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Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
www.eastsideboxing.com
07.07.06 - By Darryl Waterhouse: Anyone I know, speak to, or write to knows I love my boxing; more so, I enjoy the purity of the sport. Hit, and don’t get hit. Joe Calzaghe carries this innate ability in such abundance his craft (when the mood takes him) is simply beautiful. When he decides he fancies a tear up, he then widens his stance, stands square on, and unleashes with devastating speed and accuracy.
Calzaghe as a younger man was always a talented sportsman. The rumour mill carries the idea of him being blessed in several of our more common British pastimes, and alleges the possibility of him turning professional in something other than boxing. So I guess at this point in my article, I’d like to thank him for choosing the path that he has. As an amateur performer Calzaghe won 3 ABA titles in Britain.
Winning 1 ABA title is an achievement in itself, but 3 is solid proof that in this young man, we really did have someone incredible. Rangy, fast, frighteningly fast actually, and devilishly accurate his ability to move, throw, and keep an opponent off balance, and importantly off-guard is simply superb. Joe fights equally well on the inside as he does at range, his strike variance and balance sublime.
Calzaghe won his WBO title on 11th day of October 1997 against former member of the ‘Terrific Trio’ Chris Eubank, a title he still holds. Joe Calzaghe was just 24 years old. Messrs Parris, Thomas and Francis adjudged Calzaghe to have whitewashed the former WBO middleweight and super-middleweight world champion. Since then, he simply hasn’t looked back. Since that evening in Sheffield, Calzaghe has defended his title 18 times. Whilst his opponents have not always been best of breed, and he has still given his public a share of lack-lustre performances, he has always pulled out the stops and given us results. When he has needed to, he’s always entertained us.
Whilst we can’t really hold Joe Calzaghe responsible for the quality of his opponents (nor can we blame Frank Warren for Joe's opponents), he was been in something of a quandary for much of his career where he has been in the unfortunate position of not being able to have fighters take him on. I mean, who really wants to go in, look bad, and then lose? Sven Ottke ran from Calzaghe for years (the standing Ottke joke in our family is that he simply ran from everyone!). By my reckoning, Mikkel Kessler will follow suit. When fighters have signed up to fight Calzaghe, either he, or they have been injury stricken and fights have been generally postponed or just outright cancelled.
Calzaghe has often spoken about his wanting to become a multiple-weight champion, and he’s more than capable. There are also several potential mega fights available to him. That is I mean mega-money fights. None of the presently spoken of crop of boxers would provide the challenge necessary to him, however, as par for the course, we will attempt to discuss them a little later.
Calzaghe wants glory, recognition, induction to the Hall of Fame, to sit back after hanging up his gloves and be truly satisfied within himself as both a boxer, and as a man, and so far whilst he may be able to slip in to the HoF through a side door, there won’t be any trumpets sounding or 21 gun salutes. This is a great shame. When prompted during an interview in his preparations for the Lacy bout Joe Calzaghe was asked if he harboured any career regrets. With something of a cheeky smile that is fast becoming a trademark he replied “Yes”. This both surprised and intrigued me. “Not being born 3 years earlier” was the response; “I wish my hands would stop breaking!” was the following statement. This saddened me somewhat. Here stands a man, achieved so much, delightful demeanour, graceful technician, excellent professional work ethic, and film-star looks telling us he wants more. I then realised during the difficult times, through the pain of divorce, the never-ending sea of injuries this is the very crux of his character that makes him what he is. He quite simply will never stop wanting more, and will never give up. Earlier I mentioned the qualities and skills emblazoned in Joe Calzaghe which makes him a great boxer, but this quality is different, this is an all encompassing trait which a man can carry through his entire life no matter what he does.
Present talk is of a ring return (damage dependent) around September of this year. So what happens now?
Several potential opponents are in the mix. His management is from all reports still in talks with the Roy Jones Jr. camp. I love Jones, but whilst this is a fight I’d watch, I’d be reluctant to pay to go and see it. Jones has given us some truly magical moments over the course of his long and successful career. Wowing us all with his long switching style, ability to mix it on the inside, or fight at distance belittling some world class opponents with his punching, and counter punching style and amazing one-punch and combination knockouts, but this is a fight he simply wouldn’t win. Allow me to explain. Jones is far from shot, far from washed up, but simply can’t get ‘up’ to fighting at the moment. He’ll quite happily take the pay days, and who can blame him? He lost to the one-hit wonder Antonio Tarver twice, the first being a lovely counter punch knockout to the temple scrambling Jones balance and leaving him with no equilibrium, but to me that actually meant little. As the learning fighter he is, upon their rubber match he simply never got in the way, but having fought at heavyweight, putting on all of that muscle in the correct fashion, he would never be the same fighter at light heavyweight again. My suggestion to RJJ is go back up to heavy, and pitch for a bout with James Toney, with whom he once shared the ring, and shut him up once and for all. Calzaghe may now be 34 years old, but at this stage in both boxers’ careers, Calzaghe would simply have too much. Too much speed, accuracy and even if the first couple of rounds, Calzaghe would simply get inside and hurt Jones. I’d be describing this quite differently if I’d been writing this same article 6 years ago, but right now it’s Joe Calzaghe on the top of the world.
Antonio Tarver is another name in tow. And strangely, I think Tarvers’ ability might keep Calzaghe at bay for a short while. I used to believe that Tarvers’ boxing ability was better than it actually is. Again, Calzaghe at touching 6’, and Tarver at *only* 6’2” would make for an interesting bout. Although when you account for the fact that the actual reach advantage for Tarver is only 1” in each glove, and the fact he likes to hang out his chin, I think Calzaghe would step up to the plate, pitch, and knock him right out. Bear also in mind that Joe Calzaghe has delivered two devastating losses to the much taller (6’3”) Mario Veit, and that alone carries indication of Calzaghe’s ability to handle taller fighters than him.
Glencoffe Johnson is another suggested opponent. He’s also one who fancies the pay day, hence his camps’ hard talking on a proposed fight. Indeed, this one was scheduled to actually go ahead before Calzaghe’s back injury. I like Johnson as a man. Here’s a guy written off so many times in his career as someone who really shouldn’t and perhaps couldn’t cut it at the highest of levels. He has munged his way past our own Clinton Woods twice (though I do believe if a tertiary bout comes off that Woods will stop him), and has a credited KO against the legendary Roy Jones. He simply doesn’t respond to speed well, and would most likely attempt to saunter aimlessly through a bout with Calzaghe and take a defeat on points. His paper credentials would provide him the opportunity against Joe, but his inability to work effectively at pace would be his almighty downfall. And fall he would.
Mikkel Kessler please step up, sign up, and prove you really are a champion. To many, Kessler is an unknown quantity. Kesslers’ last outing against an aged Eric Lucas may have been a convincing win on paper, but given the fact that other than perhaps his bout Manny Siaca, he’s not really fought anyone either in their prime, or of any real note. This one may too be dead in the water if Kessler can’t get past the tricky Markus Beyer. Time will tell.
Earth and time wait for no man, and are as relentless as they are punishing to a boxers short career, they show no sympathy, empathy or remorse. The fact that Calzaghe is now 34 makes for limited future displays; so timing, training and the right bouts are more important now than they ever were before.
I for one would sincerely love to see Joe Calzaghe make 20 defences. No longer does he need to prove himself in this division, and I for one wouldn’t complain watching him see that out against his lesser mandatory opponents.
Whilst I enjoy the “What If’s?”, I’m not a big fan of them in general. I would however have liked to have seen Calzaghe fight Steve Collins. Collins was something of a ‘bridging’ champion. A stalwart Irish warrior wore his heart on his sleeve and gave everything. He filled a gap between the end of the Eighties glory years of middle and super middle weights before the newer crop set in; the likes of Calzaghe and dare I say it, Sven Ottke.
I’ve no doubts at all how this fight would have gone. It would have gone to points. Collins was an exceptionally hard worker. A man prepared to walk through walls to help his cause, but as a pure boxer he lacked speed and tactical prowess. Not to say the fight wouldn’t have been entertaining, and Collins wonderful ability to draw his fights in to telephone box type brawls may have provided Joe Calzaghe with a few, if not a lot of problems. As the cream always rises to the top, I’d have expected a Calzaghe victory.
So as Calzaghe makes his preparations to close on a very successful, if not always sparkling nor completely recognised career, I’d like to say thank you Joe Calzaghe, its truly been a pleasure watching you work.
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Its been a long while since the Lacy fight....its a shame he hasnt been able to be more active since that win...
So folks who do you wanna see Calzaghe in with next? I wouldnt mind seeing him in there with Kessler, Winky or even Taylor....Calzaghe can beat all of them IMO (You be quiet Northside!! :P)...
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
yes i would like to see him beat kessler then wright then taylor
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
id like to see him fight kessler but on US tv, so i can finally fucking see him fight. and maybe Wright.
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsan-chez
id like to see him fight kessler but on US tv, so i can finally F****** see him fight. and maybe Wright.
Its a shame Calzaghe hasn't been seen by those in the U.S....I was really hoping the Lacy result would change all that, I really hope his hands can hold out for 3 more big fights....
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsan-chez
id like to see him fight kessler but on US tv, so i can finally F****** see him fight. and maybe Wright.
Its a shame Calzaghe hasn't been seen by those in the U.S....I was really hoping the Lacy result would change all that, I really hope his hands can hold out for 3 more big fights....
calzaghe v lacy was on showtime but i fucking missed it :banghead:. id like to see him fight kess so i can see both of them.
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsan-chez
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsan-chez
id like to see him fight kessler but on US tv, so i can finally F****** see him fight. and maybe Wright.
Its a shame Calzaghe hasn't been seen by those in the U.S....I was really hoping the Lacy result would change all that, I really hope his hands can hold out for 3 more big fights....
calzaghe v lacy was on showtime but i F****** missed it :banghead:. id like to see him fight kess so i can see both of them.
Lets hope he pulls through for a september fight, its been too long since the Lacy fight for me....wanna see Joe try and see out his career in some style...
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
chez have u seen the fight if not i got it on dvd i can upload it on youtube later
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
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Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING
chez have u seen the fight if not i got it on dvd i can upload it on youtube later
nope just clips, id love to see the whole thing, that would be great. and anything on kess to...........thanks ICB
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
yea no prob ill do it later
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsan-chez
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsan-chez
id like to see him fight kessler but on US tv, so i can finally F****** see him fight. and maybe Wright.
Its a shame Calzaghe hasn't been seen by those in the U.S....I was really hoping the Lacy result would change all that, I really hope his hands can hold out for 3 more big fights....
calzaghe v lacy was on showtime but i F****** missed it :banghead:. id like to see him fight kess so i can see both of them.
Lets hope he pulls through for a september fight, its been too long since the Lacy fight for me....wanna see Joe try and see out his career in some style...
Aren’t Beyer and Kessler fighting in October? Then a Calzaghe v Kessler fight in September not be possible.
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING
yea no prob ill do it later
COOL, JUST THROW UP A LINK ON THIS TOPIC WHEN ITS DONE...... ;D
THANKS...... ICB
CC YOU IN 24
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
8) Yea well been a bit busy guys and girls and anything else out there that counts ;) Your boy Calzaghe put one schooling on Jeff Lacy all I got to say! Props to you all as well as Mr Calzaghe he fought 12 solid rounds that takes big ones guys. I felt he would win but not like that easy! ;D To me hes the man of Manchester not Hatton.
::**In fack Hatton looked bad against a light banger and he really lost that fight he didnt win convincely like you should beat a holder of a title belt. He best not even try to get at it with De La Hoya or Mayweather until they walking with canes. I reall believe Miguel Cotto will stop him if they ever make that fight but the Hatton camp know they can't beat him 8)
But Calzaghe anyone that fights him best be at there very best! and
still be hopeing for a something special to fall from the sky for them that night. ::**
Just my take so be nice. ;D
I leave to Cochella Ca. this Tues for a big tournament at the Spotlight Casino they are bringing a kid from San Francisco to beat our boy they think! ::**
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
If Calzaghe wants to retire undefeated he needs to steer far away from Hopkins & don't take chances against Winky or Tarver
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
I say joe needs to somehow fix his hands and take out kess in the us. the winner will then be smw king. id go with joe on this one. after he ko's kess he HAS to get a BIG name fighter. otherwise he will be forgotten very quikly. he waited WAY to long to make an international name for himself. his fault? im guessing not, but its do or die time for joe. you dont stay young forever...
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
I'm not sure what Joe C is going to do next...his options are becoming limited due to the hand injury. I believe his best bet to be Winky moving up but I think that would be a bad move on Winky's part. CC for the read Miles bro.
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
I'm not sure what Joe C is going to do next...his options are becoming limited due to the hand injury. I believe his best bet to be Winky moving up but I think that would be a bad move on Winky's part. CC for the read Miles bro.
CC, right back Mr Game
I think Winky would be a good fight, Taylor isnt ready to move beyond middleweight at this point IMO...and though I want Calzaghe to fight Kessler, Kessler must first get by Beyer in September...
If Warren can get the money right, then a Winky fight around September could be on the cards....
Time will tell....
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schulz
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1st rd ko
I say joe needs to somehow fix his hands and take out kess in the us. the winner will then be smw king. id go with joe on this one. after he ko's kess he HAS to get a BIG name fighter. otherwise he will be forgotten very quikly. he waited WAY to long to make an international name for himself. his fault? im guessing not, but its do or die time for joe. you dont stay young forever...
Joe is not able to KO Mikkel. Kessler has never taken the count in either amateur or pro boxing. Kessler has a very good chin and Joe is not quite a puncher.
Royal, there are no absolutes in boxing....In all probability Kessler will taste the canvas at some point in his career....not hating on Kess there Royal, Im just taking the bluster out of your words ::**
Kessler has potential but needs to fight a few more name super middleweights to gain true recognition...
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
I'm not sure what Joe C is going to do next...his options are becoming limited due to the hand injury. I believe his best bet to be Winky moving up but I think that would be a bad move on Winky's part. CC for the read Miles bro.
CC, right back Mr Game
I think Winky would be a good fight, Taylor isnt ready to move beyond middleweight at this point IMO...and though I want Calzaghe to fight Kessler, Kessler must first get by Beyer in September...
If Warren can get the money right, then a Winky fight around September could be on the cards....
Time will tell....
Well, whatever Joe does do with these final 3 fights, he does need to make them big fights if he wants to live off his profits for the rest of his life. That divorce a couple of years ago would have cleaned him out, so I think he'll be telling FW, 'get me some big fights', to put his pension in place, so in my opinion it will make sense all round for calzaghe to fight big names. Especially for us, the fans, to see him prove, or not, his greatness at SMW, and maye even a step up.
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by superheavyrhun
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Game
I'm not sure what Joe C is going to do next...his options are becoming limited due to the hand injury. I believe his best bet to be Winky moving up but I think that would be a bad move on Winky's part. CC for the read Miles bro.
CC, right back Mr Game
I think Winky would be a good fight, Taylor isnt ready to move beyond middleweight at this point IMO...and though I want Calzaghe to fight Kessler, Kessler must first get by Beyer in September...
If Warren can get the money right, then a Winky fight around September could be on the cards....
Time will tell....
Well, whatever Joe does do with these final 3 fights, he does need to make them big fights if he wants to live off his profits for the rest of his life. That divorce a couple of years ago would have cleaned him out, so I think he'll be telling FW, 'get me some big fights', to put his pension in place, so in my opinion it will make sense all round for calzaghe to fight big names. Especially for us, the fans, to see him prove, or not, his greatness at SMW, and maye even a step up.
CC, Agreed.
If there are only 3 more fights I really dont want to see any filler in there....He has a golden opportunity to finish his career with a blast if his hands can hold up...
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Totally agree because remember,and as hard as it is to believe,there are STILL people that question how good JC is so 3 great fights to shut everyone up,once and for all would be good. For me:Winky,JT,Kessler and Johnson,3 of those.
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthSideX4
If Calzaghe wants to retire undefeated he needs to steer far away from Hopkins & don't take chances against Winky or Tarver
Go to sleep Northside.
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by skel1983
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthSideX4
If Calzaghe wants to retire undefeated he needs to steer far away from Hopkins & don't take chances against Winky or Tarver
Go to sleep Northside.
;D
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schulz
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1st rd ko
I say joe needs to somehow fix his hands and take out kess in the us. the winner will then be smw king. id go with joe on this one. after he ko's kess he HAS to get a BIG name fighter. otherwise he will be forgotten very quikly. he waited WAY to long to make an international name for himself. his fault? im guessing not, but its do or die time for joe. you dont stay young forever...
Joe is not able to KO Mikkel. Kessler has never taken the count in either amateur or pro boxing. Kessler has a very good chin and Joe is not quite a puncher.
hi royal. welcome back. hows your dog and girl friend doing?
Joe dosent have to KO Kess to win. (ud ,sd) ::**
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
8) CALZAGHE IS SUCH A GOOD BOXER I REALLY LIKE HIM HE PROVED THAT AGAINST LACY! i SEE BIG FIGHTS FOR HIM. 8)
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
I stopped reading about 2 paragraph's in because i disagree whole heartedly with most of what he said..
Ive just given up on joe now.. To the point where if he does even get that big fight..I cant think of anybody i would favour him against anyway..But i would actually want him to loose..
But frankly i dont see him beating taylor or bernard... But if he wants to go in with a chance i would take taylor
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
8) CALZAGHE CAN OUT BOX BERNARD ID LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE! ! ! 8)
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthSideX4
If Calzaghe wants to retire undefeated he needs to steer far away from Hopkins & don't take chances against Winky or Tarver
I honestly think Hopkins Calzaghe would be a great fight.
Not so sure about Winky Calzaghe...just not sure.
Calzaghe would slaughter Tarver & Taylor, IWO.
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Royal, there are no absolutes in boxing....In all probability Kessler will taste the canvas at some point in his career....not hating on Kess there Royal, Im just taking the bluster out of your words ::**
:appl: Heh heh heh. :coolclick: Mistah Miles!
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by wacko3205
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Royal, there are no absolutes in boxing....In all probability Kessler will taste the canvas at some point in his career....not hating on Kess there Royal, Im just taking the bluster out of your words ::**
:appl: Heh heh heh. :coolclick: Mistah Miles!
CC back Wacko,
This thread is nearly a year old though...what on earth is it doing on the front page again?! :-\
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Id like Joe to fight 2 of these 3.Kessler(a great fight for the fans)-Taylor(a true step up in competition.Taylor has said that 160 is hard for him to make)-Winky(I dont see Kessler beating Winky.Period.But its a fight that could be sold)
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Its been a long while since the Lacy fight....its a shame he hasnt been able to be more active since that win...
So folks who do you wanna see Calzaghe in with next? I wouldnt mind seeing him in there with Kessler, Winky or even Taylor....Calzaghe can beat all of them IMO (You be quiet Northside!! :P)...
Can`t you get you head out of Calzaghe arse :moon: :bananasex: :moon:
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jangeorg
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Its been a long while since the Lacy fight....its a shame he hasnt been able to be more active since that win...
So folks who do you wanna see Calzaghe in with next? I wouldnt mind seeing him in there with Kessler, Winky or even Taylor....Calzaghe can beat all of them IMO (You be quiet Northside!! :P)...
Can`t you get you head out of Calzaghe a*** :moon: :bananasex: :moon:
Screw you creepo!!! >:mad
As if I could ever really get worked up by such a lame and pathetic attack as that! ::**
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick_Rack
8) CALZAGHE CAN OUT BOX BERNARD ID LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE! ! ! 8)
Calzaghe looses to bernard Tko 8 ;) :)
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tito_BHB
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick_Rack
8) CALZAGHE CAN OUT BOX BERNARD ID LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE! ! ! 8)
Calzaghe looses to bernard Tko 8 ;) :)
Don't think so mate :)
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tito_BHB
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick_Rack
8) CALZAGHE CAN OUT BOX BERNARD ID LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE! ! ! 8)
Calzaghe looses to bernard Tko 8 ;) :)
Not in this lifetime. Everyone seems to be getting worked up about Bernard Hopkins after he beat Tarver last year, but Tarver just did not show up to the races that night. He was dismal, and didn't have any ideas nor any drive, and most of the top 20 a light-heavy would have beaten him that night. Bernard Hopkins got a champion who was living the Hollywood life instead of living the boxing life, and no doubt about it, Calzaghe would turn Hopkins over.
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
It wasnt that tarver didnt show up..More like that tarver was given nothing to go on..The subtle defensive strategies and lateral movement left tarver following bernard around pawing with his jab like an afraid little girl and continues to get countered and jumped in on with combo's before hopkins then jumps back out of range..
Seriously i cannot make a single case in my mind of how joe could be bernard..
Joe has bad hands..Barely any power.. and bernard has never been stopped...
And when was the last time we saw joe beat a truely great boxer and great defensive counter puncher?
I'd bet on never tbf.. Hopkins would beat him every round and joe who has obv never lost would loose heart half way through as he's never been in that position and he'd eventually stumble and fall under the weight of the executioners axe :)
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tito_BHB
It wasnt that tarver didnt show up..More like that tarver was given nothing to go on..The subtle defensive strategies and lateral movement left tarver following bernard around pawing with his jab like an afraid little girl and continues to get countered and jumped in on with combo's before hopkins then jumps back out of range..
Seriously i cannot make a single case in my mind of how joe could be bernard..
Joe has bad hands..Barely any power.. and bernard has never been stopped...
And when was the last time we saw joe beat a truely great boxer and great defensive counter puncher?
I'd bet on never tbf.. Hopkins would beat him every round and joe who has obv never lost would loose heart half way through as he's never been in that position and he'd eventually stumble and fall under the weight of the executioners axe :)
OK....well I have a similar position in a way, in that I can't see a way in which Bernard could beat Joe. Hopkins likes to come off the back foot, and despite the fact that he is a decent defensive counter puncher, I think he would still get caught more often by Calzaghe's numerous punches, which come from all angles, and Hopkins couldn't avoid it forever.
As for the question of power, Calzaghe handed Juan Carlos Gimenez Ferreyra his first stoppage, who had previously gone 12 with Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, and has only since been stopped by world champion Zsolt Erdei. Calzaghe gave Byron Mitchell a career-ending stoppage in two rounds, despite Mitchell having only two previous defeats, both on points for world titles. And not that it is in the same league, but Manfredo had never been stopped either.
Hopkins' KO record is less than Calzaghe's, and has only finished one fight inside the distance in the last seven, so saying he would stop Calzaghe is crazy talk. Indeed, the only way Calzaghe will fall under the weight of the executioners' axe is if the axe is thrown at him from the Hopkins corner.
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Re: Joe Calzaghe: What next? What if?
Quote:
Originally Posted by superheavyrhun
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tito_BHB
It wasnt that tarver didnt show up..More like that tarver was given nothing to go on..The subtle defensive strategies and lateral movement left tarver following bernard around pawing with his jab like an afraid little girl and continues to get countered and jumped in on with combo's before hopkins then jumps back out of range..
Seriously i cannot make a single case in my mind of how joe could be bernard..
Joe has bad hands..Barely any power.. and bernard has never been stopped...
And when was the last time we saw joe beat a truely great boxer and great defensive counter puncher?
I'd bet on never tbf.. Hopkins would beat him every round and joe who has obv never lost would loose heart half way through as he's never been in that position and he'd eventually stumble and fall under the weight of the executioners axe :)
OK....well I have a similar position in a way, in that I can't see a way in which Bernard could beat Joe. Hopkins likes to come off the back foot, and despite the fact that he is a decent defensive counter puncher, I think he would still get caught more often by Calzaghe's numerous punches, which come from all angles, and Hopkins couldn't avoid it forever.
As for the question of power, Calzaghe handed Juan Carlos Gimenez Ferreyra his first stoppage, who had previously gone 12 with Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, and has only since been stopped by world champion Zsolt Erdei. Calzaghe gave Byron Mitchell a career-ending stoppage in two rounds, despite Mitchell having only two previous defeats, both on points for world titles. And not that it is in the same league, but Manfredo had never been stopped either.
Hopkins' KO record is less than Calzaghe's, and has only finished one fight inside the distance in the last seven, so saying he would stop Calzaghe is crazy talk. Indeed, the only way Calzaghe will fall under the weight of the executioners' axe is if the axe is thrown at him from the Hopkins corner.
It might well be ;) ;D
