Marciano - 49 - 0 - 0 Calzaghe - 46 - 0 - 0 Marciano defeated ATG black fan favourite fighters - Joe Louis, Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles Calzaghe defeated ATG black fan favourite fighters - Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr What are your thoughts on this comparsion? And as a little side game, list 10 discrediting excuses to why these two fighters were undefeated, and defeated these legends who are so many leagues above them.
In all fairness, Marciano beat the better opponents. Ezzard Charles (x2) (past best weight but clearly still capable, as evident in both fights with Marciano) Joe Louis (shot. Still useful but clearly not anywhere near approaching his best) Roland LaStarza (x2) (I don't know enough about LaStarza, but he looked good in the 2nd Marciano fight, which I watched recently. I believe he is a HoFer so that makes him a viable 'top opponent' IMO) Jersey Joe Walcott (x2) (The 2nd fight is a bit odd. Still not sure of the circumstances around that one.) Archie Moore (Past his best but went on to be competitive with the next two generations of Heavys and was quite obviously a top ten P4P ATG whos talent transcended weight divisions and age) Calzaghe has B-Hop (very debatable) Jones (in worse shape than the ATG's Rocky beat, considering how his physical state went hand in hand with his ability to perform at a decent level) Lacy (good dominant win but who is Lacy!??!About a good a win as Zarates over Batista :deal) Reid: Decent title holder, close fight. Kessler: Again, decent title holder, was undefeated and in his prime (from what I can gather) when Calzaghe outpointed him. Showed his worth in the first four rounds until Calzaghe made some adjustments. So in short, if we take the top five opponents of each fighter; I think its clear to see Marciano had the better resume. People say that he might not have retired undefeated A) if he'd fought Valdez (Moore beat Valdez, earning the shot off the top of my head) B) If he'd stuck around for Patterson (not certain that's the case, styleswise I'd favour The Rock to beat Floyd) Calzaghe is given stick for only fighting older fighters, but B-Hop is obviously still a quality operator. They cancelled each other out to a degree, so it's not a great win by any means. However, Calzaghe can be credited with pushing an ATG fighter, still very much in touch with all his senses, a very difficult and tricky fight. If we're comparing the two? Marciano probably between 70-80 on my lsit. Can't see Calzaghe making the top 100.
Another thing though; was Kessler wrapping his hands illegally? In the Super Six preview footage Wards team were very unhappy with the way Kesslers trainer was wrapping his hands. I still think it was a bloody good win for Calzaghe regardless. As good as Contehs wins over Ahumada or Lopez? Not IMO:good
They were unhappy maybe but it would have been illegal Kessler would have been suspended, wouldn't he?
No he didnt, he injured it a few weeks before the fight and layed off sparing/heavybag etc to have it ready coming into the fight. He injured it again worse after that. Joes hands would have been way worse than Kesslers in that fight
He broke it three weeks before the fight. He didn't spar or do bagwork for the fight. Do you think the hand was healed by fight time? Don't you think the lack of sparring and bagwork influenced his performance? I don' play Calzaghe's win down. Kessler was undefeated, held two belt and went on with the fight despite the injury. He looked good for the first few rounds. I don't think he would have beaten Joe C. without the injury. But it has to be considered.
I have a friend who chatted to Kessler and asked about his hand and he said it was injured but wasnt broken, according to kessler a break showed up on the x-ray sometime after the fight. I think his trainer was the 1 talking about a break prior to the fight, was it an excuse? Yes a lack of sparring/bagwork may affect his sharpness
Calzaghe has his legion of fans and he does have that clean record. I'd like to know why he chose to follow the WBO path to greatness for so many years. Check out the names that organization approved as solid competition. Sure, Calzaghe defeated Jeff Lacy but the argument could be made that he was green. Personally, I believe it to be a great win, as was the Kessler win. The Hopkins win was less than convincing and very iffy, but then so was Bernard's win over Winky Wright....and nobody really points to that much these days. The Jones win? Less than what it really ought to be ...... or is so often made out to be given the comparative career points of both men. Calzaghe deserves some credit for it....as does Father Time, Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver....if you get my drift. Is Joe Calzaghe a fighter with a solid body of work against great fighters? Not according to history....but arguments can always be made if you like the way Joe part's his hair.