Joe Calzaghe vs Sergey Kovalev

Someone already mentioned it, Kessler vs Calzaghe. kessler beat him the first half of the fight, and the calzaghe showed his class speed and workrate. difference here is, Sergey KRUSHER Kovalev is just a little more deadly a little more powerful and alot bigger than kessler. Prime Kessler gave Calzaghe a very good fight at 168lbs/ So when was Zags prime, before that? when his hands were right and he could bang a bit, Byron mitchell fight, the schooling of lazy? the close fight with reid? All done at 168lbs. As an Honest Fan Sergey KRUSHER Kovalev, i cant see him losing to 168lber who dont punch hard. Remember Sergey Kovalev is A monster LHW. 187lbs he weighed vs Hopkins. Also Kovalev kept Bernard at length, i dont know the reach difference here but, Calzaghe would have to work closer, to stifle Kovalevs work. Kovalevs punches at full extension sting like hell, body shots jabs. etc. Im not saying its impossible for Joe to win, he was so fast, and he can offput kovalev with speedy cuffing shots. But Sergey kovalev will grab and hold, and if its outside fighting. Kovalev will take the body out and the speed will go, and Getting Kovalevs punches will slow anyone down, He knocks people out with jabs.

 

welsh ref will need to carry joe out the ring like he did with clev.

 

Joe has the adjustments
The work rate
Hits harder than anyone gives him credit for

Beat a much much better version of hopkins

Has great recovery even if dropped

And nothing in Kovalev suggests he can ko calz who never lost

Calzaghe wins decisively and then everyone calls kov a hype job

 

In order to do this fantasy fight, you'd have to pick Joe at his best, and then assume that he was fully fit at LHW, fighting to his full capabilities.

Obviously he only had two fights at LHW, but it doesn't have to be those versions of him that you put forward.

Joe could have made LHW whenever he'd have wanted to, and in an earlier era without the SMW division, he would certainly have fought at LHW.

Joe was a big guy.

His natural walking around weight was between 192-196 pounds.

He was 6ft, with a reach of 73".

So they're actually equal in size.

It's just that Joe drained himself down to SMW.

 

if its the Calzaghe at the end of his career who fought Hopkins/Jones at LHW then Kovalev would stop Joe late on, his punch resisitance was beginning to slip at this point and Kovalev would catch him sooner or later

Its a SMW prime Calzaghe then im going by a unanimous Calzaghe decision with both guys touching canvas. Calzaghe had an Iron chin in his prime when looking at the Eubank/Reid/Mitchell fights and Kovalev has been known to get sloppy technically. Overall Joes speed and work rate would match Kovalevs aggression and power not to mention the southpaw stance would play a minor but important role on stopping Kovalev from getting in as easy as he has against other opponents.

 

Well i do think a 168lb Joe Calzaghe is a great fighter, I dont think a 175lb Joe calzaghe is the same.trying to Punch above his weight, and dealing with bigger guys, size is a consideration, u lose goods when you guy up. I wouldnt say they were the same size based on height and reach, Kovalev looks more dense and solid.

 

Calzaghe likes to win fight by throwing fast combos that doesn't even land flush, and without any sort of power. By pure workrate alone, he can win rounds despite the other fighter landing few but more meaningful punches.

Hopkins should have been the victor in their fight. He knocked down Joe and staggered him in the 7th round. He landed by the far the more meaningful punches. Joe slipped fast punches (often hitting nothing) and two judges awarded him the victory just by this kind of workrate.

Kovalev isn't phased by this style of fighting. He would knock Joe down in the first round, and if he pressed it, could knock him out with a followup flurry.



Just look at this picture and imagine it was a hungry Kovalev in there instead of an older, more reserved Hopkins. He was even wobbly a bit from that knockdown, and we know how Kovalev finishes opponets when he has them in trouble.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_1j4OH21THOk...6f279ce1d.hopkins_calzaghe_boxing_nvib113.jpg


Kovalev KO 1 Calzgahe.

 

Eubanks threw a sloppy right hand, compared to kovalev straight right, and still put joe down. Kovalev wont be looking for flash knockdowns to win the fight however, Hes about the most aggressive fighter Joe zags would of faced. Either he sends his victims to sleep or they try and survive the distance. Hopkins did it, defensive master cautious in his shell, Agnew took a beating for trying to do it. Zags will need to be completely on the ball to last the distance, and literally steal rounds with workrate, Iron chins can be cracked by the way.

 

That's a fair post.

I appreciate that my version of Joe in this match up, has never existed, and I'm making a lot of assumptions.

But with the right conditioning, Joe could have been big at LHW.

Joe's the same height as Kov, and his reach was a bit longer.

Look at Nathan Cleverley and Tony Bellew.

With the right conditioning, Joe could have fought as high as CW, if he'd have wished too.

He used to drop an awful lot of weight to hit SMW.

Again, it's all ifs buts and maybes.

But if he'd have kept his speed, with the right physique, I think he could have been a force at LHW.

I'd like to know what Sergey's walking around weight is.

 

Kovalev by stoppage. Joe was good but very overrated.

 

This is a very good fighter vs a truly great one.
Joe is way too skillful for Kovalev. Plus Joe's chin is made of pure steel. Too much handspeed, too much workrate. 10-2 Calzaghe.

 

49 year old Hopkins. Joe is way too much for that stiff upright robot.

 

:rofl

http://bp2.blogger.com/_1j4OH21THOk...6f279ce1d.hopkins_calzaghe_boxing_nvib113.jpg

 

Kovalev by knock out Joe has been dropped by feather fisted fighters this is where his power of recovery come from being dropped by light punchers he would not recover from a. Kovalev bomb !

 

Says a guy named KovalevtheGoat. Calzaghe is the real deal, not a 49 year old man. Calzaghe is way too much. Kovalev is good, but Calzaghe is great. Case Closed.:deal