BoxRec

In Cardiff...

Calzaghe would have pasted him. His reach, speed, volume of punches and footwork would have been too much for Alvarez.

Easy fight for Calzaghe, would have embarrassed him like Bivol did. Just all wrong for Canelo.

Calzaghe in the performance of his career.

Would Calzaghe have beaten Bivol?

Its easy to imagine Calzaghe`s size, speed and fitness being too much for Canelo ... but its also easy to imagine Calzaghe having big trouble with some of the people Canelo beat which suggests Canelo wouldn`t have that big a problem getting to Calzaghe.
RJJ and Hopkins were clever enough to walk Calzaghe into big punches - and Canelo is everything as skilled as those two were.

Bivol beats Super Joe.

Super Joe beats Canelo.


It’s volume vs tekkers I guess?

Joe just never stopped throwing. Insane gas tank. The round Charlo won last night was just cos he threw more. I imagine a prime fit Calzaghe would just take it to him and, more importantly, take the counters on the chin.

There’s a very real chance Canelo is stronger and picks some well timed counters and sets up hurtful body shots.

I normally hate these hypotheticals, but I like this one!

I’d have Calzaghe-Bivol as 50/50, don’t think there’d be too much in it either way.

Always thought Ward would have been Calzaghe’s kryptonite.

I’m not convinced light-heavy was Joe’s weight really. Just for those final two cash fights, when his hands were shot but he still had plenty of fitness and speed. Let’s just keep him at super-middle. I think he probably does Canelo 119-114, or something like that.

JC would have beaten Canelo easier than PBF beat him.

Canelo is too small for light heavy too, he is a small super middle as well.

JC would beat Bivol too

Ward would be tough for any super middle in history to beat, JC would have as good as chance as any.

Calzaghe by late stoppage. The speed would be too much. And contrary to what people always believed about JC, he did have power.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 10:39 I’d have Calzaghe-Bivol as 50/50, don’t think there’d be too much in it either way.

Always thought Ward would have been Calzaghe’s kryptonite.

This is true. One of the most common fantasy match ups. Two undefeated SMWs. I think Ward would’ve made it boring and won on cards. Nullified him. I can imagine a LOT of heads.

lookingaround87 wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 11:44 Calzaghe by late stoppage. The speed would be too much. And contrary to what people always believed about JC, he did have power.

When was his prime you think?

It’s hard to choose with Super Joe cos he had power earlier but had better tech later on, right?

Delta Jay wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 11:45

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 10:39 I’d have Calzaghe-Bivol as 50/50, don’t think there’d be too much in it either way.

Always thought Ward would have been Calzaghe’s kryptonite.

This is true. One of the most common fantasy match ups. Two undefeated SMWs. I think Ward would’ve made it boring and won on cards. Nullified him. I can imagine a LOT of heads.

It would have been an awful watch, would make Calzaghe-BHop look like a fight of the year contender in comparison

Canelo is one of the most experienced and skilled guys out there at the moment.
The guys he has fought and beat the last 5yrs puts Calzaghe record to shame.

Its all hypothetical anyways - but the guys like Robin Reid who gave Calzaghe close fights wouldn't likely see out the 12rnds against Canelo - I choose to think Canelo would be a 50/50 fight with Calzaghe.

I think Calzaghe would take it, but Canelo would be figuring out ways to get at him more and more as the fight goes on. So I figure by the last 4 rounds Calzaghe is having a much harder time than he'd been having early.

I also think a rematch would be more difficult for Calzaghe. His speed, and movement gets it for him the 1st time around. When Canelo has time to see and adjust to his speed and rhythm. It probably becomes a different thing.

Did Calzaghe ever have a rematch with anyone come to think of it? They might've turned out to be his undoing if he had.

His style does not strike me as unbeatable, just one that's gonna take some adjusting to because very few fighters fought the way he did.

He fought and stopped Mario Veit twice.

There isn't any opponent on Calzaghe's record that you wouldn't also pick Canelo to beat handily.

I could see my opinion going back and forth so probably wouldn't commit either way on this mythical match up.

Kilburn wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 15:21 There isn't any opponent on Calzaghe's record that you wouldn't also pick Canelo to beat handily.

I could see my opinion going back and forth so probably wouldn't commit either way on this mythical match up.

I don't know if Canelo comes out ahead against Hopkins. Probably, against the one that Calzaghe fought, but maybe not. He'd have a hard time there for sure. Hopkins was never an easy out.

But yeah Lacy, the version of Roy Jones that Joe fought and Mikkel Kessler, Canelo definitely beats those guys.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 15:23

Kilburn wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 15:21 There isn't any opponent on Calzaghe's record that you wouldn't also pick Canelo to beat handily.

I could see my opinion going back and forth so probably wouldn't commit either way on this mythical match up.

I don't know if Canelo comes out ahead against Hopkins. Probably, against the one that Calzaghe fought, but maybe not. He'd have a hard time there for sure. Hopkins was never an easy out.

But yeah Lacy, the version of Roy Jones that Joe fought and Mikkel Kessler, Canelo definitely beats those guys.

Hopkins was the guy that stood out while I was typing that, after Calzaghe he had a cracking win over Pavlik.

But Canelo's output would I have got him the win I feel.

Kilburn wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 15:47

gilgamesh wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 15:23

Kilburn wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 15:21 There isn't any opponent on Calzaghe's record that you wouldn't also pick Canelo to beat handily.

I could see my opinion going back and forth so probably wouldn't commit either way on this mythical match up.

I don't know if Canelo comes out ahead against Hopkins. Probably, against the one that Calzaghe fought, but maybe not. He'd have a hard time there for sure. Hopkins was never an easy out.

But yeah Lacy, the version of Roy Jones that Joe fought and Mikkel Kessler, Canelo definitely beats those guys.

Hopkins was the guy that stood out while I was typing that, after Calzaghe he had a cracking win over Pavlik.

But Canelo's output would I have got him the win I feel.

I think you're probably right, but it'd be close no doubt.

Joe always finds a way, especially against a shorter muscle bound PED-looking guy (Lacy anyone?)

Joe was undefeated for a reason, his hardest opponent was the fragility of his own hands but he'd have beaten the PED-head ginger fella. Too good.

lookingaround87 wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 11:44 Calzaghe by late stoppage. The speed would be too much. And contrary to what people always believed about JC, he did have power.

Lol don’t be ridiculous Glass Hands Joe Calslappy stopping Canelo who’s never been hurt……

Posters seem to be seriously overrating Joe who was very good but trying to suggest Canelo would be a cake walk is ridiculous. Calzaghe barely beat an ancient Hopkins who put him on the floor plus was beaten by Robin Reid for crushing out Lou’s.

Close fight I'd say. I'd favour joe, he's a natural at the weight, but no cakewalk.

Very close fight

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 16:45 Joe always finds a way, especially against a shorter muscle bound PED-looking guy (Lacy anyone?)

Joe was undefeated for a reason, his hardest opponent was the fragility of his own hands but he'd have beaten the PED-head ginger fella. Too good.

Lacy was one dimensional, Canelo is in a different echelon

Kilburn wrote: ↑01 Oct 2023, 15:21 There isn't any opponent on Calzaghe's record that you wouldn't also pick Canelo to beat handily.

I could see my opinion going back and forth so probably wouldn't commit either way on this mythical match up.

Robin Reid?