What if Calzaghe had needed to fight Collins for the WBO back in '97? Would history've been different? After all, Joe was still young and inexperienced then. Steve Collins - tough as nails and full of confidence. I actually reckon if would've been a pick 'em fight.
Close fight and one that should of happend. To my mind it could play out 2 ways.... firstly a fight.... Joe would match or better Steve's biggest plus point - his workrate - but back then before his hand problems Joe was a genuine puncher with a superb KO ratio. I'd pick Joe. I see it similar to the Eubank fight, close but clear points win for Joe. Can't really see a stoppage but I could see Steve getting bothered by Joe's punching enough to see a clear winner. Secondly a brawl... Now this would have been one to see. Both fighter love to come foward very possibly neither would give an inch and just go at it Haggler / Hearns style. Judging by the fact Joe put the famously granite chinned Chris on his backside and Chris had Steve in trouble but wouldn't follow it up I'd lean towards Joe. In this case in a brutal all action 3 or 4 rounds. Joe was a harder puncer back then and remains a faster puncher to this day, plus he has a top draw chin. In 20 odd title fights no one has yet matched him by standing toe to toe.
i watched collins american career as well. he was what he was. he was a scott harrison of super middles. strong /determined/good workrate. take`s you up to a certain level but not beyond.
Calzaghe would have done him. Collins' heart was no longer for boxing as he couldn't get a fight with Roy Jones. In my opinion he was also starting to show signs of age, wear and tear etc. Calzaghe would have been all over him from the word go. Joe by late stoppage or clear decision.
Collins has nothing for Calzaghe. He'd only make it competative cos of Joes inexperience at the time. He'd be done over more or less the same way Eubank was.
Steve Collins bottled it...the fight was arranged and he pulled out. Calzaghe would of taken him i reckon even then. Prime Benn would of destroyed him aswell. He was not the same after the tragic fight with mclellan and collins took advantage. Calzaghe may have been abit green, but Collins was obviously too worried about him to take the chance
I think some are forgetting what was happening just before the purposed Collins/Calzaghe match. Collins himself admitted he was knocked out by some Irish amateur in sparring, and that on top of the knockdown in the Cummings fight persuaded Collins he lacked the drive he once had and that physically he was not what he was, thus he called it a day. It is just stunning to this very moment that you see a top level fighter call it a day, one fight too soon, rather too late. Collins probably knew he did not have in him to beat Calzaghe, even a 1997 vintage Joe.
Aye, cause Joe never pulled out of a fight. Yes, unprofessional from Steve, but its not like Joe never pulled out of a fight either.
