Beterbiev vs Joe Calzaghe

Calzaghe was far quicker than anybody Beterbiev has fought and Smith was landing on Beterbiev a lot, I think Calzahe would outpoint Beterbiev with constant fast combos, Beterbiev tends to shell up and not punch back when he is attacked, Calghe was a better counter puncher.

 

It's close to a 50 -50.

Maybe very slight edge to Beterbiev..

When Calzaghe faced undefeated Lacy (21-0-0, 18 KOs), most pundits an easy KO victory for the American.

Instead, Jeff got completely destroyed, and a host of commentators then decided he had been overrated and was never that good to begin with.

Calzaghe had an insane workmate that very few could deal with, and a very solid chin.

He would be, by a good measure, Beterbiev's best win.

 

Would not call Calzaghe his best win. That would be Gvozdyk. I would rate Calzaghe higher than Gvozdyk all time p4p, but one man was THE Lightheavyweight champion of the world. Whereas Calzaghe was the champion at 168 pounds (a weight below Beterbiev) and an alphabet titlist at 175. I'll take a legitimate LHW champion who lifted the LHW championship off the man over a 168 pounder.

 

Beterbiev vs Zaggers is an interesting matchup - and I think Joe's tendency to get into a tear up would be his undoing here.

Additionally, I think Beterbievs granite noggin would cause huge problem's for Joe's brittle hands.

On the flipside, JC has workrate, angles, adaptability, IQ and stamina that could - maybe - allow for him to potshot and flurry his way to a points decision.

But Artur is excellent at cutting off the ring and although Zags was never really close to being stopped at any point in his career, AB would be a ggod candidate to be able to pull that off.

In terms of the weights and size, I think that is being a bit overblown - Calzaghe was a big super middle who probably should have went to 175 earlier - he boiled down to 168 for a long time - height and reach are practically identical

 

Beterbiev is bigger than Calzaghe. In any case, Calzaghe was never a champion at 175. Just an alphabet belt holder.

 

This is always the funniest hypo when it comes up. I would bet my house, my friends, my own life on Beterbiev by KO. Let's review: Calslappy fought at 168 for the then irrelevant WBO title for a decade (getting knocked down by cab drivers a few times in the process). Then he went to the US to fight two old American legends who were in their 40's and were outside of the weights they were legendary in (again, getting knocked down each time). This fight is a complete and utter disaster for "Super" (LOL) Joe.

Calzaghe's entire resume hangs on Mediocre Mikkel and, get this, a PROSPECT who went on to do nothing.

This is the guy who will beat the former amateur star, 20-0 (20 KO) unified LHW champion who the other champ appears to be ducking? Not no, but **** no.

Watch Calzaghe fight. Think about how this would actually go. Please. You Calslappy fanatics have always gone too far, but this is beyond stupid.

 

I think you'd be surprised there - Zags was a big super middle - 6ft - maybe a half inch taller than Artur, with the same reach. He was leaner of course from all the boiling down to 168. Zags walked around at like 180-85 IIRC

 

For the record, a prime Gvozdyk would DESTROY Calzaghe and his entire resume. Think about it.

 

As he should. Gvozdyk was THE Lightheavyweight champion of the world.

 

And Beterbiev went life and death with Anthony Yarde who lost to Lyndon Arthur ffs

swings and roundabouts

 

With zero heart in the early 2000s.

He pulled out of lots of fights.

He even wanted to pull out of the Lacy fight until his dad slapped some sense into him and told him this was his last chance at the big time.

He rarely sparred.

He had confidence issues and finally found courage after the Lacy beat down and the Kessler fight at Cardiff Stadium (I was at that fight).

Then he benefited from some GREAT matchmaking against Peter "bent nose" Manfredo Jr and Sakio "I sleep with fat ugly women for a VISA" Bika where looked like an superstar

Finally, he cemented himself as a British ATG when he climbed off the canvas to beat ancient Hopkins (before he started his regimen of Mackie Shilstone PEDs) and a Roy Jones Jr who had his bell rung more times than a church tower.

Calzaghe's PEAK was when he had confidence issues but his legacy is defined by RJJ and BHop.

Imagine, an old RJJ and BHop could put him down in the first round, what would Beterbiev do?

Calslappy's sh*t would be pushed back in. Assuming he ever found the courage to sign the contract.

 

Winning almost every round, dropping and stopping your opponent = life and death? Yarde got outclassed and beat up. He will never be the same. Rewatch the fight.

 

I'd go with Calzaghe with a Jeff Lacy type of performance.

 

Calzaghe decisioned a prospect at 168 which means he can decision a unified champ at 175 who has a 100% KO ratio and is a former amateur star. Good breakdown.