Joe Calzaghe: Andre Ward is good but beatable

[LobowolfXXX]

Hopkins didn't have the skillset to deal with Calzaghe? You wouldn't have known it from the judges' cards or the knockdown. You're kind of moving the goalposts a bit when you talk about Ward/Kessler and Calzaghe/Hopkins. You say that Calzaghe/Hopkins "wasn't clean, but it was decisive." Well, Ward/Kessler, even if it wasn't clean, was decisive.

At a comparable age, there's no contest in their resumes; Ward has it all over Calzaghe. He's beaten the Ring Magazine #2, 3, 5, and 9. Calzaghe's level of competition at the same age pales in comparison. Calzaghe's resume was made in the later years. We'll have to see what Ward does in the next 10 years. That doesn't mean that a 27 year old Ward would beat a 27 year old Calzaghe; but he's certainly demonstrated his clear superiority over more of the top 168-pounders than Calzaghe did at this stage.

[erics44]

Hopkins didn't have the skillset to deal with Calzaghe? You wouldn't have known it from the judges' cards or the knockdown. You're kind of moving the goalposts a bit when you talk about Ward/Kessler and Calzaghe/Hopkins. You say that Calzaghe/Hopkins "wasn't clean, but it was decisive." Well, Ward/Kessler, even if it wasn't clean, was decisive.

At a comparable age, there's no contest in their resumes; Ward has it all over Calzaghe. He's beaten the Ring Magazine #2, 3, 5, and 9. Calzaghe's level of competition at the same age pales in comparison. Calzaghe's resume was made in the later years. We'll have to see what Ward does in the next 10 years. That doesn't mean that a 27 year old Ward would beat a 27 year old Calzaghe; but he's certainly demonstrated his clear superiority over more of the top 168-pounders than Calzaghe did at this stage.

calzaghe didnt have the benefit of the ring mag ratings or the supersix

but yes ward has a better record at the same point in their careers

still, calzaghe would win the fight

ward just isnt that good and doesnt have the stamina

[Gandalf]

Hopkins didn't have the skillset to deal with Calzaghe? You wouldn't have known it from the judges' cards or the knockdown. You're kind of moving the goalposts a bit when you talk about Ward/Kessler and Calzaghe/Hopkins. You say that Calzaghe/Hopkins "wasn't clean, but it was decisive." Well, Ward/Kessler, even if it wasn't clean, was decisive.

At a comparable age, there's no contest in their resumes; Ward has it all over Calzaghe. He's beaten the Ring Magazine #2, 3, 5, and 9. Calzaghe's level of competition at the same age pales in comparison. Calzaghe's resume was made in the later years. We'll have to see what Ward does in the next 10 years. That doesn't mean that a 27 year old Ward would beat a 27 year old Calzaghe; but he's certainly demonstrated his clear superiority over more of the top 168-pounders than Calzaghe did at this stage.

Not really. I just mean that Hopkins fought dirty, but still got his just desserts. With Kessler/Ward the cheater won thus making it relatively inconclusive.

Joe Calzaghe fought decent opposition during his career. It's just that amongst the defences there was some crap too, but the same can be said of Hopkins and Jones as well. What makes Allan Green a decent opponent? What makes someone like Miranda a good opponent? These are nothing that Calzaghe himself didn't fight relatively early as champion. Seriously, people are putting Ward on a pedestal and it's really just a lot of hype. Allan Green hasn't beaten anyone. Miranda loses all of his big fights.

Calzaghe fought and beat everyone there was to beat, nothing more could have been accomplished. Ward has done well for himself too, but I don't think he is as good as the hype is suggesting and in fact I think Froch has shown the flaws, but to take advantage you do need to be very good and Calzaghe wasn't only very good, he was exceptional. Calzaghe would have wiped the floor with Ward and I intrinsically believe that. Calzaghe is all wrong for Ward and to beat him you are going to have to outwork him and tire him and that was Calzaghe's modus operandi.

Calzaghe would have owned the Super 6 had he been allowed to travel through time and take his peak self to the start of it. The Super 6 is full of decent fighters, but they are not exceptional. Very few fighters are exceptional. I see discipline and craft in Ward, but nothing exceptional. He is a grafter and good at it, but Calzaghe is a different level stylistically. With Ward the blueprint is kind of there, but nobody has a clue how to beat Joe Calzaghe.

[Althugz]

Hopkins didn't have the skillset to deal with Calzaghe? You wouldn't have known it from the judges' cards or the knockdown. You're kind of moving the goalposts a bit when you talk about Ward/Kessler and Calzaghe/Hopkins. You say that Calzaghe/Hopkins "wasn't clean, but it was decisive." Well, Ward/Kessler, even if it wasn't clean, was decisive.

At a comparable age, there's no contest in their resumes; Ward has it all over Calzaghe. He's beaten the Ring Magazine #2, 3, 5, and 9. Calzaghe's level of competition at the same age pales in comparison. Calzaghe's resume was made in the later years. We'll have to see what Ward does in the next 10 years. That doesn't mean that a 27 year old Ward would beat a 27 year old Calzaghe; but he's certainly demonstrated his clear superiority over more of the top 168-pounders than Calzaghe did at this stage.

Joe Calzaghe fought decent opposition during his career.

Wow..just wow..