When was Joe Calzaghe's Prime?

[BIG H]

Was it as early as Eubank, when he was still a big puncher?

Was it against Lacy?

Was it against Kessler?

Or some other time?

[OumaFan]

I don't think Eubank, he got smarter, more refined that stuff.

Its hard to tell, really you could have a similar argument about Hopkins in that was his prime his athletic peak or maybe later when he was a bit smarter.

Also a bit hard to tell with Calzaghe in that he could stink it up a bit when he wasn't worried about a guy he was fighting, looked real good against guys like Lacy and Kessler obviously but also Brewer, Veit (I guess he got up for Veit) but pretty crappy other times against Salem, a few other guys, even Mitchell.

So basically I guess I don't know. I would suspect sometime in his early to mid thirties, he hadn't lost the physical ability and you have to assume he got smarter, more experienced.

[BIG H]

He had a 3 year period where his head was not right (going through a really messy divorce and losing a fortune) and he did have some pretty poor performances.

His best performance was undoubtedly Lacy for me, but I don't think that he was in his prime at that point

[Fenster]

I've come to believe prime is rubbish in most cases.

No fighter should be labled "past his prime" unless he is showing a consistent obvious deterioration in performance.

All Cazlaghe critics, and many of his fans, say he beat a "past his prime" Hopkins, yet Hopkins recorded TWO of his greatest wins immediately before the fight and by his own admission his GREATEST perfomance after it.

As Ouma said (sort of), physical prime and mental prime occur at different times, so what is better, when you have two solid hands or a clearer/calmer/smarter/experienced head?

[ross]

Joes best performance and the one that means the most for his legacy is the Kessler fight, he proved he was still top of his game at 35 against a unifie, undefeated, younger and very well regarded fighter, he also showed very good skills by adjusting, he took some big flush shots and fired back, he also had Kessler hurt, the fight had everything that proved how good Joe was, listen to teward commentating on it and he gushes with praise for Joe and calls him a "fighting machine".

It doesnt matter what part of Calzaghes reign you fight him, he is an irresistable force

The younger version could overwhelm you with hurtfull combinations, the older version could box your head off and outwork you.

[Master]

Joe had two good healthy hands when he beat Eubanks and would have wiped Collins out at that time. However he was inexperienced and was tired after round 4. He was more experienced when he fought Kessler and Lacy but not as hurtful a puncher. He was crap during his fights with Starie because he had an elbow injury but livened up when he blasted Sheika.So the answer is don't really know.

[ross]

The thing I find so special about Joe is he has maintained the desire to be the best and has kept the work ethic to boot, he has been very consistant.

I you were watching his match with Starie or Salem would you believe that his best days were yet to come?

[Tysonbruno]

Did he have one?

[ross]

Did he have one

[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.

[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?