Prime for prime - Roy Jones v. Joe Calzaghe

Roy wasn't the GOAT, but he had GOAT level talent when motivated. Joe didn't. Don't think Joe would have much of a chance

 

Roy wins a clear decision

 

If an old past it Jones can drop him in the first round, well it's scary to think what a prime One does..

 

I always thought this is a much closer fight than the consensus suggests. Calzaghe had a lot of assets that trouble fighters namely his southpaw stance, his unusually high workrate for the weight class, his angles and his supreme toughness and confidence (lets not forget it was a forearm to the face that dropped him in the Jones fight)

I still favour RJJ but this would be a fight make no mistake. Joes jab and footwork are very underrated in boxing circles. At 168 he'd give anyone a tough night

 

I think we're just talking different levels of fighter here. Calzaghe was one of the better fighters of his own time - but Jones was one of the greatest fighters of all time. Calzaghe's finest achievements were perhaps shellacking Lacy and winning a solid 8-4, maybe 9-3 at a stretch kind of decision against Kessler. Jones shellacked fighters of a higher calibre than Lacy consistently throughout his career, and if he'd 'only' have beaten someone like Kessler 8-4 or even 9-3 in rounds it would probably have been deemed a bit of an underwhelming night for him.

Yes, Calzaghe had immense work rate but that's not going to be enough against Jones. The problem is, Jones was so incredibly dominant during his peak years that there's nothing that really looks like a half-decent blue print for how to beat him. At best, you could maybe look to the first Griffin fight, maybe Harding to a lesser extent, who mixed the distance, took turns initiating and then looking to counter, being defensively responsible etc. None of those were a strength of Calzaghe's. Joe was no inside fighter either so it's not as if he's going to muscle Jones or look to nullify him.

Calzaghe was always courageous and willing to let his hands go in those mid-range exchanges, but I think that might be his undoing here. He's too hittable and, for the only time in his life, would be facing someone with quicker hands (though less industry) than himself. I see Jones winning a wide decision although I wouldn't totally rule out a stoppage.

 

Roy Jones has a very good track record against southpaws ....mainly because he doesn’t jab

 

Roy Jones ....maybe he’d stop him

 

Jones has a very good track record against everybody haha. I think he'd win this fight but Calzaghe has the ability to throw off his rhythm and make him work. Calzaghe isn't as hittable as people think when the time calls for it. He's displayed excellent boxing skills and above average defensive skill at times during his career. Don't sleep on Joe in this fight.

I think a decent reference for this fight may be Mayweather- De La Hoya....one guy clearly doing all the work and making the other uncomfortable but the harder, cleaner blows coming from the other side (Jones)

 

Joe didn’t have the confidence or the defence to have beaten Roy in his prime.

 

Roy wins however and whenever he wants to

 

This.

 

People think Jones would blow him out but I disagree. Calzaghe would give RJJ all he could handle even in his prime. He's probably the guy that's closest to matching Jones' speed and he's got a definite workrate edge. Stylistically he's problematic for RJJ. If Jones won it would be after a very stiff battle.

 

If there's one thing Calzaghe has in spades, it's definitely confidence

Not saying he'd win, but I'm not sure I see how confidence comes into the equation for either fighter