Marvin Hagler vs. Joe Calzaghe

I think Joes speed and crazy ryhtym would caause Hagler problems, Hagler may had had more power but Calzage much faster and the bigger man....a bigger version of Leonard

 

Sorry mate, but Calz a bigger version of Leonard? With respect, that's complete BS. He has nothing like the speed, accuracy, smartness, balance, sharpness of punch, and natural boxing ability of Leonard.

 

i am sorry Ted I can't see Joe hitting harder than Duran and Leonard, I agree with Janitor's remarks about it being almost impossible to defeat a fighter who has the output of punches and the chin Joe has, this is his strength.

 

Punchy, please think about the matter.

See if you can come unaided, to the reason why there is no conceivable way Duran (or Leonardfor that matter) could hit as hard a Calzaghe.

This content is protected

 

You asked me to descibe his style...OK who can be compared to Calzage..he is a fast southpaw with some power, mixxes up his punches well and is very adaptive on spot to say he was a better fighter lb 4 lb would be a hard thing to say but head to head...Calzage would be too much for Leonard...to compare him to leonard in some area's joe may fall short but it would be an injustice in other spots that Joe is superior. I dont think anyone can really compare to him at 168....he is unique...I have seen almost everyone of Haglers fights and many of Calzages...IMO joe could do enough to win a close UD

 

There's nothing to suggest in Calzaghe's career that Hagler would stop him. Calzaghe was a bit like a lighter version of Larry Holmes in that his recuperate powers seem to be second to none. Joe was partly hit by the forearm of RJJ when he went down but he was back up almost immediately and recovered very quickly. Joe has a top quality chin, despite him being floored by 2 all-time greats in his last 2 fights.

This has 'distance' written all over it and Calzaghe has a real chance to simply outwork Hagler. Calzaghe fights ugly and looks very awkward but the man is a physical and stylistal nightmare for almost any fighter at his weight.

 

He had his hand speed, just that Calzaghe didn't allow him to utilize it. Even late on in the fight RJJ was blazingly fast. I remember at one point in the 10th or 11th round where RJJ was on the ropes and he threw a lightning fast left hook in anticipation of Calzaghe walking in. But Calzaghe didn't and his own speed and akwardness gave RJJ all sorts of problems. Granted a prime RJJ would land more leather on Joe and it's not inconceviable that he might stop Calazghe but that's RJJ not Hagler. RJJ was in a different league for one-punch power.

 

Hagler's fighting weight was around 163-166.

Calzaghe's was/is 180-187.

Hagler never moved up in his own day to the (newly created) SMW division or the light heavy. This was at a time when the weigh-in was same day.

Guys like Spinks, Johnson, and Czyz were too big.

I think some folks on here are failing to take the size disparity into account.

 

Well, I wouldn't state Calzaghe's fighting weight as 180-187 when he can barely make 175.

Bobby Czyz was a middleweight until he ballooned up. Spinks at 6' 3'' was certainly way too big for Hagler though.

In any case, even if Calzaghe was the same size as Hagler he'd still give him problems with his durability and speed.

 

By fighting weight, I mean the weight at which he enters the ring. Against Jones, that was 186.

That reinforces my point.

Some on here are picking Hagler to beat Calzaghe. Presumably, they mean the Hagler who fought in the 80's and the Calzaghe who is fighting now.

As you point out, even if you could have them at the same size, Calzaghe would give Hagler trouble.

I'm saying yes to that, and also saying that when you add size to the mix, I don't see Hagler having much hope.

 

I can see this one being a hard one to score, with Calzaghe landing more punches and having better ring generalship (Calzaghe is very underrated in this respect, especially with opponents who aren't utterly negative like Bika and Hopkins were) but Hagler having the edge in accuracy and clean punching. I don't think that either had a big defensive weakness that the other could exploit: Hagler could try the straight-right from the orthodox stance, but I think maintaining the orthodox stance for too long is going to let Calzaghe find a rhythm.

I think the winner of this fight will be determined largely on who finds the right approach that can last longest. Calzaghe is very adaptable and we all know Hagler's reputation for being able to brawl, box and switch-hit like a skilled but drunk bisexual on Saturday night.

The most likely outcome would be Hagler controlling the first part of the fight by confusing Joe with switch-hitting and crisp counter-punches. Then, as the fight progresses, Calzaghe would switch from being aggressive to high-workrate boxing behind the right jab, scoring multiple flurries that do not land very solidly but accumulate impressive punches-landed scores. Hagler, meanwhile, seemed to be like Joe Louis in that he could come in with a brilliant strategy and execute it, but rarely adapted mid-fight.

However, I think the period in which Hagler would control the action would be longer than the period Calzaghe would, since it would take the boxing equivalent of Einstein many rounds to work out Hagler. Even if Calzaghe did find an approach to take control of the action (which is by no means inevitable) I think it would be too little, too late, given how unusual and effective a boxer Hagler was.

So, Hagler UD, with the scoring being firm but controversial due to the complaints of those who value workrate excessively. If scored properly, however, Hagler would get the nod.

(This opinion is based on an admiration of both boxers and aims at giving an objective view, which is why it won't get any discussions started.)

 

Fair analysis.

Did you consider the size difference ?

 

This whole size difference is a valid issue and I admit to being guilty of not taking it in to account at times. Given the differences in weigh-in rules now to 20, 30, 40 years ago, it becomes very relevant.
If someone knows, I'd be interested in the "walk around" (between fight) weights of Calzaghe, Hopkins, Jones versus Hagler.

My educated guess would be Hagler walked around between 165-170. I would think guys like Calzaghe/Hopkins with their height and modern weigh-in rules could conceivably be 200 lbers between fights. That's a big size difference and tough to overcome even for the great Hagler.

 

...and Calzaghe's second half success would be dented by being a guy who always struggled with 168 (never made a secret of it) and has to squeeze into 164 for this matchup. Whatever you think of JC's quality as a fighter, it would be an immense challenge to beat Hagler when you're weight weakened.

 

Hagler; close decision.