Who has Beterbiev fought? This was like the same question and consensus between Calzaghe and Lacy before Calzaghe straight up worked Lacy.
Froch? Who lost to a faded version of Kessler coming off a loss, who when prime and undefeated lost to an end of career, last fight at SMW Calzaghe. No I dont think so
Bump. Beterbiev made a pretty big statement. I would have loved to see how Calzaghe handles a guy like Beterbiev.
People on here talk about Calzaghe as though he was the greatest of all time.... He fought TWO washed up fighters at 175lbs and now he is ATG?
Calzaghe's best weight was 168. I'm not sure how well he'd handle a popping-out-of-the-seams 175 guy like Beterbiev. As for the actual matchup, Calzaghe has a huge speed edge. Beterbiev is really slow compared to Joe. Calzaghe literally could throw three punches in the time it takes Artur to throw one. His footwork was also better. I still have not seen a fighter of Joe's weight throw as many punches and stay fast and light for the entire fight like Calzaghe. On the OTHER hand ... Artur is a smarter boxer than his brawling, mauling style would indicate. Gvodzyk was outboxing him handily for quite a while, but Artur mixed his offense up well and made sure to slip in pulverising body shots all the time. Eventually Gvodzyk simply ran out of gas and he got smashed. Would the same happen to Super Joe, despite his legendary stamina? For sure Beterbiev is as strong and hard as they come. He's got a good arsenal of punches. He'd eat Lacy for breakfast. I'll take Calzaghe on points with the caveat that I don't think he can hurt Artur, and if Beterbiev manages to slow Joe down, it's curtains for Joe.
Beterbiev would KO Calzaghe, if 43 year old Hopkins is dropping him and buckling him several times. Calzaghe would have absolutely nothing to keep him off.
It doesn't work that theory, and he weren't buckled several times, dropped once while cold, same with Jones Jnr, same with Mitchell..
joe would need to wait tilll Beefy turns 40 to win obviously. he has no other track record at LHW. Therefore Beefy smash, early KO. Calzaghe would under no circumstances take a fight with a prime top LHW nor a LHW titlist.
that was more to do with who calzghe had fought too - and that partly remains even now hes 10 years quit.
Considering each KD I've seen of Joe were flash knockdowns, or early & Hop & RJJ used a quick counter to which Joe quickly adapted and eliminated that problem until fight's end...I'd have to say no need to consider Beterbiev ...yet. If Joe could time a Hop and nullify his thinking game, simply outpace a young primed Kessler, I have no reason to consider Beterbiev on his level. What he is now is a great puncher looking to prove his worth. Can't be called a great boxer until he does so against a great or solid defender. Joe UD.