Enzo Calzaghe: Underrated or Overrated?

Discussion in 'British Boxing Forum' started by wrimc, Jun 17, 2011.


Page 1 of 3
  1. wrimc

    wrimc Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,495
    3
    Oct 16, 2009
    I think now that it has been a few years since Enzo stopped training fighters its might be worth looking back at what he achieved and try to assess his ability as a trainer.

    Opinion has swung over the past few years back and forth. During the tail end of Joe's career Enzo was hailed as Britains best trainer and won The Ring's trainer of the year award in 2007. Macarinelli and Rees also held world titles and Lockett would go on to challenge for one against Pavlik. He also coached Bradley Pryce to a commonwealth title.

    After Joe's retirement and the aforementioned fighters all losing their titles or shots subsequently people revised their opinion and claimed that it was Joe's natural athleticism and boxing IQ rather than Enzo which led to world titles and that many of his training methods were outdated.

    Since however Nathan Cleverly who spent the vast majority of his younger career with Enzo has gone on to win a world title and is also trained by his father who must have learnt a lot from Enzo. Rees has also gone on with Lockett now a trainer to become Euro champion

    Is Enzo overrated or underrated as a trainer. How do you explain the density of champions at his gym during his tenure there and would any of his fighters have achieved more if they had a different trainer?
     
    wrimc, Jun 17, 2011
    wrimc, Jun 17, 2011
    #1
  2. Dan684

    Dan684 Dave's Stepdad Full Member

    17,612
    3
    Feb 19, 2009
    Overated ginger wanker :deal

    /thread
     
    Dan684, Jun 17, 2011
    Dan684, Jun 17, 2011
    #2
  3. Joan_Guzman

    Joan_Guzman Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,244
    0
    Apr 3, 2010
    Very overrated
     
    Joan_Guzman, Jun 17, 2011
    Joan_Guzman, Jun 17, 2011
    #3
  4. Grant1

    Grant1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,823
    1
    Jun 13, 2007
    Ignore dumb and dumber (^) he is extremely under-rated.

    The general consensus I feel at the moment, is that he is a bit of a laughing stock and that his fighters got by on raw talent with no assistance from Enzo.

    Blatantly not true.
     
    Grant1, Jun 17, 2011
    Grant1, Jun 17, 2011
    #4
  5. punk

    punk Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,112
    7
    May 23, 2009
    He is rated just fine. He's had a lot of success
     
    punk, Jun 17, 2011
    punk, Jun 17, 2011
    #5
  6. RedDragonBoxing

    RedDragonBoxing Ametuer Boxer Full Member

    3,094
    0
    Feb 7, 2009
    I think he is what he is.

    No Boxing Background and only gets into boxing when he starts training his son.

    Trains Joe Calzaghe - ATG World Champion
    Trains Enzo Maccarinelli - World Champion
    Trains Gavin Rees - World Champion
    Trains Nathan Cleverly - World Champion

    Hes not the greatest trainer in the world and is very sub par but for him to Lead 4 fighters to a world championship is an achievement and he must have done somethign right
     
    RedDragonBoxing, Jun 17, 2011
    RedDragonBoxing, Jun 17, 2011
    #6
  7. unorthodox

    unorthodox Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,821
    0
    Mar 20, 2009
    if enzo macs fall from grace wasnt so spectacular, i dont think this would even be a topic for discussion...
     
    unorthodox, Jun 17, 2011
    unorthodox, Jun 17, 2011
    #7
  8. Flomo Joe

    Flomo Joe Guest

    I think as a trainer he was really good.

    All his fighters turned up in good shape and never seemed to run out of steam.

    As a cornerman/tactician he was pretty average, let's be honest. His fighters seemed to get by as much on instinct than advice, which tended to be ''hit him more often and harder than he hits you''.

    Still better than Vince Cleverly though.
     
    Flomo Joe, Jun 17, 2011
    Flomo Joe, Jun 17, 2011
    #8
  9. ScubaSteve

    ScubaSteve Dwylo o Garreg Full Member

    3,128
    0
    Nov 17, 2010
    I know, from fighters that train at the gym, that Enzo concentrates mainly on fitness and is considered to be a great motivator but isn't especially good at tactics etc.

    Enzo used to be really good at motivating Joe, and his other fighters, throughout training and in the corner - but Joe used to work on his own tactics for his fights with little input from Enzo.
     
    ScubaSteve, Jun 17, 2011
    ScubaSteve, Jun 17, 2011
    #9
  10. ScubaSteve

    ScubaSteve Dwylo o Garreg Full Member

    3,128
    0
    Nov 17, 2010
    :deal
     
    ScubaSteve, Jun 17, 2011
    ScubaSteve, Jun 17, 2011
    #10
  11. wrimc

    wrimc Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,495
    3
    Oct 16, 2009
    I agree with the tactician side of things. It all seemed to be a lot of shouting and screaming at the fighter not too much constructive usable advice.

    Part of me thinks he is underrated he must have been doing something right after all and considering he had no boxing background he seemed to do fine. the other part of me wonders if having an ATG in a gym and a number of decent fighters fosters an environment that all of a sudden makes the other fighters perform to a expceptional level because they are all in the same place pushing each other. As opposed to a Rees training on his own who might not have got past British level. :think
     
    wrimc, Jun 17, 2011
    wrimc, Jun 17, 2011
    #11
  12. modestbiggles

    modestbiggles Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,406
    0
    Dec 8, 2008
    He was over rated a few years ago (2007 ish)

    He is under rated now

    His achievements for that 18 month period when he had all those champions in the gym were extremely impressive.
     
    modestbiggles, Jun 17, 2011
    modestbiggles, Jun 17, 2011
    #12
  13. stittyb

    stittyb Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,549
    377
    Oct 9, 2008
    I think currently he is under-rated. You have to put his fall from grace into perspective; Ree's was too small for the weight, personally not a very motivated person (diet wise) who has admitted that outside of the gym he is his own worst enemy, he lost against a fighter who is an olympic silver medalist, physically very strong, gone on to achieve a lot and who on the night would not be denied.

    Enzo Mac lost to David Haye (no shame there) and subsequently lost his confidence. Most of his recent fights he was doing well in until he walked into absolute sledgehammer punches, punches that near broke his neck. The corner can't help that.

    Bradely Pryce has always been hit an miss and Gary Lockett never should have been in with an in form Pavlik anyway. Plus, Lockett probably learnt all he knows from Enzo Calzaghe and he's doing alright for himself in the training side of things.

    As a conditioner, he must have been great, I agree that as a tactician he probably left a lot to be desired, but he was over all a very good trainer.
     
    stittyb, Jun 17, 2011
    stittyb, Jun 17, 2011
    #13
  14. Joan_Guzman

    Joan_Guzman Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,244
    0
    Apr 3, 2010
    This content is protected
     
    Joan_Guzman, Jun 17, 2011
    Joan_Guzman, Jun 17, 2011
    #14
  15. bailey

    bailey Loyal Member Full Member

    40,346
    3,444
    Dec 11, 2009
    Underated in my opinion (for what its worth. Not much).
    Enzos style seemed to encourage fighters to throw lots of fast combinations which seems to trouble alot of the opponents his fighters fought.
    I actually think if Enzo was training Froch, Froch would develop a bit more, as Froch would be a better fighter if he didnt keep taking his foot off the gas and backing off when he doesnt seem to notice when a fighter is hurt. I think Enzo would improve this
     
    bailey, Jun 17, 2011
    bailey, Jun 17, 2011
    #15
Page 1 of 3