BoxRec

It strikes me that Calzaghe has had 1 KO in his last 5 fights and that was a slightly dubiouse stoppage against an over matched Manfrado, leading me to wonder if he can no longer KO people probably becasue of the condition of his hands.

josh fg wrote:It strikes me that Calzaghe has had 1 KO in his last 5 fights and that was a slightly dubiouse stoppage against an over matched Manfrado, leading me to wonder if he can no longer KO people probably becasue of the condition of his hands.

Hes not looked for the KO tho has he.... I dont think hes a massive puncher in the sense that Valero or Pavlik are at the weight, stylistically as well as physically, I dont think you will see another Calzaghe KO in his career if he keeps taking fights at this level

With his hand speed and jab, he doesn't have to. Although when he goes to the States he may get some dodgy decisions if he's not careful. Especially in Vegas.

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:With his hand speed and jab, he doesn't have to. Although when he goes to the States he may get some dodgy decisions if he's not careful. Especially in Vegas.

I agree, points decisons can be very contraversial there whereas the stoppage seals the win - However I cant see Joe risking the KO again unless he is in a desperate situation and needs it to win which is unlikely - His level of fitness and pure class should be enough to see him through his final fights.

his power has lessened over the years.

although he still cracks a wallop.

he hurt kessler a few times.

i still think he was really breaking thru in rd 8 before the ref jumped in and warned him about the back of the head shot.

kessler looked a bit f&cked there didn't he.

His hands are so fragile, I imagine he risks injuring them when he jerks off.

But if you watch his amateur figts and early pro fights he was hitting ciorrectly and with great power.

Im not sure he's ever had a real KO punch though. According to his record on here, he's only KO'd 2 of his 32 stoppage wins the rest have been TKO's.

He even said in his autobiography that he's stopped alot of his opponents with pure hand speed so the other guy can't throw anything back.

Tell Byron Mitchell, Veit, Sheika and Woodhall that he can't punch.

He had Kessler in trouble a couple of times as well..

Like somebody mentioned, a step up in class usually means you go the distance.

I'm not saying he "can't punch" I'm saying he hasn't got a concussive punch. You never see Calzaghe KO anyone with just the ONE punch.

Like I said all bar 2 of his wins inside the distance were TKO's including the 4 you mentioned. And I clearly remember Mitchell complaining at the time it was stopped that he could go on. But Joes hand speed prevented him getting any shots off, and the ref stepped in.

You did early on in his career, then the hand problems came and despite that he's been a world champ for 10 years.

Fought a lot of solid guys as well - Bika, Kessler, Woodhall, Lacy, and done damage.

Shame about the hands.....

Terry D wrote:I don't think Kessler was massively hurt when the ref warned Joe, rightly, in the slo-mo Kessler is watching Joe intently and is not glassy-eyed at all.

Kessler said he was hurt - was winded by crushing body blow. If ref had jumped in Kessler would have struggled a bit - winded and reciving an onslought from Calzaghe who smells blood wouldnt be good. That siad, the ref did step in and he composed himself.

hitman_hatton1 wrote:i still think he was really breaking thru in rd 8 before the ref jumped in and warned him about the back of the head shot.

Joe could have closed the show, especially in the 9th and maybe 11th. Right hook to the body was the honey punch for opening a stoppage.

He seems to have developed a habit of throwing 'arm punches', that is he's not punching correctly, with his whole body behind a punch. This obviously gives him fast hands, but he wont knock anybody out hitting like that.

When Manfredo Jr. was stopped he was getting hit with a quick combination of punches, but didn't seem in the least bit hurt. That's cos Joe was throwing a pitter-patter of arm punches. It seems to help him pick up the points, but it's not my idea of how a fighter should be. Nor is sticking his chin out and dropping his hands. If there were any decent fighters around at his weight, he'd pay dearly for that kind of arrogance.

EUBANK SAID TO WARREN AFTER THE CALZAGHE FIGHGTT "NEVER BEEN HIT LIKE THAT!"

BEFORE THE WEIGHT-DRAINING AND BUSTED BONES, JOE WAS A BANGER........ MAYBE HE STILL IS AT 175 WITH STRONG HANDS??

Apologies if this is stating the obvious, but does anyone know whether they provide Joe with supplements to strengthen his bones (e.g. Glucosamine Sulphate or Chondroitin)?

josh fg wrote:It strikes me that Calzaghe has had 1 KO in his last 5 fights and that was a slightly dubiouse stoppage against an over matched Manfrado, leading me to wonder if he can no longer KO people probably becasue of the condition of his hands.

His hands are a problem, he doesn't really spar anymore before fights in case he damages them. Saying that Calzaghe has always thrown lots of punches, thats his style and because of that style you can't generate loads of power. His KO of Mitchell shows he can punch when he needs to, even Kessler admitted he was hurt by a body punch, so the power is there. I think Calzaghe just prefers a high output to single power shots, and its not done him wrong so far !!!

the patriot wrote:Im not sure he's ever had a real KO punch though. According to his record on here, he's only KO'd 2 of his 32 stoppage wins the rest have been TKO's.
.

People say the same thing about Eastmans 'mostly TKOs so he cant really hit', nobody takes into consideration British refs jump in before guys get laid out.

Calzaghe used to pack a fair old whack (look at Eubank on the deck!) but yeah hes 35 and his hands hurt, just think he bamboozles his way to points now.