BoxRec

For me Calzaghe is a clear wiiner providing he doesnt get clipped, the only way i ever see calzaghe gettin beat is bein ko'd, he has far to much handspeed, footwork, variety of punch and determination to lose a decision. I can see all those strenths workin for calzaghe in this fight, his ability to get in and out and still land punches will prove to be the difference.

A close but clear decision win for Joe. His workrate in the later rounds will win it for him.

Easy clear decision for Joe.

He could overwhelm Kessler though with pressure to stop him.

Joe starts fast and catches Kessler on the hop, builds and early lead but takes a few sharp counters as a result. Kessler finds a bit of room to work in the middle rounds, and makes Joe a bit more hesistant about coming in with hard jabs and right crosses, and then has to go for broke in the last third losing on all cards, rallies late, Joe has to dig deep, possibly getting off the floor to win.

Although I think kessler is a little overrated, I think he has the tools, physicality, desire and strength to push Calzaghe hard, but he still loses.

Kessler gets befuddled early with Calzaghe's speed and slapping flurries but starts landing the jab mid rounds and hurts Calzaghe as the fight progresses. Kessler takes over in the championship rounds and wins a split.

I really don't know. Gunning for Calazage but have a feeling Kesslers long straight 1-2 and tight guard maybe his kryptonite. I hope I'm wrong

If Calzaghe wins all power to him, it is good for British Boxing. But i have backed Kessler right from his early fights as developing into the best at the weight. If he beats Calzaghe i can feel all smug and contented Ha Ha i just get a feeling it's Kessler's time to shine.

I can never predict a loss for the Brit in fights like these, so for what its worth I see Joe winning a UD

I see a close but clear Calzaghe decision. He'll be clumped by a few heavy straight rights no doubt though.

I noticed that when Andrade lumbered forward Kessler stopped punching and backed straight up. Joe will put in flurry after flurry and build up the points.

I'd like to see Kessler v Mundine before i stand by this though. Can someone tell me what tactics did Kessler use to beat someone who, whilst not a great boxer, was mobile with better handspeed?

Funny that Kessler's getting nowhere near the respect that the less proven Lacy got. If Joe wins it'll be the fight - and the performance - of his life.

As long as Calzaghe hasn't gotten old over night I think he wins this - He has better variety, speed, footwork, work rate and imo a better jab.

Kessler is no mug and this is a huge fight, but I don't think he'll be prepared for just how much leather will be coming his way and will eventually lose the fight over the championship rounds.

It's a close fight either way.

Calzaghe on the cards - close but clear

This is a tougher fight than Hopkins, Tarver, Glen Johnson, Taylor.

btw, anyone keeping an eye on the Canadian action? Pascal vs Ikeke for the NABF title, Friday. Also, I'm hoping Bute is better than he looked in his last fight granted, Bika can make anyone look bad (Calzaghe, Beyer...)

Jean Pascal is said to be hot stuff, i can't remember who it was who rated him so highly. Might have been a American TV commentator or someone writing in Boxing news, either way they were tipping him to be big. Ikeke is a good stepping stone and will offer us an indication how good Pascal may become. Similarly to how Bika recently offered a level finder for Bute.

It's i suppose a crossroads fight for them both. Anyway sorry to highjack the thread but yes the Canadian scene is relatively strong at the moment.

Autobarn wrote:Funny that Kessler's getting nowhere near the respect that the less proven Lacy got. If Joe wins it'll be the fight - and the performance - of his life.

I was pretty much the same about Lacy.

I think Kessler Is better though.

Lacy thinks Kessler will win too according to the BBC and Boxing Talk.

Twisted Transistor wrote:
Lacy thinks Kessler will win too according to the BBC and Boxing Talk.

I think Lacy is still punch drunk from the pounding Calzaghe dished out to him, according to Lacy he was daft enough to want a rematch!

Kessler is a very good fighter, but I can't see him being able to cope with a fired up and faster Calzaghe. Everytime Calzaghe is in with a good fighter, he rises and this will light his fire even more than the Lacy fight. Calzaghe by late stoppage, or a clear UD!

The Hawk wrote:

Twisted Transistor wrote:
Lacy thinks Kessler will win too according to the BBC and Boxing Talk.

I think Lacy is still punch drunk from the pounding Calzaghe dished out to him, according to Lacy he was daft enough to want a rematch!

Kessler is a very good fighter, but I can't see him being able to cope with a fired up and faster Calzaghe. Everytime Calzaghe is in with a good fighter, he rises and this will light his fire even more than the Lacy fight. Calzaghe by late stoppage, or a clear UD!

He's not Godzaghe for nothing.

Twisted Transistor wrote:

The Hawk wrote:

Twisted Transistor wrote:
Lacy thinks Kessler will win too according to the BBC and Boxing Talk.

I think Lacy is still punch drunk from the pounding Calzaghe dished out to him, according to Lacy he was daft enough to want a rematch!

Kessler is a very good fighter, but I can't see him being able to cope with a fired up and faster Calzaghe. Everytime Calzaghe is in with a good fighter, he rises and this will light his fire even more than the Lacy fight. Calzaghe by late stoppage, or a clear UD!

He's not Godzaghe for nothing.

Kessler has a strong straight left/right, but he's an upright fighter, and it'll play into Calzaghes style, even when he fires the 1-2, he'll be open for fast counters and Calzaghe will know what Kessler will be bringing, but Kessler will not know what Calzaghe will bring until he feels it on the night. I really see Calzaghe pulling another masterclass off here, the bigger the name the better he fights!

Kessler does look like the fighter Viet was supposed to be

Twisted Transistor wrote:

The Hawk wrote:

Twisted Transistor wrote:
Lacy thinks Kessler will win too according to the BBC and Boxing Talk.

I think Lacy is still punch drunk from the pounding Calzaghe dished out to him, according to Lacy he was daft enough to want a rematch!

Kessler is a very good fighter, but I can't see him being able to cope with a fired up and faster Calzaghe. Everytime Calzaghe is in with a good fighter, he rises and this will light his fire even more than the Lacy fight. Calzaghe by late stoppage, or a clear UD!

He's not Godzaghe for nothing.

Who? Didn't Alex Arthur just beat that guy?

The Hawk wrote:

Twisted Transistor wrote:

The Hawk wrote: I think Lacy is still punch drunk from the pounding Calzaghe dished out to him, according to Lacy he was daft enough to want a rematch!

Kessler is a very good fighter, but I can't see him being able to cope with a fired up and faster Calzaghe. Everytime Calzaghe is in with a good fighter, he rises and this will light his fire even more than the Lacy fight. Calzaghe by late stoppage, or a clear UD!

He's not Godzaghe for nothing.

Kessler has a strong straight left/right, but he's an upright fighter, and it'll play into Calzaghes style, even when he fires the 1-2, he'll be open for fast counters and Calzaghe will know what Kessler will be bringing, but Kessler will not know what Calzaghe will bring until he feels it on the night. I really see Calzaghe pulling another masterclass off here, the bigger the name the better he fights!

There will be shades of Veit and Woodhall too. I think Woodhall gave Joe his fiercest test. His right arm was knackered but he just kep on drilling him with rights. Joe forced a great pace, and it was one hell of a fight.

Interestingly, Veit nearly dropped Joe in their rematch. See the end of the 1st round, the right that Veit landed and the way Joe's legs responded. He's always been open to that shot. The same one that Kessler smashed Beyer with.

If Veit and Woodhall - with a bad right hand - had success, a fit, prime Kessler will.

Also, someone raised the point that Joe vs Manfredo was no kind of preparatation. Whereas Kessler fought Andrade, a big fit, freakishly tough man who never stopped coming at him.

I think the honey punch on Calzaghe is definately the right hand. Eubank, Reid and Woodhall all found a home for it plus having been dropped by Mitchell and then Salem (god knows how!) it shows Calzaghe's chin is no longer cast iron. He does take a good punch to be fair though.

It's an interesting one alright.

Calzaghe's powers of recovery are nothing short of amazing. The shot Salem hit him with was really massive, full bodyweight behind it, Calzaghe turned right into it and never even saw it coming. I know Salem isn't a noted puncher, but that was a pearler, and Calzaghe seemed completely fine when he got up, not even hurt.

Joe can be put down, but it's a lot harder to really hurt him. Eubank did it, but I suspect that Joe was tired by that point, as he wasn't very experienced or as good as he is now.

Shirow wrote:I see a close but clear Calzaghe decision. He'll be clumped by a few heavy straight rights no doubt though.

I noticed that when Andrade lumbered forward Kessler stopped punching and backed straight up. Joe will put in flurry after flurry and build up the points.

I'd like to see Kessler v Mundine before i stand by this though. Can someone tell me what tactics did Kessler use to beat someone who, whilst not a great boxer, was mobile with better handspeed?

Mundine not a great boxer? Have you seen him fight, He has great handspeed and foot speed but was found out by Kesslers jab and straight right hands. Mundine looked good a few times in there fight but was almost scared of Kesslers punches that hurt him on a few occasions.
For Joe to win he is going to have to handle being hit hard many times by Kesslers right and by a great jab that will no doubt have him bleeding .
Whoever wins will be a deserved winner as long as biased Refereeing is kept out of the equation.

Autobarn wrote:

Twisted Transistor wrote:

The Hawk wrote: I think Lacy is still punch drunk from the pounding Calzaghe dished out to him, according to Lacy he was daft enough to want a rematch!

Kessler is a very good fighter, but I can't see him being able to cope with a fired up and faster Calzaghe. Everytime Calzaghe is in with a good fighter, he rises and this will light his fire even more than the Lacy fight. Calzaghe by late stoppage, or a clear UD!

He's not Godzaghe for nothing.

Who? Didn't Alex Arthur just beat that guy?

Sarcasm can;t hide your true feelings for Joe. :P