Say the opponent for G-Man's step up to smw was not Benn, but the Joe Calzaghe who brutally de-hyped Jeff Lacy. Two fighters with solid chins, McClellan brings raw power, Calzaghe brings blinding hand speed. How would this fight go? I think it would be a cracking match-up :bbb
Calzaghe was a sucker for right hands, McClellan has 1 of the best right hands in MW history. If ancient Hopkins/Jones can put Calzaghe down with rights and Kessler can hurt him with the right, imagine what GMAN does with his. And GMAN is going for the kill when he has his man hurt. McClellan was very fast, more skilled than Kessler who gave Calzaghe problems and hurt him GMAN KO5
Calzaghe would outpoint him 118-110, that kind of margin, if you are talking about the past prime Calzaghe who fought Lacy.
I think I would go with Calzaghe to win by decision. Calzaghe is a verry difficult fighter to outpoint and punchers are his bread and butter. Calzaghe has come up for some criticism lately, but he has a way of feeling out oponents over the course of a fight and working out their style. This is the reason why he always sweeps the later rounds. I think that McClellan would have initial sucess but Calzaghe would figure him out and ultimately win the day.
For me, 2006 Calzaghe was peak Calzaghe. JMO :good I think 118-110 is a bit wide though. If Jones and Hopkins floored Joe, G-Man definitely would have as well, at least once. Joe didn't even beat Bika as clearly as 118-110 around '06, and McClellan was a far, far superior fighter to Bika.
I like the 97 version who fought Eubank. Bika couldnt miss with his right hand could he? Butted Joe silly too
