:nut Have you watched the actual fights ? Eubank was fighting at a much more comfortable weight vs Joe; he was much stronger, and went even further up in weight vs Thompson, which he hurt and decked multiple times. If anything, he was weaker vs Watson. And even then it was a close affair, with Watson absorbing a ton of punishment but managing to keep it close and coming strong in the later rds, when Eubank's stamina was sapped. On the contrary, Calzaghe meets Eubank head on since the first bell, had him down and nearly OUT. The look of bewilderment on Eubank's face said it all. I've never seen him wearing this desperation mask before or since. Joe dominated him in every rd; it wasn't a close affair at all. And he did it while only at 75%, as he admitted to having trouble rehydrating and sleeping before the weigh in.
Watson would have killed Calzaghe. The look of bewilderment on Joes face as he kept getting hit and downed.
Both fights were fought at super-middleweight, and Eubank was moving up at the time to fight Watson and coming down to fight Calzaghe. He lost 20lbs in seven days to face Calzaghe, having taken the fight on 11 days notice - he also had severe knee problems which required cortisol injections to even train. He couldn't do roadwork. He was on his way out. Against Watson he was on his way in. Watson met Eubank head-on and completely dominated after a few rounds of toe-to-toe action; Eubank absorbing tonnes of punishment from round 3 to round 11. On the otherhand, he totally schooled Calzaghe in the 3rd round. Calzaghe nearly had Eubank out?? He rose before the count with a huge grin on his face. No bewilderment. He was simply caught cold with a shot he didn't see. Against Watson, the facial mask was beyond desperation and into dejection. It was 5-3 after 8 rounds, Eubank clearly winning the 3rd, 7th and 8th rounds and landed a number of clean, heavy right hands in EVERY round - if Eubank was fit enough to anchor his feet (bad knees), Joe would've been taken out many times over. The 'KD' in the 10th was BS, and Joe was hanging on for dear life in the end. Watson was so much more dominant, as were Dan Schommer and Steve Collins (second fight).
Watson just would not miss with that stiff overarm right of his (that floored almost everyone he fought amateur and pro) even if he tried. He'd have definitely beaten Calzaghe by getting him in-close by cupping his gloves to the sides of forehead as he did, and timing that leaning right over at the right time after first countering in combinations for a few rounds and screwing uppercuts up the ribs.
This silly Calzaghe/Watson talk where they say look no further to the fights with Eubank, yet they forget, Calzaghe clearly beat Eubank and Watson lost to Eubank. Then look at it the other way around - When Watson fought Eubank, he had faced him already and had a game plan. Watson was an experienced fighter, having been in the ring with McCallum, Christie, Benn, Eubank, and Eubank had no SMW experience either. When Calzaghe fought Eubank he was inexperienced facing a fighter who had been in nearly 20 world title fights and had long running SMW experience. Calzaghe would have run away with any of those fights Edit People try and rewrite history, but Eubank/Watson, both fights were close competitive fights, whoever you scored for. Great fighters
The first Eubank/Watson fight wasn't close or competitive. Eubank ran away with it. Watson plodded forward flat-footed doing nothing all night and didn't deserve a rematch, and only got one because of the public outcry. Calzaghe would stand hardly any chance at all of going 12 rounds with Nigel Benn.
Calzaghe was experienced when he fought Eubank - he had 110 amateur fights and had beat the European and World pro champions in the ABAs in '93 (Catley, Francis) in fights that resembled professional bang-ups, and he fought Gary Delaney in front of a hostile crowd in a title fight and used to spar 12 rounds with world title contender Nicky Piper for years and years.
I recall thinking Eubank had done enough in the first fight, but would have to rewatch it again. Calzaghe would go the full with Benn. I dont think Benn would have gone the full with Calzaghe, prime for prime at SMW. Calzaghe was a big strong SMW. Faster than Benn, better chin, better combinations, speed and possibly strength. Dont get me wrong, I was/am a big Benn fan, but dont think theres any way he would have beaten Calzaghe at SMW
You don't give Nigel Benn of all fighters free shots with the right hand. No way Calzaghe stays stood.
Yes Calzaghe had some good amateur wins over what became good SMW fighters, but lets not confuse amateurs with pro bouts or sparring with pro fights. Look how we had an amateur with 400 fights and beaten everyone he has fought lose to a world champ in his 2nd pro fight, arguably due to lack of pro experience. You cant say Delaney was at the level of McCallum, Eubank etc.
Calzaghe often fought to the level of his comp. When fighting someone who he thought he had a fear of losing to, he stepped up and was harder to hit as often. Like when he fought Lacy compared to some other bouts. Calzaghe also had a very good chin and was never on wobbly legs having to hold to survive. You dont let prime Calzaghe have free shots either, and Benn was on wobbly legs before