Joe Calzaghe vs Tommy Hearns at 168

Gee tough to call. One's an incredible puncher that feared no one and fought a bunch of greats in their prime, the other managed to rule an ice rink without facing a single great prime fighter. One was known as the Hitman. The other got dropped by Kabary Hands Of Stone Salem and Bryan Sugar Mitchell, struggled with David Marvelous Starie and Robin QuickSilver Reid, and got dropped easily by two 40 year olds far far past their best.atsch

 

Pretty much!:yep

 

Slappy joe wouldn't even fight Kelly Pavlik, and this poster wants to imagine Slappy fighting this guy:
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[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZdLJAYzV9M[/ame]
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Would NEVER happen!

 

Pretty one - sided analysis. This isn't about greatness, it's H2H. One was KO'ed at 147, the other never at 168 - 175. One never lost a fight, the other was KO'ed twice by the average Barkley. One had a suspect chin, the other reacted to being hit hard or knocked down with aggressive return fire every time. So what Joe got knocked down? He always was up by 2 and went back to swarming his opponent.

Hearns was a good but not a great puncher at 168. His greatest work was at 147 - 154. Whom did Hearns beat there that Joe wouldn't beat? I would rate Barkley as not any better than Kessler and look what he did to Hearns twice.

 

I'd pick Calzaghe, it's his best weight, it was not Hearns best weight by a long way.

 

Even though its Calzaghes weight class, Hearns would be too good for him.

Hearns by KO for me.

 

:roflatsch

 

Hearns by a bruttal TKO (2-3 KDs in a round) mid rounds.

JC slapping is not going to be enough to keep Hearns from respecting him. Hearns will plant his feet and drive an over the top right all night.

 

Christ I think I might've wandered on to the gf by mistake!:admin

While I'm here, you can't argue with class and a vicious right hand so my gut tells me Hearns will take this. But to those people saying its a forgone conclusion remember that Hearns was often pretty shakey from 160 lbs and up. Barkley beat him twice and Kinchen and Roldan hurt him badly at times. The pretty ordinairy Michael Olajadide went the distance with him as did the brave but all too hitable DeWitt. So let's not pretend that Hearns was some kind of H2H beast at these weights. Really its an excellent match up that I'd narrowly favour Hearns on points.

 

While this would not be Hearns' prime weight, he's still head and shoulders above Calzaghe in every measurable way. Hearns all the way.

 

Good post. The only thing I'd add is that Calzaghe was not a puncher and most of the guys you listed were punchers. I think Hearns takes this one.

 

hearns has a disgraceful chin:dead

calzaghe is as durable as they come :deal

calzaghe survives an early onslaught to stop hearns round 11 :deal

calzaghe slayed americans throughout his whole career, the boogie woogie comes out in round 8 :hammertime

its irrefutable :tong

 

Let's see a guy who is a sucker for the right hand against one of the biggest right hand punchers of all time.

Hearns by KO for me.

 

:yep