Anyone who has never seen the Calzaghe vs Eubank fight, needs to do so. You will see Calzaghe at his physical peak and/or coming into it. It was a great fight for Calzaghe AND Eubanks. It's also an entertaining fight to watch. Calzaghe really shows everything in that fight IE defense, speed, footwork etc...... Eubank was past his best, but let's not forget he was 31 (32?). When Joe Calzaghe fought and dominated Lacy, he was 33. 35 when he fought and beat a younger, talented, hungry fighter in Mikkel Kessler. Now, 36, he fought and beat Hopkins. This is only a small example of each boxer hitting their peak at different times IE Eubanks compared to Hopkins/Calzaghe etc..... It takes special fighters to be at the top of their game after the age of 35/36 -- and Hopkins is no different. Anyway, I guess the moral of the thread is this; do you think Eubank was UNDERRATED as a boxer? I don't think Calzaghe got enough credit for beating Eubank. Consider the cirumstances at the time IE Joe Calzaghe's first BIG fight/first time going 12 rounds etc........ For people familiar with both Eubank/Calzaghe; I'd love to see this fight, in your opinion, put into perspective. Thanks. P.S....for the people who've yet to see the Calzaghe/Eubank clash; Do it. It's a great fight. :good
Eubank is no doubt an underrated boxer, for sure. His problem however was his heart was never with boxing, and at the end of the day, the great great champions and fighters were born to fight and enjoy fighting. Prime for prime this is an absolute beast of a match though, one that would need a proper breakdown.
Eubank is probably my favourite fighter as he was becoming a big name in the UK when I first started watching boxing. I'd only seen Calzaghe fight once before this against Delaney. I didn't know what to expect but it was an entertaining fight, with Eubank nowhere near the fighter he once was. But that takes nothing away from Calzaghe because like you said he was inexperienced going in against a British legend.
After being defeated, on the way back to the dressing room Eubank said "Now I know why Collins didnt wanna fight him......good fighter, he's a good fighter". :yep He was avoided then for a reason.
Eubank wasn't totally shot but... Eubank lost 5 of his last 9 matches, one of those was to Joe. The 4 wins out of 9 were to poor fighters. Eubank took the fight at very short notice, due to Collins pulling out. At this time of his career he was also severely weigh drained, to make the weight. He retired two fights later after losing and fighting at cruiser. Eubank was also never the fighter he was before the Watson tragedy. The event clearly affected him in the ring and he finishing instinct. Seeing as this Eubank gave what Calzaghe says was his hardest ever fight, Prime Eubank (pre Watson), IMO, beats him.
How I'd love to watch that one. I personally liked the old Calzaghe better; Blazing speed, awkward defense, non stop combinations, willing to go toe to toe, had more power, and fought with much more emotion.
Very true. Which is why its sad that he was in a depleted division for so long, he would have been fierce against superior opposition than that of which he faced. Could you imagine that Joe Calzaghe versus a Eubank coming off of the Watson win. Damn.
Nice avatar. :yep After the Watson fight? ****, I'd almost favor Eubank...........Almost. Would be great to watch that's for sure.
When Calzaghe fought Eubank he was still fairly green. Yes he was faster and he harder but he was an emotional fighter. The current Calzaghe is a lot more ring savvy and would beat any version Eubank.
Eubank could be ********* back then as Watson proved but I doubt Calzaghe could do it. Watson was the best natural boxer of the bunch in my opinion. Easily beat Benn, beat Eubank and was robbed, beat him again in the rematch until Eubank landed that uppercut. Eubank hit hard back then and threw them with bad intentions (something he never did after that Watson fight) and seeing how Calzaghes chin reacted to some of Hopkins shots I suspect prime Eubank would stop Joe. As for Calzaghe still looking fresh at 36, of course he does. Put him in there with the likes of Benn and Watson at the age Eubank fought them and I guarantee it would add years onto him, not to mention Eubank also had those 2 matches with Collins.
