Calzaghe v Harding at LHW

[Bodyshot3]

Rather than facing "old, Jones bones" Joe Calzaghe makes the move-up to LHW but has to challenge the Aussie hard man Jeff "Hit Man" Harding for the WBC LHW title.

The fight is in OZ -so Joe has to travel - and Harding is prime which is probably just having won his brutal triology with Andries by coming over to London and outboxing the Hackney warrior.

I like the clash myself.

Calzaghe had the smarts, awkwardness and all the momentum.
He also had an engine that was every bit as good as the Harding dynamo.

But Harding was a big-powerful lad, no respecter of reputations and fought with some devil-and-spite and also knew how to finish fights when he get an opening.

A Calzaghe cake-walk and masterclass in Melbourne or does he run into a very hard, uncomprising block of granite who takes him right into the trenches and has the shots to pull off a huge upset?

[margaret thatcher]

joe gets pushed but wins a clear decision

[Seamus]

Calzaghe never hurts Harding but takes a wide decision like 9-2-1.

[Bodyshot3]

Thanks so much for posting guys....it feels like an intriguing match-up, but the board clearly thinks otherwise

I personally think Harding at LHW might be the guy who had a real shot at going for Joe....along with the far more skillful and obvious candidates like Ward and Jones who represented a huge threat at both SMW and LHW.

Harding was just the kind of competitor who could break fights down - he worked like hell, was not that bothered where the cards were at and had a top chin - and I see him roughing up Joe and dragging it into a trench fight.

Joe to be fair - always had fight-plans and options - and he was bright enough to follow them.
So maybe he keeps the big, nasty Aussie at length and uses his quick, busy hands to win the fight.

But I like this fight.....especially if Harding gets close early and lands some shots.

[giacomino]

Joe UD. I liked Jeff, but he'd be easy for Joe to slap around, IMO

[Bodyshot3]

Joe UD. I liked Jeff, but he'd be easy for Joe to slap around, IMO

Harding is a big favourite of mine as well.
A gutsy, fighting Aussie and he kind of forced things to happen through his will and courage.

But I still reckon if he was prime and Joe stepped up too early to LHW he could be a wrong 'un for Joe.
Harding was stubborn, hard and a proper nuisance.....and his punches were not slaps.

Guess it is all about the timing of this encounter.

[giacomino]

Joe UD. I liked Jeff, but he'd be easy for Joe to slap around, IMO

Harding is a big favourite of mine as well.
A gutsy, fighting Aussie and he kind of forced things to happen through his will and courage.

But I still reckon if he was prime and Joe stepped up too early to LHW he could be a wrong 'un for Joe.
Harding was stubborn, hard and a proper nuisance.....and his punches were not slaps.

Guess it is all about the timing of this encounter.

True. Harding always seemed to me a guy who had marginal talent but worked hard, could punch a little and like you said, had a ton of courage. Love guys like that. His Andries fights were fun (he looked to me to be on his way to winning the second one before he got caught), as were his efforts vs Tiozzo and Giovannini. He actually did better vs McCallum than I thought he would, but the Bodysnatcher was also an old 37 and fighting well above his best weight.

[scorpio83]

I have a high regard for Harding at LHW and despite he fought Andries in a trilogy and McCallum where those fights were exciting, but Super Joe would out-box Harding to a decision win.

[Bodyshot3]

I have a high regard for Harding at LHW and despite he fought Andries in a trilogy and McCallum where those fights were exciting, but Super Joe would out-box Harding to a decision win.

Cheers Scorpio.
Calzaghe's speed, massive engine and southpaw set-up is a big problem for Jeff.

But I am sticking to my guns......if the move to LHW was made a wee bit too soon, Harding is a guy who could make it a messy and brutal night forJoe.