Is Joe Calzaghe a Master Boxer?

Calzaghe beat Hopkins, no doubt within my mind.

 

You mentioned you had it even in rounds after six with Bernard up a point for the KD. And given that Calzaghe won all the remaining rounds, I assumed you had it 9 -3.

Calzaghe was probably at his physical peak around 2000 and in pyhsical decline shortly thereafter. He was still improving skill-wise though, so if you take the trade-off between physical prowess and boxing skill ( and ignore for the moment, that his hands have been near-shot for close to ten years, preventing him from optimal punching), then he was probably 'prime' around Lacy.

I would argue that, even though his greatest performance was against Kessler, he had already begun to slide at that stage. And Bernard certainly did not face a prime Calzaghe.

Bernard was at physical prime around 1992/3, but still improving his skills.
I would place his 'prime' around 2001-2004.

So IMO, Bernard was about four years past peak while Calzaghe was perhaps two years past his very best.

However, that does not necessarily mean that Bernard was twice as 'degraded' as Joe.

Different fighters age differently.

Tyson' s prime was 89/90 and Lewis' was around 98/98, nine years later, even though Lewis was older than Tyson.

Calzaghe was definitely closer to his prime than Bernard was to his.

I scored the fight 10-2 on the night it happened. (I gave Bernard 1 and 3)
I have watched it again several times, and Bernard could possibly be given two, three, or even all four of the first four rounds. But after that, I can't find any to give to him.

I'm therefore in agreement with the judges who scored it 9-3 and 8-4.

The rounds were all competitive but Calzaghe pressed the fight, even in the first, and Bernard was in survival mode from early on, not even daring to press the action after the KD.

As i said, he gave a spectacular performance for a 43 year old, but he didn't come close to winning.

He may have, but he put it all on the line in an effort to win.

IMO, Bernard was just happy to hear the final bell.

 

Good but not great.

 

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No. He's an intelligent fighter but not a good boxer in the conventional sense at all. No real jab, wide punches thrown without conviction....if you think otherwise you're Welsh, British, or you're TFFP