Nigel Benn claims Joe Calzaghe would have beaten all four legends:

I mean, he does definitely beat Duran and Leonard. Beating Hearns isn't a huge stretch either. Hagler is the one I doubt Calzaghe beats but that's also the one where 168 is completely uncharted territory.

 

He probably would, Hagler would be a Welterweight today, Duran wouldn’t win a round, Leonard is also far too small, probably would fight at 140lbs today.

Hearns doesn’t have the durability, Calzaghe would get inside, wear him out and either stop him late or outwork him down the stretch, but I could see Hearns dropping him early.

 

Hagler would still be a 147lbs fighter.

He came in at like 157lbs on occasions, and these days they usually cut around 15lbs of water weight so they can rehydrate after the weigh in, so he’d actually be on the smaller-average side in terms of size at 147lbs.

As for Leonard, he weighed in at 147lbs on the same day with hardly any water weight cut, so he could easily cut more water weight to 140lbs considering the day of rehydration these days.

Also, Hagler and Mugabi looked a similar size to me in their fight, but even so, what do you think Calzaghe would have done to Mugabe? Calzaghe would lose a second of that fight, it could be more 1 sided than the Lacy fight.

 

"old timers"? that's kind of insulting.

 

Calzaghe was the naturally bigger man who fought at a higher weight class his entire career, so yea, he probably would have to be favored against all of them.
I disagree with many who think Hearns had a chance. Tommy wouldn't be strong enough for him. Calzaghe just kept bringing it, threw a lot of punches, and had a great chin to boot. Tommy struggled against lesser fighters and was undependable in big fights. Hearns looked good when he had guys who struggled against his height and reach, and those he could KO. Calzaghe isn't that opponent.

 

I think he beats Duran, Hagler and Ray,tho Hagler I think gives him absolute hell.
Hearns is a 50/50 one.

 

He'd be a LHW in their era, so nothing strange with favouring him over them.

 

I mean, of course?

Breaking news, Sonny Liston beats Jimmy Wilde!

 

No, he wouldn't have... sorry, I thought it was about JC beating the UK Fab 4, who were bigger in Stature than the earlier Fab 4, with the exception of Hearns, though tall, he was very lean in those years.

so, I correct myself, he would beat Duran & Hagler, maybe, but probably not Leonard or Hearns.

 

He might have beaten Duran because the vast difference in size. And Roberto didn’t start fighting anywhere near Calzaghe’s weight until he was last it. Joe might have been a tough fight for an aging Leonard who likewise was past it by the time he was at middle and above. Hearns and Hagler would have decimated Calzaghe