groves twice---but he would outpoint him.. JC led with his face and was a brawler for the most part.. He could absorb a good punch and he got hit real good -- but he never fought a real good prime boxer.. Calzaghe lacked a good jab and good straight left.. His head was too forward.. His game was to get close and flurry and try to slip all your punches.. He was fast, but fast guys still get hit if they're missing skills.

Calzaghe fought in similar fashion to Nathan Cleverly---who was a quick kid and had the same trainer... Cleverly was an undefeated Light Heavyweight Champion, 26-0, when his brain trust---which included Joe Calzaghe at the time---decided he could beat Sergei Kovalev.. After all, Cleverly was taller than Kovalev and had more experience.. Joe Calzaghe was at ringside yelling instructions to Cleverly but Cleverly was a wide open target getting pounded by everything Kovalev threw.. Even as a 26-0 undefeated World Champion, Cleverly had no stance... no footwork... no jab... no straight right... and no defense... Kolalev had all of those skills and ripped Cleverly to shreds as easy as a walking through the park... Kovalev would destroy Calzaghe and stop him in 6 rounds.

Ward beat Kessler so easily it was ridiculous---when he was a novice with only 20 fights.. Ward never caught a real good punch from Kessler and won every round by a wide margin.. Ward would do something similar to Calzaghe and beat him about 118-110.. Beterbiev would knock Calzaghe out.. Kovalev would knock Calzaghe out.. Don't even ask what would happen if Calzaghe fought a prime MIchael Spinks.

Okay...now you're going to bring up Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones---both whom knocked Calzaghe down.. JC beat them both but that was predictable.. Neither Jones or Hopkins were good attackers, flawless boxers, or big punchers at 175.. I feel they both would have beaten Calzaghe when they were at their best, in close fights.. But Calzaghe waited until they were old to fight them.. Preserving his "O" was his whole mission..

Calzaghe was a great fighter. Don't go saying I said he was trash and a bum, because that's what you guys do anytime I criticize somebody's boxing ability.. You claim I said Ali was a bum.. Calzaghe was a great brawler with loads of talent. He couldn't box well---not up to the standards of a Kovalev or Ward

[gilgamesh]

I'd pick Kovalev and Ward to beat him. He'd beat just about everyone else in the division. The jury's still out on Beterbiev as we haven't seen what he's really capable of it yet.

I think Calzaghe vs Froch would be a pretty competitive matchup.

[cfang]

JC was not a brawler he was a boxer who could tough it out when needed. He beat kessler by changing his tactics and boxing him when he realised he couldn't go toe to toe. He beat lacy senseless by boxing him. He didn't fight in similar fashion to nathan cleverly either.

No way in a million years does froch beat calzaghe on pts even froch doesn't think that - he himself said he'd need to ko jc to win. I just don't know what you're watching,

Calzaghe would have beaten Chickenson... Froch would have beaten Calzaghe like he did George Groves. Groves is another face first guy. Froch wouldn't stop Calzaghe like he did Groves twice---but he would outpoint him.. JC led with his face and was a brawler for the most part.. He could absorb a good punch and he got hit real good -- but he never fought a real good prime boxer.. Calzaghe lacked a good jab and good straight left.. His head was too forward.. His game was to get close and flurry and try to slip all your punches.. He was fast, but fast guys still get hit if they're missing skills.

Calzaghe fought in similar fashion to Nathan Cleverly---who was a quick kid and had the same trainer... Cleverly was an undefeated Light Heavyweight Champion, 26-0, when his brain trust---which included Joe Calzaghe at the time---decided he could beat Sergei Kovalev.. After all, Cleverly was taller than Kovalev and had more experience.. Joe Calzaghe was at ringside yelling instructions to Cleverly but Cleverly was a wide open target getting pounded by everything Kovalev threw.. Even as a 26-0 undefeated World Champion, Cleverly had no stance... no footwork... no jab... no straight right... and no defense... Kolalev had all of those skills and ripped Cleverly to shreds as easy as a walking through the park... Kovalev would destroy Calzaghe and stop him in 6 rounds.

Ward beat Kessler so easily it was ridiculous---when he was a novice with only 20 fights.. Ward never caught a real good punch from Kessler and won every round by a wide margin.. Ward would do something similar to Calzaghe and beat him about 118-110.. Beterbiev would knock Calzaghe out.. Kovalev would knock Calzaghe out.. Don't even ask what would happen if Calzaghe fought a prime MIchael Spinks.

Okay...now you're going to bring up Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones---both whom knocked Calzaghe down.. JC beat them both but that was predictable.. Neither Jones or Hopkins were good attackers, flawless boxers, or big punchers at 175.. I feel they both would have beaten Calzaghe when they were at their best, in close fights.. But Calzaghe waited until they were old to fight them.. Preserving his "O" was his whole mission..

Calzaghe was a great fighter. Don't go saying I said he was trash and a bum, because that's what you guys do anytime I criticize somebody's boxing ability.. You claim I said Ali was a bum.. Calzaghe was a great brawler with loads of talent. He couldn't box well---not up to the standards of a Kovalev or Ward

[Kalan]

JC was not a brawler he was a boxer who could tough it out when needed. He beat kessler by changing his tactics and boxing him when he realised he couldn't go toe to toe. He beat lacy senseless by boxing him. He didn't fight in similar fashion to nathan cleverly either.

No way in a million years does froch beat calzaghe on pts even froch doesn't think that - he himself said he'd need to ko jc to win. I just don't know what you're watching

I don't know what the Hell you're watching, because the opposite of what you're saying happened... Calzaghe started out boxing Kessler and took a number of hard rights in the early rounds.. He started closing, mixing, brawling, and leading with his head more and more as the fight went on -- and he came on as he did.. He stood toe-to-toe with Lacy and brawled. He stayed right in front of him.. Lacy also lost to washed up Jemain Taylor just as lopsidedly as he lost to Calzaghe -- so it's not that big a win.

Froch is the guy who pushed for the Calzaghe fight and consistently called him out... Forch consistently said he would beat Calzaghe so you're a liar... Calzaghe is the guy who consistently DUCKED Froch to fight guys like Peter Manfredo when Froch was 20-0.. Froch was the British Empire and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion and wanted Calzaghe for a much bigger and richer fight... Froch-Calzaghe would have been bigger than the Froch-Groves that packed 87,000 into Wembley Stadium... that a tremendous domestic matchup too... NOBODY wanted to see Calzaghe-Manfredo but Calzaghe... Manfredo was as weak as a score of Calzaghe's unknown and inept challengers that he kept fighting while ignoring Roy Jones.

[Bodyshot3]

Think he'd have beaten Froch at LH but the fight was always way better and more interesting at SMW.

He'd have embarassed Bertbiev like he did Lacy and found a way to beat Stevenson by just moving, working and being way smarter/accurate.

Kovalev at LH and notably Ward (at either LH or SMW) would have been different propositions however.

Pretty sure that Ward is the main guy Joe has name-checked since his retirement and has given a big nod of respect too as well.

I could see him messing with Krusher at LH and knowing what the other guy could do would bring the very best out of Joe; but its a proper tight one and a Kovalev win would be a very real possibility.

[cfang]

In not a liar and I take offence at being called so. I saw froch on sky being interviewed and he said there was no way he'd outpoint calzaghe and he'd have to ko him to win.

Oh look here it is!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fQmUyOWTwTw

JC was not a brawler he was a boxer who could tough it out when needed. He beat kessler by changing his tactics and boxing him when he realised he couldn't go toe to toe. He beat lacy senseless by boxing him. He didn't fight in similar fashion to nathan cleverly either.

No way in a million years does froch beat calzaghe on pts even froch doesn't think that - he himself said he'd need to ko jc to win. I just don't know what you're watching

I don't know what the Hell you're watching, because the opposite of what you're saying happened... Calzaghe started out boxing Kessler and took a number of hard rights in the early rounds.. He started closing, mixing, brawling, and leading with his head more and more as the fight went on -- and he came on as he did.. He stood toe-to-toe with Lacy and brawled. He stayed right in front of him.. Lacy also lost to washed up Jemain Taylor just as lopsidedly as he lost to Calzaghe -- so it's not that big a win.

Froch is the guy who pushed for the Calzaghe fight and consistently called him out... Forch consistently said he would beat Calzaghe so you're a liar... Calzaghe is the guy who consistently DUCKED Froch to fight guys like Peter Manfredo when Froch was 20-0.. Froch was the British Empire and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion and wanted Calzaghe for a much bigger and richer fight... Froch-Calzaghe would have been bigger than the Froch-Groves that packed 87,000 into Wembley Stadium... that a tremendous domestic matchup too... NOBODY wanted to see Calzaghe-Manfredo but Calzaghe... Manfredo was as weak as a score of Calzaghe's unknown and inept challengers that he kept fighting while ignoring Roy Jones.

[Kalan]

In not a liar and I take offence at being called so. I saw froch on sky being interviewed and he said there was no way he'd outpoint calzaghe and he'd have to ko him to win.

Oh look here it is!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fQmUyOWTwTw

JC was not a brawler he was a boxer who could tough it out when needed. He beat kessler by changing his tactics and boxing him when he realised he couldn't go toe to toe. He beat lacy senseless by boxing him. He didn't fight in similar fashion to nathan cleverly either.

No way in a million years does froch beat calzaghe on pts even froch doesn't think that - he himself said he'd need to ko jc to win. I just don't know what you're watching

I don't know what the Hell you're watching, because the opposite of what you're saying happened... Calzaghe started out boxing Kessler and took a number of hard rights in the early rounds.. He started closing, mixing, brawling, and leading with his head more and more as the fight went on -- and he came on as he did.. He stood toe-to-toe with Lacy and brawled. He stayed right in front of him.. Lacy also lost to washed up Jemain Taylor just as lopsidedly as he lost to Calzaghe -- so it's not that big a win.

Froch is the guy who pushed for the Calzaghe fight and consistently called him out... Forch consistently said he would beat Calzaghe so you're a liar... Calzaghe is the guy who consistently DUCKED Froch to fight guys like Peter Manfredo when Froch was 20-0.. Froch was the British Empire and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion and wanted Calzaghe for a much bigger and richer fight... Froch-Calzaghe would have been bigger than the Froch-Groves that packed 87,000 into Wembley Stadium... that a tremendous domestic matchup too... NOBODY wanted to see Calzaghe-Manfredo but Calzaghe... Manfredo was as weak as a score of Calzaghe's unknown and inept challengers that he kept fighting while ignoring Roy Jones.

Froch was being extremely kind... Calzaghe was also being kind on that occasion -- but still making excuses as to why the fight didn't happen... Carl was told Calzaghe wanted to present him with a belt and what was he going to say something nasty??? ... He didn't say he would lose... He said he'd have to chin him like he did Groves. And he believed he would chin him... But I think he would beat him by points or a KO... On many other occasions he just said he'd just flat out beat him.

Here's Calzaghe predicting Groves would beat Froch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w47u40wmL-k He also predicted Bute would beat Froch... He predicted Cleverly would beat Kovalev... I don't think he has a good boxing brain.

[Tomasino]

In not a liar and I take offence at being called so. I saw froch on sky being interviewed and he said there was no way he'd outpoint calzaghe and he'd have to ko him to win.

Oh look here it is!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fQmUyOWTwTw

I don't know what the Hell you're watching, because the opposite of what you're saying happened... Calzaghe started out boxing Kessler and took a number of hard rights in the early rounds.. He started closing, mixing, brawling, and leading with his head more and more as the fight went on -- and he came on as he did.. He stood toe-to-toe with Lacy and brawled. He stayed right in front of him.. Lacy also lost to washed up Jemain Taylor just as lopsidedly as he lost to Calzaghe -- so it's not that big a win.

Froch is the guy who pushed for the Calzaghe fight and consistently called him out... Forch consistently said he would beat Calzaghe so you're a liar... Calzaghe is the guy who consistently DUCKED Froch to fight guys like Peter Manfredo when Froch was 20-0.. Froch was the British Empire and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion and wanted Calzaghe for a much bigger and richer fight... Froch-Calzaghe would have been bigger than the Froch-Groves that packed 87,000 into Wembley Stadium... that a tremendous domestic matchup too... NOBODY wanted to see Calzaghe-Manfredo but Calzaghe... Manfredo was as weak as a score of Calzaghe's unknown and inept challengers that he kept fighting while ignoring Roy Jones.

Froch was being extremely kind... Calzaghe was also being kind on that occasion -- but still making excuses as to why the fight didn't happen... Carl was told Calzaghe wanted to present him with a belt and what was he going to say something nasty??? ... He didn't say he would lose... He said he'd have to chin him like he did Groves. And he believed he would chin him... But I think he would beat him by points or a KO... On many other occasions he just said he'd just flat out beat him.

Here's Calzaghe predicting Groves would beat Froch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w47u40wmL-k He also predicted Bute would beat Froch... He predicted Cleverly would beat Kovalev... I don't think he has a good boxing brain.

He doesn't like Carl Froch, that's why he picks against him. Stop being so offensive towards the members here, you dick.

[Counter-puncher]

Its kind of odd, kalan says calzaghe stayed right in front of Lacy, and yet he spent about 2/3 of that fight pivoting off his front foot and angling away from him, he throws a right hook and pivots off it literally about fifty times. Its almost as though he never watched the fight at all. Hes got the Kessler.fight all 'misremembered', too.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Calzaghe way over-rated in my opinion Kovalev tko's Joe and Ward schools him

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Its kind of odd, kalan says calzaghe stayed right in front of Lacy, and yet he spent about 2/3 of that fight pivoting off his front foot and angling away from him, he throws a right hook and pivots off it literally about fifty times. Its almost as though he never watched the fight at all. Hes got the Kessler.fight all 'misremembered', too.

[Perseus]

There is just no chance that Calzaghe would have had the sack to take any of these fights.

When he "moved up" to light heavyweight he fought a 43-year-old, blown up middleweight who was three years past being unable to beat the Jermain Taylors of the world and the ghost of Roy Jones jr.

Calzaghe wanted nothing to do with lightheavyweights that weren't in their 40's or previously proven to be a spent bullet.
HBO clearly wanted him to fight Dawson..........an actual light heavyweight in his prime.............Calzaghe clearly wanted nothing to do with such an opponent.

No way would he have went near a Kovalev or Ward.

[Kalan]

In not a liar and I take offence at being called so. I saw froch on sky being interviewed and he said there was no way he'd outpoint calzaghe and he'd have to ko him to win.

Oh look here it is!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fQmUyOWTwTw

Froch was being extremely kind... Calzaghe was also being kind on that occasion -- but still making excuses as to why the fight didn't happen... Carl was told Calzaghe wanted to present him with a belt and what was he going to say something nasty??? ... He didn't say he would lose... He said he'd have to chin him like he did Groves. And he believed he would chin him... But I think he would beat him by points or a KO... On many other occasions he just said he'd just flat out beat him.

Here's Calzaghe predicting Groves would beat Froch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w47u40wmL-k He also predicted Bute would beat Froch... He predicted Cleverly would beat Kovalev... I don't think he has a good boxing brain.

He doesn't like Carl Froch, that's why he picks against him. Stop being so offensive towards the members here, you dick.

dick is always on your mind sucker. Why don't you FO you piece of cat scat?

[Kalan]

Calz doesn't like Froch because Froch wanted to knock him out.

[Tomasino]

Calz doesn't like Froch because Froch wanted to knock him out.

Wow what insight. You should be a boxing trainer with all that pent up 'knowledge' you have. Gimp.

[Kalan]

With your lack of knowledge or a brain, you could be a cabbage if you turned green.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Okay...now you're going to bring up Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones---both whom knocked Calzaghe down.. JC beat them both but that was predictable.. Neither Jones or Hopkins were good attackers, flawless boxers, or big punchers at 175.. I feel they both would have beaten Calzaghe when they were at their best, in close fights.. But Calzaghe waited until they were old to fight them.. Preserving his "O" was his whole mission..

Calzaghe only fought RJJ and B-Hop the same reason as Lewis fought Tyson in 2002. Just so he could have their names on his resume right at the end of his career, just so it looks that much better. Imagine he had retired after Kessler?

[gp.]

Okay...now you're going to bring up Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones---both whom knocked Calzaghe down.. JC beat them both but that was predictable.. Neither Jones or Hopkins were good attackers, flawless boxers, or big punchers at 175.. I feel they both would have beaten Calzaghe when they were at their best, in close fights.. But Calzaghe waited until they were old to fight them.. Preserving his "O" was his whole mission..

Calzaghe only fought RJJ and B-Hop the same reason as Lewis fought Tyson in 2002. Just so he could have their names on his resume right at the end of his career, just so it looks that much better. Imagine he had retired after Kessler?

No. He did it for money. Fighting Jones and Hopkins paid more than anyone else out there would have. Froch, at the time, wouldn't have brought money. He certainly wouldn't have brought money
proportional to the risk he posed. When Calzaghe went in against Hopkins and Jones Froch hadn't even fought Pascal yet; he wasn't a name.


Calzaghe didn't give a damn for his resume, he cared a lot more about having a big house.

[Crease]

Froch is the guy who pushed for the Calzaghe fight and consistently called him out...
Calzaghe is the guy who consistently DUCKED Froch to fight guys like Peter Manfredo when Froch was 20-0.. Froch was the British Empire and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion and wanted Calzaghe for a much bigger and richer fight...

That's certainly one way of looking at that. But by the same line of reasoning you have to acknowledge that:
Roy Jones Jr ducked Steve Collins (who called him out repeatedly and entered the ring after one of Roy's fights)
Steve Collins ducked Joe Calzaghe (who called him out)
Joe Calzaghe ducked Carl Froch (as you pointed out)
Carl Froch ducked James DeGale (who was his mandatory opponent for the IBF World Title)

There can be no half-way measure here. Either they all ducked or none of them ducked.

Froch-Calzaghe would have been bigger than the Froch-Groves that packed 87,000 into Wembley Stadium... that a tremendous domestic matchup too...

But would you consider for a moment that in November 2007, Calzaghe had just defeated his most dangerous challenger in his division (Mikkel Kessler) and unified three of the World titles. At that point, Calzaghe had already made his money and won a load of World Titles, he was more interested in his legacy - so he moved up in weight to fight 2 true all-time greats of the ring - Bernard Hopkins & Roy Jones Jr.

He believed that those wins in 2008 would do more for his legacy than defeating a British challenger who had not yet even won a European title.

NOBODY wanted to see Calzaghe-Manfredo but Calzaghe...

That's not accurate. Manfredo had a high profile from finishing 2nd in The Contender series. He was being pushed by Sugar Ray Leonard (who had a $10,000 bet on Manfredo winning & De La Hoya was looking at him as a prospective leading fighter to get behind, depending on the result of the Calzaghe fight.

I would also add that the likes of Sergio Mora, Alfonso Gomez, Ishe Smith & Cornelius Bundrange have all received World title shots from having such a high-profile through the series.

[Kalan]

Froch is the guy who pushed for the Calzaghe fight and consistently called him out...
Calzaghe is the guy who consistently DUCKED Froch to fight guys like Peter Manfredo when Froch was 20-0.. Froch was the British Empire and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion and wanted Calzaghe for a much bigger and richer fight...

That's certainly one way of looking at that. But by the same line of reasoning you have to acknowledge that:
Roy Jones Jr ducked Steve Collins (who called him out repeatedly and entered the ring after one of Roy's fights)
Steve Collins ducked Joe Calzaghe (who called him out)
Joe Calzaghe ducked Carl Froch (as you pointed out)
Carl Froch ducked James DeGale (who was his mandatory opponent for the IBF World Title)

There can be no half-way measure here. Either they all ducked or none of them ducked.

Froch-Calzaghe would have been bigger than the Froch-Groves that packed 87,000 into Wembley Stadium... that a tremendous domestic matchup too...

But would you consider for a moment that in November 2007, Calzaghe had just defeated his most dangerous challenger in his division (Mikkel Kessler) and unified three of the World titles. At that point, Calzaghe had already made his money and won a load of World Titles, he was more interested in his legacy - so he moved up in weight to fight 2 true all-time greats of the ring - Bernard Hopkins & Roy Jones Jr.

He believed that those wins in 2008 would do more for his legacy than defeating a British challenger who had not yet even won a European title.

NOBODY wanted to see Calzaghe-Manfredo but Calzaghe...

That's not accurate. Manfredo had a high profile from finishing 2nd in The Contender series. He was being pushed by Sugar Ray Leonard (who had a $10,000 bet on Manfredo winning & De La Hoya was looking at him as a prospective leading fighter to get behind, depending on the result of the Calzaghe fight.

I would also add that the likes of Sergio Mora, Alfonso Gomez, Ishe Smith & Cornelius Bundrange have all received World title shots from having such a high-profile through the series.

That's a pile of CRAP!!!! ... Manfredo had beaten NOBODY. He'd lost to Alfonso Gomez and Sergio Mora... NOBODY expected him to beat Calzaghe.

Meanwhile, Carl Froch was 20--0 at that point. He was the Commonwealth and British Empire Super Middleweight Champion for several years at the time.. He he had beaten Brian Magee... Froch's resume was much better than Peter Manfredo's.. The only reason Calzaghe fought challengers like Tocker Pudwill, Will McIntyre, Branko Sobot, and Peter Manfredo -- rather than a much younger Roy Jones earlier---and the up-and-coming Carl Froch later -- was to pad his record on easy victims and remain undefeated.. Carl Froch fought George Groves when he was 19-0.. Those were 2 of the biggest fights in British Boxing History... Froch vs Calzaghe would have been even bigger.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Froch is the guy who pushed for the Calzaghe fight and consistently called him out...
Calzaghe is the guy who consistently DUCKED Froch to fight guys like Peter Manfredo when Froch was 20-0.. Froch was the British Empire and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion and wanted Calzaghe for a much bigger and richer fight...

That's certainly one way of looking at that. But by the same line of reasoning you have to acknowledge that:
Roy Jones Jr ducked Steve Collins (who called him out repeatedly and entered the ring after one of Roy's fights)
Steve Collins ducked Joe Calzaghe (who called him out)
Joe Calzaghe ducked Carl Froch (as you pointed out)
Carl Froch ducked James DeGale (who was his mandatory opponent for the IBF World Title)

There can be no half-way measure here. Either they all ducked or none of them ducked.

Froch-Calzaghe would have been bigger than the Froch-Groves that packed 87,000 into Wembley Stadium... that a tremendous domestic matchup too...

But would you consider for a moment that in November 2007, Calzaghe had just defeated his most dangerous challenger in his division (Mikkel Kessler) and unified three of the World titles. At that point, Calzaghe had already made his money and won a load of World Titles, he was more interested in his legacy - so he moved up in weight to fight 2 true all-time greats of the ring - Bernard Hopkins & Roy Jones Jr.

He believed that those wins in 2008 would do more for his legacy than defeating a British challenger who had not yet even won a European title.

NOBODY wanted to see Calzaghe-Manfredo but Calzaghe...

That's not accurate. Manfredo had a high profile from finishing 2nd in The Contender series. He was being pushed by Sugar Ray Leonard (who had a $10,000 bet on Manfredo winning & De La Hoya was looking at him as a prospective leading fighter to get behind, depending on the result of the Calzaghe fight.

I would also add that the likes of Sergio Mora, Alfonso Gomez, Ishe Smith & Cornelius Bundrange have all received World title shots from having such a high-profile through the series.

That's a pile of CRAP!!!! ... Manfredo had beaten NOBODY. He'd lost to Alfonso Gomez and Sergio Mora... NOBODY expected him to beat Calzaghe.

Meanwhile, Carl Froch was 20--0 at that point. He was the Commonwealth and British Empire Super Middleweight Champion for several years at the time.. He he had beaten Brian Magee... Froch's resume was much better than Peter Manfredo's.. The only reason Calzaghe fought challengers like Tocker Pudwill, Will McIntyre, Branko Sobot, and Peter Manfredo -- rather than a much younger Roy Jones earlier---and the up-and-coming Carl Froch later -- was to pad his record on easy victims and remain undefeated.. Carl Froch fought George Groves when he was 19-0.. Those were 2 of the biggest fights in British Boxing History... Froch vs Calzaghe would have been even bigger.

That's true

[BoxBuzz]

So....Calzaghe is considered by some here as "Ottke 2.0"?

[Bodyshot3]

So....Calzaghe is considered by some here as "Ottke 2.0"?

There's some unkind, inaccurate revisionism that always seem to surround Joe and I wonder why a top fighter gets this hammering.

Personally, I find it strange that his wins against Jones and Hopkins are so casually and frequently lumped together and written-off as worthless, cynical paydays. These were actually two starkly different fights in my book and against opponents who were by no means alike.

Jones was badly on the slide but Hopkins would go on to prove that he could beat top opponents and for meaningful titles for many years to come. The guy simply was not an obliging gimme opponent fighting from memory.

A bit of balance and objectivity about Calazaghe's US fights would be good as would a recognition that he had a career before that involved a bit more than Lacy and Kessler.

Joe's not beating everyone...Ward would have been very bad news for him and he would have needed one hell of a night against Kovalev. But as Boxbuzz said; there's a danger of deriding him unfairly to the point where he's Ottke or Galvano. And that's absurd.