Quote Originally Posted by Primo Carnera View Post
Quote Originally Posted by ryanman View Post
Most of the fights referred to here were past Joe's prime. But either way he wins. But a past his prime Joe won't have the power to stop Froch coming forward so it will be closer.

As an aside, I often wonder how different Joe would have been as a fighter with a different trainer. I think much of his work with his dad was based on instinct rather than methodology. I think perhaps with his natural talents he could have been (even) better than he was.
I think it's swings and roundabouts as far as a different trainer goes. Yes , there are probably better/more knowledgeable trainers that Joe could've linked up with, and could probably have stretched him more and improved him, but on the other side , if you feel comfortable with somebody and don't like change too much, it can have a negative effect. for example , look at how many trainers Khan has gone through (not that Khan is in Joe's league mind you!)
I think the most telling factor wasn't so much that he was past his prime, I genuinely think he changed as a fighter when he started to get hand trouble. in his early days, he was fairly heavy handed, I mean , there aren't many who put Eubank on his ass. Although it can be said that Eubank was past his prime, his chin wasn't .
His "tippy tappy" style came when he started to have hand problems.
Absolutely. His hand problems prompted the change in style.
He had his physical prime and he had his ring generalship prime and they didn't really overlap much if at all.
Which is a shame, but then again maybe he wouldn't have ever have developed that adaptability had he not been forced to.