Hopkins vs Calzaghe (Observations on second viewing)

Calzaghe CLEARLY used to hit MUCH harder before his metacarpals became as brittle as dried out twigs and anybody who tries to claim otherwise either A. hasn't being following his career from his amateur/earlier pro days, B. has an agenda, or C. is a blind and deaf imbecile. His punches even sounded much louder then for Christ's sake. Eubank, Woodhall, Reid, Glen Catley, Dean Francis, Tony Booth, Tony Quigley, Karl Barwise, Nicky Piper, Charles Brewer, Spencer Alton, Enzo Mac, Andy Flute (all of whom have shared a ring with him) said he hit hard, and his power had clearly diminished by the time he fought or sparred against some of them too (Woodhall, Brewer, Quigley).

Here's a Calzaghe compilation I'm currently working on, it's only half finished and there's a lot more to add too it but it's plain to see he used to throw that big left hand of his with much more regularity and venom behind it than he did during his later years.

You can really hear the thump behind some of his punches in this video if you watch it with head phones on. How the **** Delaney stood up to that left hand at the beginning of the video I'll never know.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0zhBjcoGXk[/ame]

 

How do you recall the (Joe) Calzaghe fight?

''The main thing I remember about Calzaghe was how hard he punched. I thought he had bricks in his gloves at one point. On top of that - he was big, he was strong, he was hearty, he had fast hand speed and he had a very awkward southpaw stance.

He was unbeaten, he didn't know how to lose. I actually lost 20 pounds in a week and was preparing for a righty light-heavyweight. (Laughs) Has there ever been many more difficult tasks?

On top of all that, he puts me down in the opening 15 seconds, for only the second clean knockdown of my life. (Laughs) .''

''I've never been knocked down in the first round before Joe hit me with a powerful left-hand punch, which I never saw, and within half a minute of the bell ringing I was having to pick myself up and deal with the realization that I was in for a long night. That punch really hurt and thereafter it was a tough fight.''

Joe obviously went on to be an exceptionally great world champion.''

Chris Eubank

''I started out [professional] with the Ingles. I used to do a lot of body sparring with the likes of Bomber Graham, Johnny Nelson and Naseem Hamed. Nelson never had any bottle: he used to nick fights running away. But Naz was ****ing brilliant - so elusive and he hit really hard. Even when he were just 15, he told my uncle to get his autograph 'cos he were going to be a superstar.

Nigel Benn used me seven times over in Tenerife, including for the Gerald McClellan fight. I had a big bet, three figures, on McClellan to win in the first round at about 10-1. And he would've if the ref hadn't kept interrupting. Nige and me would spar half-an-hour a day, then both go out on the ****. We always had a headguard and 16 oz gloves and often I'd outjab him. Nigel weren't a liberty-taker.

But the best I've been inside the ring with was Joe Calzaghe in sparring. Beforehand, I thought he were quite boring to watch and looked as if he slapped but, **** me, he punches hard. If he slapped, Bernard Hopkins would've stood toe-to-toe with Joe, but he [Hopkins] got on his bike, didn't he? If Joe and Nigel had fought, I think Joe would have been able to take the pain and would've ended up hurting Nigel, bit like Michael Watson did.''

Tony Booth

''I thought I'd been hit by a lorry''

Karl Barwise

''This kid has everything''

Spencer Alton

''I've never been hit so hard and so often''

Andy Flute

"After working with Robin Reid last month I was already buzzing, but when the call came to work with Joe, well he's the best on the planet," he told Seconds Out.

"I was invited down to work with Joe for five days and I've enjoyed every minute. This has been a fantastic opportunity for me.

"I can see why he's the champ now. Joe punches hard and fast''

Tony Quigley

''Calzaghe can punch very hard''

Nicky Piper

''A lot of people think Joe can't punch but he's actually very heavy handed''

Enzo Maccarinelli

“The hardest puncher I fought (long pause) that’s a real tough one. I dished out a lot more punishment than I ever took. But I’d have to say Joe Calzaghe. Joe was not a one-punch KO kind of guy, but he overwhelmed guys; he had those ridiculous combinations!''

Charles Brewer

Glen Catley, Dean Francis, and Robin Reid said he hit hard too.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbiZQQJzrAI[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZumDO35TcWY[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDNNT9JvTRo[/ame]