That it was a controversial win over an over-the-hill Hopkins is the false narrative when it was a masterclass how to take Nard's weapons away, something no one really did before. Watch from 12th round to 1st in reverse order and you'll see 8 rounds of completely ineffective Nard. That's what Calzaghe always did vs. boxers and boxer-punchers (Kessler, Lacy), stared at the fire (sometimes got bloodied) then put it out by smart tactics, adaptability, elusiveness, speed and high output which is exactly why I think he clearly beats Canelo cause Joe is just all wrong for him. The right narrative is that Calzaghe beat a late-prime Hopkins at his own game while moving up in weight, the same Hopkins that made a complete fool out of Pavlik a few months later when everyone incl. probably you picked Kelly to win. I picked Hopkins BTW.
jermain taylor did it while hopkins was still the MW king...twice. there's no "false narrative" around the fact that hopkins was already dethroned, into his forties, past prime and the calzaghe fight was his third loss in five fights. saying that "calzaghe always did (that) vs. boxers and boxer-punchers" has a lot to do with never fighting a great fighter in their prime. anyway you spin it, joe's best win against a fighter in their prime was kessler, and his best win was against a 42/43 year old man, after 46 fights. the right narrative is not calling hopkins "late prime" - nobody's in their prime on any level in boxing at that age, but he was still a very good fighter.
but that's what happens when the quality of your opponents is consistently of higher quality, you face stiffer challenges and are tested more. again, i agree with a lot of the rest of your post. i don't doubt calzaghe's quality, only his unwillingness to test it at the highest level.
no he hasn't, but calzaghe never fought the quality of opposition that has put canelo on top of the world.
Calzaghe wins because of output and his cardio. Canelo usually comes at you in the later rounds but Calzaghe doesn't slow down
Most decent Middleweight Champions and Super Middleweight champions would beat Lil G. Super Joe Calzaghe would dominate GGG/Lil G or whatever he calls himself.
This is geting daft, Calzaghe pickers, if you switched their resumes and it was Joe Calzaghe who went up four divisions winning and unifying world titles, yet Canelo only unified for one fight in one division..then you'd pick Canelo instead?
