Joe Calzaghe - Modern Day Fantasy Gauntlet

If Joe Calzaghe was to run these 10 fights what would his 10 Fantasy Fight record be. Every fighter involved is the peak version of themselves.

4 Fights 168lbs
4 Fights 175lbs
2 catchweight

1. Joe Calzaghe vs GGG - 168lbs​
2. Joe Calzaghe vs Saul Canelo Alvarez - 168lbs​
3. Joe Calzaghe vs Carl Froch - 168lbs​
4. Joe Calzaghe vs James DeGale - 168lbs​
5. Joe Calzaghe vs Sergey Kovalev - 175lbs​
6. Joe Calzaghe vs Artur Beterbiev - 175lbs​
7. Joe Calzaghe vs Dmitry Bivol - 175lbs​
8. Joe Calzaghe vs Andre Ward - 175lbs​
9. Joe Calzaghe vs Mairis Breidis - 185-188lb Catchweight​
10. Joe Calzaghe vs - Marco Huck 185-188lb Catchweight
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Joe Calzaghe vs GGG
1. Although GGG werent a 168lber, i think he could easily have adjusted to be just as a effective. Both have good volume over 12 rounds. Ill give Joe the benefit and say he will survive.
Result: Joe Calzaghe via Split Decision
Calzaghe 115-113 GGG 115-113 Calzaghe 116-112
1-0-0


Joe Calzaghe vs Saul Canelo Alvarez
2. I think Calzaghe is all wrong for Canelo. Too active with the output.
Result: Joe Calzaghe via Unanimous Decision
Calzaghe 117-111 Calzaghe 118-110 Calzaghe 116-112
2-0-0

Joe Calzaghe vs Carl Froch
3. Carl had a great career, out of his depth against Calzaghe.
Result: Joe Calzaghe via Unanimous Decision
Calzaghe 118-110 Calzaghe 118-110 Calzaghe 117-111
3-0-0

Joe Calzaghe vs James DeGale
4. I think James would do well 1-6, pick up some rounds, back end of the fight i see Calzaghe just absolutely outworking the balls off him maybe forcing a referee stoppage of a gassed DeGale.
Result: Joe Calzaghe via TKO 11
4-0-0

Joe Calzaghe vs Sergey Kovalev
5. Easy to forget how good a peak Kovalev was. I think Sergey would have him down once or twice in the first 4 or 5 rounds. Joe recovers to takeover as the fight goes on and Kovalev starts to fade with Joes activity. Controversial result.
Result: Joe Calzaghe via Split Decision
Calzaghe 114-112 Kovalev 116-110 Calzaghe 114-112
5-0-0

Joe Calzaghe vs Artur Beterbiev
6. Joe moves around well, until he doesnt.
Result: Artur Beterbiev via KO 4
5-1-0

Joe Calzaghe vs Dmitry Bivol
7. I think Calzaghe would try to overwhelm Bivol and have success for maybe the first 4-5 rounds, eventually Bivols timing and counter shots take over. Could see a 115-113 scorecard either way being acceptable. Draw wouldnt shock me either.
Result: SPLIT DRAW
115-113 Bivol 115-113 Calzaghe 114-114 Draw
5-1-1

Joe Calzaghe vs Andre Ward
8. Similar fight to Bivol, much more tactical, however id favour Ward to figure him out by the mid rounds and pull away late on.
Result: Andre Ward via Unanimous Decision
116-112 Ward 117-111 Ward 116-112 Ward
5-2-1

Joe Calzaghe vs Mairus Breidis
9. Manages to avoid the big shots of Breidis. outworks him to see the final bell but will find himself in a few sticky situations late on.
Result: Joe Calzaghe Unanimous Decision
117-111 Calzaghe 118-110 Calzaghe 116-112 Calzaghe
6-2-1

Joe Calzaghe vs Marco Huck
10. Again i think Huck would have some moments, ultimately his footwork an the speed of Calzaghe would be his downfall.
Result: Joe Calzaghe via Unanimous Decision
Calzaghe 116-112 Calzaghe 116-112 Calzaghe 118-110
7-2-1​

 

Gave my breakdown above mate, i could very much see your 4-6. I was very close to giving it a Kovalev KO also. I think the two catchweight fights he would come through, i think the weight alone would favour him more than it would favour the Cruiserweights.

I ended with 7-2-1, 6-3-1 if i pick the Kovalev KO, could very easily be 5-4-0 if i give the decision to Bivol. The thing for me with Calzaghe is the output and energy is so high, i think it would be very hard to outpoint him over 12 rounds. Agree with the 168lb fights though, although it was hard not to pick a GGG KO.

 

I think the scales beat Breidis and Huck at 185lb catchweight

 

This is how i got my verdict. For that very reason. I think Calzaghe outworks him for a lot of the opening rounds but the timing adjustments brings Bivol into the fight. I gave it a draw or someone just edging it. A rematch id favour Bivol.