joe calzaghe vs nigel benn(primes)

http://www.***********.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188888

"If Joe had been around with me, Chris Eubank and Steve Collins, he would have had some harder fights than he gets today," Benn told The Sun. "But I still think he would have come out on top. You've got to give it to him, what he's achieved, being an undefeated fighter for a decade takes a special fighter. He would have had a good fight with me. He'd probably have beaten me although he would have known he'd been in a fight with me. Don't get me wrong, but he slaps hard. And he doesn't go down. I take my hat off to him. Joe's a credit to boxing."

 

Cheers for that, the links not working for some reason, but I believe it. So Nigel Benn states that...

"He'd probably have beaten me although he would have known he'd been in a fight with me."

Fair enough -that quote often gets linked to Eubank saying it as well. Anyway thanks for finding it out - it is appreciated.

 

I was thinking of the Calzaghe of the Lacy and Kessler fights because that's what I believe his peak was. I don't buy that he was better when he was wading his way through dire SMW opposition in his younger days. Lacy and Kessler were his greatest performances against his best opponents- to me that is the dictionary definition of peak.

And so that was the basis I thought Calzaghe would win a UD.

A younger version of Calzaghe- Benn KO for definite. Calzaghe would not have the ring smarts or the strength to keep a prime Benn off for 12 rounds when he was younger. Benn was so so much better than anyone the younger Calzaghe fought, I have no doubt Benn would beat that guy. Calzaghe is a great example of someone who improved with age and experience, much like JM Marquez and Hopkins he peaked in his mid-30s. The Calzaghe who beat Lacy would demolish the Calzaghe who beat Eubank, IMO.

 

This only proves what we all already know- that Calzaghe is a quality fighter. It does not prove he would definitely have beaten Benn. I have already stated I think Calzaghe would beat Benn, but that is on the basis of what I saw of both men in the ring, not the opinion of one man.

A fighter's word is not absolute fact mate, or Tyson would have eaten Lewis's children en route to a KO victory when they fought, and I could write a list of about 3 million times a fighter has said he would beat a guy and hasn't. Why is that any more unlikely than a fighter thinking he would probably get beaten, but pulling off a victory?

After seeing Benn before and at the start of the McClennan fight, I think Nigel was going in there to go out with all guns blazing, I don't think he thought he would win at all. I bet there have been many many times an underdog has pulled off an upset when going into the fight, he wasn't confident of a win.

Fighters talk **** all the time, it's part of the game. I read a quote from Glen Johnson he made last week saying he thinks the Calzaghe fight will be a stroll in the park for Jones Jr, that Roy will have a "nice time" and win easily. There's no way he actually thinks that, it is clearly just out of animosity for Calzaghe because Joe pulled out of a fight with him which would doubtlessly have been one of the biggest paydays of his career.

I think Calzaghe would beat Benn, but not because one guy said he thinks it is probable.

 

Kessler was a great fighter, an lacy was very good, i think joe broke lacy an kessler was no question beat by an all time great, an when all said an done in the division, i see kessler on top,, ,,,,Joe beats benn in his prime at 168, i say joe beats anybody in there prime at 168, the guy beats people into submission, because jones an toney were there people believe joe wasn't the best ever there, kessler would beat either of those two at 168:hi:

 

so so close, nigel benn is my favorite fighter but he may have struggled with joe's style. it's an awesome prospect to think about, the nigel benn who fought mclellan versus the calzaghe who fought lacy.

 

Kessler beats prime Jones at 168 :yikes


What is it with these wavy hand things on here...

 

Indeed, it sounds a great fight doesn't it.

 

Who the **** was Nard then? Plus i would say this, Lacy was touted as a top 6 P4P contender by almost everyone in the business, Marvin hagler, Thomas Hearns, Barry Mcguigan, George Forman. Larry Merchant and evry other commentator aswell. The only guy and i mean the only guy that said Joe would win was Duke mcKenzie.

My point being that the only real reason Lacy was'nt P4P ranked at that point was he was black. Sad but true. Thats America for you.

And as for facing P4P opponants its very hard to do when you wiegh what Joe does. For the history of P4P ratings the majority of its rated fighters have been little guys. Very rarely are there more than 1 or 2 guys above Light middle/middle in there. Worth thinking about dude.

 

Probably Joe UD.

I dont know if Benn could put him a way early (though he could well, this is Benn we are talking about) and I dont think Joe would get dragged into a war. If he did, he would go. Benn could win this, but most likely Joe UD.

 

OAW!

Now that is priceless.

 

I was just posting the source for someone who asked for it.

I already replyed that I believe prime for prime Joe stops Benn, my reasoning has nothing to do with what Nigel Benn stated.