Classic Forum Opinions...

Yeah, its a massive fight for the super-middleweight division. The biggest since Jones v Toney back in November, 1994. Maybe bigger as both are naturals at the weight, and Calzaghe has reigned at the top for 10 years.

It seems to be a geniune 50/50 fight among most pundits, and the loser has so much to lose. Calzaghe probably has more on the line going into the fight than Kessler. If he losses, time isn't on his side at the age of 35.

If Calzaghe does taste defeat, he will either A) Retire or B) Move up to light-heavweight and challenge Hopkins.

My suspicion is he would retire. Hagler style.

 

I think a hometown draw will have meant that Kessler won easily.
Kessler needs a KO to win - he won't outpoint Joe in his backyard.

 

SO you think a draw is the most LIKELY outcome?

or that a Draw will mean Calzaghe won easily and was robbed at home?

Explain this please...

 

Remember Billy Hardy vs Orlando Canizales? Hometown draw my arse, Hardy well deserved the nod.


ps. If a judge was so biased to the 'hometowner', i'm sure he could find a way of making his card 115-114, instead of 114-114. A nice even round towards the end should do it. :good

 

Wow ,you must be high on Kesslertop 3 jab of all time,equal or superior to,Peps,Peas, Driscolls,Holmes,Alis,Listons,Louis,s,Loughrans,CantosLocches,B Leonards,Ross,s.That covers alot of territorystill every has their opinion.On the fight ,I give Joe a very slight edge,a win by close dec.

 

Kessler has more weight behind his punches, combinations especially. He tends to punch straighter on a more regular basis. It will be interesting to see how Calzaghe copes with Kessler at long range.

Calzaghe must close the distance to take make the fight easier for himself, even though his own work at long range is reasonably effective.

 

Except for Driscoll, yes, Kessler's jab is better than anyone else's you've listed. Just watch the footage and compare.

 

Summing it up, my prediction will be convincing victory of Kessler. Calzaghe will start the fight aggressively, but not very effectively. As rounds go by and because of Kessler's artillery of jabs and counters to the head, Calzaghe will turn more cautious and switch into counter-punching mode, and will be trying to work with single counters with a step to the side to Kessler's stepping-in with a jab. Due to difference in workrate, Calzaghe won't be able to persuade the judges of his superiority in enough rounds to win the fight, losing a wide decision.

 

I am praying that it is not a draw.

I want all those belts in one place.

 

The fight is not about belts; Calzaghe is the World Champion, Kessler is the #1 contender, a draw just means more money in a rematch, everyone wins.

The problem I have with this fight is it is a non event, no one outside the hardcore, Calzaghe and Kessler fans, give two hoots...

That never would of happened in the 80s, damn it would not happen pre 1996. I guess it shows you how far boxing has slipped in the last 15 years or so.

 

You are right it is not about belts.

What I want is one man who is clearly and uneoquivocaly athe man at 168. That is a verry exciting posibility.

 

Disagree there...

Billy gave a career performance and Canizales was off form, but it was mighty close, and the benefit of the doubt should always go to the Champion.

Orlando had class enough to give Hardy a rematch and showed who was boss, in what was possibly Canizales finest ever performance IMO.

 

Just peeked at Boxrec, Canizales was given the nod. I must have been getting mixed up with another draw. :huh


Anyway, I thought Hardy edged it (benefit of the doubt shouldn't go to anyone really). The rematch took place in the scorching Texas heat (i remember that one right), Hardy was exhausted after a couple of rounds.

 

And he had ginger hair and was as white as milk. People like that don't like the heat.

However, he should not have been exhausted after only 2 rounds.