"he's past prime", legit argument or just an excuse for a popular old champion

He was giving Jones a Taste of his own stuff,

 

I've always felt Calzaghe had more left, but it was his choice. I don't really have an issue with him fighting Jones, but treat it like what it was. A swansong for Calzaghe, and a payday for Jones.

I was disappointed that Calzaghe went that route, being that he had finally landed on the world stage with both feet, and making hay. But, again, his choice. The showboating was a bit tasteless, and pointless vs that version of RJJ, but Jones got a little comeuppance in that regard.

 

Yes, that's my point though - the reason that happened was because he wasn't a good enough boxer to compensate for changes in his physical attributes. To me, a great boxer can alter his style as he progresses, and, whilst RJJ at his peak was great to watch, it only took one natural technical ability that he was born with to dwindle and so too did his ability in the ring.

There's a difference between being not the same fighter and being old, and I would argue that RJJ wasn't old - he just wasn't a good enough boxer to make changes to his style. Ali was old, as an example of the other side.

I wasn't saying a fight between the version of Calzaghe and a younger Jones would be the same, just that I think that version of Calzaghe would have won against the younger Jones. Just an opinion though.

 

Fair enough man. It really does speak to what I said about letting the 08 fight influence a mythical 02 fight, but in all honesty, none of us has any way of knowing for sure.

 

:yepyeah:good

 

If used correctly and intelligently of course it's a valid excuse.