Calzaghe and Michael Spinks

Flea, did you mean you'd favor Joe 60/40 over Conteh, or vice versa? I'd give him less chance in that one than arguably any of the others to be honest. Conteh was probably the most skilled, versatile boxer of the bunch at his best, and scarily enough we never saw him fulfill his potential.

 

no Pea, I was referring to Joe being the underdog in that one.

Conteh could box, he was a solid hitter, great heart and could take a dig too....I can't see how Conteh, who was strangely nearing the end of his prime when his first fight with Muhammad came around, could last 15 with him and put up such a great fight (although he was ****ed by the last round) yet, in a 12 rounder (we'll be fair to Joe, even though most would say he has the stamina to go 15) would lose to Calzaghe?

I can't remember Conteh having a huge problem with Southpaws, and we all know Calzaghe liked a tear-up.

Against Conteh this would be a big mistake, and if Joe tried to stick and move I feel Conteh would be too rugged for him.

 

Sweet Pea, why do you think Conteh had such a sharp decline? Do you think the first fight with Saad Muhammad took a huge amount out of him?

 

It was his out of the ring partying lifestyle and couldn't-give-a-**** attitude which caused his early decline (which started a couple of years prior to the bout with Muhammad). He had several mediocre performances prior to Muhammad which really gave insight as to the direction his career was heading if he didn't change things around. The first Muhammad fight was really his last hurrah, the last fight he really got up for and put on a great performance in. The early to mid 70's Conteh with his head on straight was a technical monster, one who seemed to have everything a fighter needed in the ring. He just got caught up in his own hype, and when that happens, a fighter's potential ceases to matter, because in order to prosper in boxing, full dedication is paramount.