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[Laney]

The guy could land one noteworthy punch on Hopkins and looked completely out of his depth in the first three rounds.

Agression and work-rate saved his ass that night, cos it sure as hell wasn't his "nack" of adapting. He got the shit kicked out of him.

#wouldthebestcalzaghebeatthebestfroch? #justsaying!?

[Scarface]

The guy could land one noteworthy punch on Hopkins and looked completely out of his depth in the first three rounds.

Agression and work-rate saved his ass that night, cos it sure as hell wasn't his "nack" of adapting. He got the shit kicked out of him.

Hopkins is a legend for a reason Red.... even as a Pensioner he kicks ass. The fight was a stinker... and hopkins fought like a terrified man, feigning injury. It was embarrassing for both fighters. You cant really mention froch's name in the same sentence as these guys. History simply wont allow it. The Kessler loss doesn't help matters either. Calzaghe was well past his prime too... he was a spent force and he probably retired at precisely the right time.

[Tuco]

Hopkins is a legend for a reason Red.... even as a Pensioner he kicks ass. The fight was a stinker... and hopkins fought like a terrified man, feigning injury. It was embarrassing for both fighters. You cant really mention froch's name in the same sentence as these guys. History simply wont allow it. The Kessler loss doesn't help matters either. Calzaghe was well past his prime too... he was a spent force and he probably retired at precisely the right time.

That pretty much nails it on the head.

 Bring back the IQ button!

[Tim2366]

Hopkins is a legend for a reason Red.... even as a Pensioner he kicks ass. The fight was a stinker... and hopkins fought like a terrified man, feigning injury. It was embarrassing for both fighters. You cant really mention froch's name in the same sentence as these guys. History simply wont allow it. The Kessler loss doesn't help matters either. Calzaghe was well past his prime too... he was a spent force and he probably retired at precisely the right time.

How can anyone say Calzaghe was a spent force v Bhop when he spent most of his so called prime fighting nobodies?

[motoriser]

Calzaghe never faced a pure Boxer and the only time he faced one in passed his physical Prime Bhop he looked terrible.Replays of that fight show how he did not connect as much as the crowd liked to make it seem.Joe was a Volume puncher and did not have an Arsenal of tricks should things not go his way in fights.
His defense was not that great anyways and I can see Ward edging him out.It will be like the Hopkins fight except Joe won't have the speed advantage he enjoyed and would have had to deal with the Athleticism of Ward that makes it hard to get him in one spot coz he always slips out of danger like an eel ,or should I say change his colors like a Chameleon.

[Scarface]

How can anyone say Calzaghe was a spent force v Bhop when he spent most of his so called prime fighting nobodies?

Calzaghe's punch resistance had deteriorated terribly. People often talk about age affecting speed and reflexes in boxing but it also affects the ability of the body to absorb punches.

Calzaghe got floored against hopkins and RJJ with what I believe were nothing punches. Hopkins hardly ever decks fighters in the latter part of his career. The last time was against del la hoya.

I urge anybody to watch the calzaghe v Eubank as an example - he took some great punches and had built a decent reputation of having a solid chin. It wasn't a chin considered by the boxing world as "Untested" ... despite what you may hear or read about regarding the calibre of his opponents.

He was a fading fighter who got out before he lost... which is what the haters hate most of all.

 

[Aaron]

People can say that Joe is better than froch fair enough, but to say froch should not be in the same sentace as Joe is daft. It is impossible to deny carls superior resume so that alone easily puts him up there with Joe.

I honestly do not see where this god like status Joe has come from, and before anyone says it I know he never lost.

[Tim2366]

People can say that Joe is better than froch fair enough, but to say froch should not be in the same sentace as Joe is daft. It is impossible to deny carls superior resume so that alone easily puts him up there with Joe.

I honestly do not see where this god like status Joe has come from, and before anyone says it I know he never lost.

He also beat Mario Veit twice 

[Scarface]

People can say that Joe is better than froch fair enough, but to say froch should not be in the same sentace as Joe is daft. It is impossible to deny carls superior resume so that alone easily puts him up there with Joe.

I honestly do not see where this god like status Joe has come from, and before anyone says it I know he never lost.

America dude. Like brit pop stars... you need to break America for history to notice you with maximum impact... and the american's had a lot of respect for Calzaghe.

[styledoctor]

Calzaghe never faced a pure Boxer and the only time he faced one in passed his physical Prime Bhop he looked terrible.Replays of that fight show how he did not connect as much as the crowd liked to make it seem.Joe was a Volume puncher and did not have an Arsenal of tricks should things not go his way in fights.
His defense was not that great anyways and I can see Ward edging him out.It will be like the Hopkins fight except Joe won't have the speed advantage he enjoyed and would have had to deal with the Athleticism of Ward that makes it hard to get him in one spot coz he always slips out of danger like an eel ,or should I say change his colors like a Chameleon.

Are you serious? Calzaghe is probably the best example of being able to adapt mid fight in recent years. He decided to trade when it became clear Brewer was more than competent on the outside. He found himself on the deck and on the edge against Mitchell, so opted to fight fire with fire. Behind on the cards against Kessler he changed strategy to win the fight. Dropped against Hopkins, he didn't let Hopkins assert himself like BHop has done in almost every outing since.

But why let facts get in the way of good Ward post eh?!   

[Aaron]

America dude. Like brit pop stars... you need to break America for history to notice you with maximum impact... and the american's had a lot of respect for Calzaghe.

Not enough to buy tickets for his fights from what I remember , his 2 fights over their sold like second hand underpants from what I recall.

[Scarface]

Not enough to buy tickets for his fights from what I remember , his 2 fights over their sold like second hand underpants from what I recall.

Your confusing popularity with respect. Hopkins himself made 20 odd defenses of his middleweight titles. He did it without being popular or a ppv star. His fall of fame status is yet secured. Even rjj had poor gate receipts with people being bored of his supreme talent.

People outside of the uk will never compare froch with calzaghe without first comparing ward with calzaghe. Thats the nature of the beast im afraid.

[Baz88]

Calzaghe never faced a pure Boxer and the only time he faced one in passed his physical Prime Bhop he looked terrible.Replays of that fight show how he did not connect as much as the crowd liked to make it seem.Joe was a Volume puncher and did not have an Arsenal of tricks should things not go his way in fights.
His defense was not that great anyways and I can see Ward edging him out.It will be like the Hopkins fight except Joe won't have the speed advantage he enjoyed and would have had to deal with the Athleticism of Ward that makes it hard to get him in one spot coz he always slips out of danger like an eel ,or should I say change his colors like a Chameleon.

As someone has already said, this statement about Calzaghe not being able to change tactics is ridiculous. He was getting tanked with the uppercut against Kessler, made the necessary adjustments, and beat him soundly. He traded when it was needed and pressed when it was needed. Someone correct me if im wrong but he landed the more number of scoring punches on Bhop than anyone, ever. Thats impressive, and its what won him that fight. You seen Bhop in any real trouble physically since except for the weight of Pascals shots knocking him over? He was whinging like an absolute tart and nicking breathers all over the place, trying to get points deducted. Calzaghe made it happen. The world as a whole respects him as being a modern great, they respect Ward as being supremely talented, and they respect Carl for taking on a tough schedule and falling just short at the elite level.

[Aaron]

As someone has already said, this statement about Calzaghe not being able to change tactics is ridiculous. He was getting tanked with the uppercut against Kessler, made the necessary adjustments, and beat him soundly. He traded when it was needed and pressed when it was needed. Someone correct me if im wrong but he landed the more number of scoring punches on Bhop than anyone, ever. Thats impressive, and its what won him that fight. You seen Bhop in any real trouble physically since except for the weight of Pascals shots knocking him over? He was whinging like an absolute tart and nicking breathers all over the place, trying to get points deducted. Calzaghe made it happen. The world as a whole respects him as being a modern great, they respect Ward as being supremely talented, and they respect Carl for taking on a tough schedule and falling just short at the elite level.

You know what they say, the world has gone mad. If a guy can reach that level of status with such a small number of maningful wins then there must be hundreds of modern day greats.

I won't deny his skills could of made him one, but his record regardless of the 0 is simply leagues below so many current guys I can't justify that. Without the big two, cotto, Hopkins, Morales, Oscar, rjj, Barrera, juan marquez are just some of the guys I would not mention Joe in the same breath as.

[Scarface]

You know what they say, the world has gone mad. If a guy can reach that level of status with such a small number of maningful wins then there must be hundreds of modern day greats.

I won't deny his skills could of made him one, but his record regardless of the 0 is simply leagues below so many current guys I can't justify that. Without the big two, cotto, Hopkins, Morales, Oscar, rjj, Barrera, juan marquez are just some of the guys I would not mention Joe in the same breath as.

Yes but it is only when you consider the super middleweight division that calzaghe's name features as a possible great. The names above don't fill that gap, except rjj and he left the SM division before calzaghe had even fought Eubank. Were not comparing froch or ward with the fighters you named above either... Nobody would.