When was Joe Calzaghe's Prime?

[Tysonbruno]

Did he have one?

[ross]

Did he have one

[TheMacMagician]

If people don't think Calzaghe had a prime then you must not have watched him fight enough. The Eubank performance was brilliant, an absolute demolition of Lacy, a schooling of kessler into the championship rounds and also a good performance against an absolute legend in Hopkins. He landed more shots on Hopkins than anyone else had ever managed to in Hopkins whole career. The only thing Joe lacked is more fights overseas....

[paddy448]

i remember seeing an interview with joe about a year or so ago saying that the calzaghe of today would wipe the floor with the calzaghe of old, i think pysically he could of gone on for a few more years but he said that his hungers was starting to go, and thats when u no u should stop fighting

[JazMerkin]

I think the Calzaghe of the last 2-3 years was him at his best, he is a smart guy & has hopefully bowed out before he deteriorates

[leftylee]

I can't really say when Calzaghe's prime was.

It was always the case of the bigger and better the opponent, the better he boxed. And he proved that time and time again.

[Tins06]

It's so hard to place cos he had a few consistancy probelms for whatever reasons.different tools for different times, early in the career he had with his volume punching,later still had the pace,had bad problems, but better boxing and great combination punching.

But the best example of Calzaghe for me is Kessler, that's the best calzaghe.All his experience and fitness.And kessler still felt the shots. "If he slaps,he slaps hard" how many times have you heard that?

[Pugilistic]

Calzaghe's prime is like Hopkins prime.

Very hard to pick out where he was at his best.

I personally think he was at his best around 2002-2003.

[Violent Demise]

I say in the early 2000's. That Calzaghe was unstoppable. And he proved it. It was during that time that he went through this murderous roll of fighters. Mario Veit, Will McIntyre, Miguel Jimenez, Tocker Pudwill and the serviceable 8 loss having Charles Brewer.

[Britkid]

Did he have one?

Well arguably no, as he was that consistent!

But if pushed, I would say Joe peaked the night he beat Lacy. I think people sometimes forget how hot Lacy was going into that bout, and yet Calzaghe absolutely dominated, in a manner that I doubt even Joe's biggest fan would of called.

[Quinito]

When he fought Lacy.

[AGM]

He may have hit harder when he was younger but I'd have to put his prime at Lacy-retirement mainly because I don't think even he realised how good he was until the Lacy performance. I remember him saying how he didn't sleep the night before the Lacy fight, which was the first time he was ever like that pre-fight. Also, his whole personality and demeanour changed after that victory... He believed he was unbeatable from that point on imo.

[WelshDevilRob]

Hard to tell as his career suffered at times due to injuries that sidelined rather than him gaining momentum.

I prefer his performance over Lacy to Kessler as he was punching with authority in the fight while against Kessler he didn't have the power and only through really solid shots when going for the body.

The Kessler fight while a great win signalled the decline of Joe - he was slightly passed his best that night and his hands were gone.

Possibly 2000 onwards was his prime from the Sheika fight to the Lacy fight but still at times he was sidetracked by hand injuries - also an ankle injury.

Great fighter and I agree with many like Master, Fenster, Tins and Ross regarding the physical and mental (experience) primes. Lennox Lewis is another who it is hard to pinpoint a prime.

[Dark Lord Al]

Hard to tell as his career suffered at times due to injuries that sidelined rather than him gaining momentum.

I prefer his performance over Lacy to Kessler as he was punching with authority in the fight while against Kessler he didn't have the power and only through really solid shots when going for the body.

The Kessler fight while a great win signalled the decline of Joe - he was slightly passed his best that night and his hands were gone.

Possibly 2000 onwards was his prime from the Sheika fight to the Lacy fight but still at times he was sidetracked by hand injuries - also an ankle injury.

Great fighter and I agree with many like Master, Fenster, Tins and Ross regarding the physical and mental (experience) primes. Lennox Lewis is another who it is hard to pinpoint a prime.

Rob the reason i went for his fight with Eubank , was although beating Kessler etc , he won big. When he fought Eubank his delivery of his punches was much better, he got so much leverage and shoulder into his shots , also his body shape and foot positioning was much better. In later fights he became an arm puncher ( a very good one i may add ) but he was awkward and not to good for the boxing purist to watch.