Jones Jr vs Calzaghe, analysis and predictions

Attributes

Jones Jr
Height: 5'11
Reach: 74"
Age (as of fight): 39

Calzaghe
Height: 6'0
Reach: 73"
Age (as of fight): 36


5 Keys for Calzaghe

Workrate/Stamina
Adapting during fight
Good in Big Match situation
Footwork
Throw straighter, crisper punchers

5 Keys for Roy Jones Jr

Handspeed
Power
Must let the hands go
Must trust the chin
Must be able to roll with Calzaghe adapting

Path for Calzaghe

Revert to the older days of throwing harder punches early in the fight to back Jones Jr up and make him worry about the power.

Be cautious about the handspeed Jones Jr possesses and utilise the jab early in the fight to find distance.

Punish Jones Jr for showboating/ropeadope, apply pressure and force Jones Jr to fight the entire 12 rounds.

Path for Jones Jr

Train for speed, endurance and workrate.

Be prepared to throw at least sixty punches a round.

Sit in the pocket and wait for Joe to come in, attempt to hit with the counter.

Trust instincts and handspeed, believe that you will be quicker than Joe and attempt to ruffle him early.

Prediction:

Only three years separate these two fighters, while Jones Jr has had the longer career, he's had less injury concerns than Joe Calzaghe.

Jones Jr has also had a chance to correctly realign to this weight having come down from the HW fight, so could be back to condition he was prior to the Ruiz fight.

If Jones Jr is faster, like I suspect he will be, he has to be willing to throw everything into the fight and while not matching the workrate of Calzaghe, ensure that he dominates workrate for at least a minute of every round.

If Jones Jr can average 60-75 punches a round with a handspeed advantage and have the stamina to carry him through the 12 rounds, I like his chances.

However, I feel Calzaghe's proven stamina, combined with Jones Jr not being in a serious threatening fight in his last few will give Calzaghe an edge, combined with the adaptability and better footwork at this point in their careers, I expect Calzaghe to win by UD12.

Percentage Predictions:
Joe UD12 - 45%
Joe TKO/KO - 15%
RJJ UD12 - 20%
RJJ TKO/KO - 20%

 

Oh? Cause history tends to tell us, as well as recent results, that boxing prime is supposedly 25-32, with anyone past the age of 32 being "past their prime"

Very few boxers can continue to compete at the top level past the age of 32, those that do are usually exceptional athletes and have been for their entire careers, much like Calzaghe and Jones Jr.

Injuries take their toll, Joe has had a succession of hand injuries throughout the years where as Jones Jr has been relatively lucky with injury.

Personally, age is not going to be a factor in this fight, had they met three years ago, I still believe you would come to the same result in the fight.

Jones Jr, just having beaten prospects in Badi Ajamu and Hanshaw was able to easily beat Tito Trinidad, who is still younger than Calzaghe.

So no, I don't see age as an issue and ultimately feel those that bring it up are looking for a scapegoat way of taking away any glory from Calzaghe.

 

Shot is Chris Byrd, losing to a prospect.

RJJ beat two prospects and a come-backing Tito Trinidad, who despite being above the weight he should have been and out of the game for some time, is no soft challenge.

 

Calzaghe has no mileage?

What planet are you on?

Calzaghe vs Eubank.
Calzaghe vs Reid.
Calzaghe vs Salem (due to broken hand)
Calzaghe vs Kessler
Calzaghe vs Hopkins

All of these fights can be considered "mileage" fights, where Joe got as good as he gave for the first half of the fight.

Would you get the **** off of your high horse on Calzaghe? Your hatred of him makes you seem like a complete moron in this thread.

Had they met when RJJ was 32-33? Yes, RJJ would have butchered Calzaghe, without a doubt.

In fact, any version of Jones Jr from 160-175 (prior to 2002-2003) would have beaten Calzaghe, without a doubt.

But from 2003-2004 onwards? No, Calzaghe and Jones Jr have been more equally matched than anyone wanted to admit too.

Now, if you're going to bring the same **** into this thread that you did with your last post, **** off, you hateful son of a *****.

 

Who the **** cares if they were top notch?

Were Tarver or Glen Johnson the best ever fighters that Jones Jr faced? No.

Did they give him the most mileage? Yes.

**** off you stupid bungle****er.