How would Calzaghe do against these fighters?

I've never really thought about ranking his wins, the Eubank performance was definitely one of my favourites though. He proved an awful lot in that fight: Chin, power, heart, skill, hand speed, determination, and a ridiculously fierce will to win, and crazy stamina (I was utterly convinced he was going to come a cropper when he stepped up to the higher level and fought someone who could weather his assaults and drag him into the late rounds, simply because he used fight at such a ridiculous pace and throw so many punches),

The Kessler performance was excellent too. Even though Kessler, who'd barely lost a round back then, give or take a few against Mundine over in Australia when he went into the fight with zero sparring to him sustaining a back injury during training, had given a good account of himself and landed some big bombs during some of the rounds, Joe then changed his tactics mid fight and took it to a level Kessler couldn't go to. Joe was incredibly light feet for a man of his size and it looked like he was floating on air during parts of the second half of that fight.

The Hopkins fight was not one of Calzaghe's best performances at all, and there were numerous factors why, not least of which Hopkins incessant cheating. The only reason that fight was close was because Cortez allowed Hopkins to get away with blue murder all night. He held on like a limpet everytime Joe got anywhere near him and lead with his head throughout the entire fight (right from the beginning of the fight) - he connected with it on numerous occasions too, a couple of which Cortez definitely saw, of course he said nothing though.

Check this vid. Listen to what Jim Lampey and Emanuel Steward say at the start of the fight and then watch Hopkins land one of those ever so unintentional butts of his at the 0:34 mark and then a few seconds later at the 0:38 mark he tries to butt Calzaghe again, this time Joe sees it coming and has to take evasive action, something he had to do often in the fight to avoid getting butted even more, which is obviously going to disrupt your game plan. And then at the 0:55 mark Hopkins connects with another one of those ''unintentional'' butts to the bottom of Joe's chin again, this time it's VICIOUSLY hard and visibly hurts Joe. Calzaghe took it like a man and didn't complain. You have to ask yourself what Hopkins would've done in that situation. I think we all know the answer to that. At the very least he would've been rolling around on the canvas in fits of histrionics. Watch what he does a few seconds after landing that butt at the 1:03 mark too. Joe gives him a tiny little love tap below the belt by way of retaliation and Hopkins immediately makes a big meal of it.

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I vaguely remember hearing all the hype about the Collins brothers, although I can't remember watching any of their fights even though I'm sure I saw at least one of them on TV back then. I wouldn't mind seeing some of their fights as it goes.

I'd forgotten about Stretch dating Racquel Welch though. She still looked pretty good even though she wasn't a spring chicken.

 

The commentator for Joe's bout against Karl Barwise said Joe reminded him of Stretch.

3:11 mark.

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Barwise was a pretty tough cookie and usually lasted the distance or gave good fighters rounds, some of whom went on to become or challenge for world titles. Notice how the commentator says earlier on in the video that he thought Barwise was going to take Joe the distance. It was all over soon after that.

:fire

 

Yes I do. I've seen that mini documentary before actually thanks. Interesting character. I'm glad to hear Meadows is still going to make that film about him because it's been so long since I first heard about it that I thought he'd given up on it or something.

Both Meadoes and Considine are class. I think it will be a great.

 

...

 

No I haven't. That documentary is the only thing I've seen about him. I remember speaking to one of his relatives on Youtube a couple of years ago (think it might have been a nephew of his IIRC) but other than that I know very little. I have seen a couple of documentaries about travellers and bare knuckle boxing these past few years though - watching bare knuckle fighting is something that wouldn't appeal to me, or watching street fights either. However, I really enjoyed those documentaries (there wasn't THAT much fighting in the last one I saw 'Knuckle).

I like the fact they have that 'Fair Play' thing going on; one on one, no hitting your opponent when their down etc. It's just a good old fashioned fist fight with a code of honour that is sorely lacking in today's society. I really respect that about them even if I think they're a bunch of loons sometimes - they kick off over the most stupid reasons. A lot of them are distant relatives too. lol

Sounds bloody good. It must be if you've read it that many times.

Hopefully it won't take too long, the guy was a real character and looks to have lead a really interesting life, as life that couldn't help but translate into a brilliant film, especially with a director like Meadows at the helm.

I vaguely recollect hearing that actually. I'm not sure where. It's been a while since I saw the mini feature on him.

I haven't seen all Meadow's films, or even that This is England '86 TV series, but I've probably seen a half of his films. Dead Man's Shoes is my favourite, followed by A Room for Romeo Brass.

I like this scene from the later. lol

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