Joe Calzaghe talks about the Ward-Froch fight.

Right now, I'd take a developing Ward to narrowly beat a prime Calzaghe in a dirty, scrappy fight. There's little doubt in my mind who the better, more skilled fighter is (based on what I've seen so far).

Allow Ward to grow into his prime, and the gap between the two will widen. The fact that he has already amassed better wins than Cal did his whole super middleweight career, tells you a hell of a lot.

 

Joe always found a way to win. Did you see how Ward tired against Froch in the Championship rounds? Calzaghe would apply much more pressure than Froch did for 10 rounds, and would still be relentless in the 11th and 12th. A win against Froch, and a TD (through dirty headbutting) against post prime Kessler with eye problems, does not mean Ward beats Calzaghe.

 

yes, waiting till the opponent was 40, being a popular way for him.

if he applied pressure in roudns 10 to 12 he would still lose to Ward by decision.

Ward backed off from Froch because he knew he'd done enough to win it, not because he was genuinely spent. WHereas many a time, Calzghe WAS FORCED to use his fitness as his main weapon so as to apply late pressure and earn a decision, simply because he had been found wanting skillwise earlier. That just doesnt happen to Ward. He beats opponents throughout the fight.

 

I dont believe there would be a shutout in this fight. Close UD rather. Ward is excellent, but he does lose rounds. To Froch, to AA, to Bika. I can honestly see it go both ways, but I think Cal-slap-a-lot takes it.

 

Andre Ward still is likely to get better while Carl Froch has hit his level.

I'd say Joe Calzaghe beats both at his best.

 

Calzaghe had his prime ´06-08´ When he was end of his career, that Calzaghe would beat Ward

 

Ward wasn't tiring that bad. He messed up one of his hands in the early rounds. He jumped on his bike because he knew he had the fight won, and there wasn't any point further damaging the hand.

I'm sorry to say, but, Calzaghe wasn't that good. As another poster has already mentioned, all he had was superior stamina and workrate to fall back on. Upping the tempo and throwing 100 punches per round may work against lesser guys, but against an awkward, slippery guy like Ward, high workrate wouldn't have guaranteed to be enough. Especially when he [Ward] seems to have the necessary tools to deal with high volume punchers relatively easily.

 

its true that Cal kept his prime longer than most, I agree on that point. Excellent engine, a long distance runners engine.

but not excellent skill. Still a very decent boxer on a European level though, just not a master like SOG or Bhop. Bhop unlocked Joe every round he wasnt gassed in, SOG would keep doing it for a full 10 rounds. A late rally wouldnt save Calzaghe from a UD loss, and he wouldnt have the luxury of waiting till Ward turned 40 this time in order to outstamina him.

In summary, Calzaghe would avoid Ward like the plague and keep fighting in Wales.

 

You think that is all there was too him?

 

Ok, "all" was maybe a little harsh. But against Ward, I wouldn't see him do much else apart from apply pressure and increase the tempo to turn the fight around. But yeah, to be honest, I was never that impressed with Joe. His fights were painful to watch because of his style, and I could never force myself to try that little bit harder and notice the good things he did.

 

he clearly doesnt think that, but he is saying it is what Cal had to fall back on, not all he had. YOu highlighted the wrong bit.

He had excellent handspeed for instance but that doesnt turn around a fight in the 11th round in the way KO ability does.

 

It does not make sense to assume that Calzaghe, who punched like he tried to swat beez, would defeat an equal athlete (in terms of speed and reflexes) with the skill level of Ward. But nothing in Calzaghes career ever made sense.

 

Why do people still say Joe waited for Hopkins to get old? Everyone should know by now that Hopkins turned down the fight in 2002. There are videos on Youtube of Hopkins admitting this.

Anyway, Hopkins' age is irrelevant. He was the best at the time and Joe fought the best. Four years later he is the WBC champion and still widely regarded as the best.

These are facts everyone knows, so stop talking ****.

 

if its claimed that a 47 year old man is supposed to be the best in his division then theres only one place the **** is coming from.

Biology provides the facts, opinion does not change them facts.


I actually feel embarrassed that Nathan Cleverly is calling out a man twice his age as the best he can face. I really hope he doesnt call out Roy Jones next and make himself a Calzaghe Junior, that would be plumbing the depths. Nath is better than that.

 

The way you define the difference here makes little sense. You can compare Ward vs Froch and Joe vs Kessler to get an idea. Ward is not untouchable. People describe him like he is on Floyds level, and regardless of all his skill and work ethic he aint.