I've Recently decided as fight time draws near to carefully scrutinize this upcoming matchup b/n 2 excellent scholars in this game who show brilliant ring smarts coupled with awesome athletism. I want only the oldtimers on this forum to share their thoughts on this potentially historic supermiddleweight superfight with complete objective knowledge on their take on this fight. Joe calzaghe and what he brings to the table: Joe has perfect stance and balance as he quickly stalks his opponent. He is brilliant at instigating the infight, and once he gets you to commit he pulls out at juuuuuust the right angle as you fall into him he steps out a little and fires off an accurate roundhouse shot that lands flush on the top of the head. This gets his opponent to either retreat or to fight off balance which puts joe in charge. This is joe's advantage in ring generalship. The fact that joe has both a speed and an awkward style over his opponent makes for it impossible to properly prepare for him. Next, joe is as tough and durable with endless stamina make all that we discussed before added to this a no brainer for victory. However. Joe needs a fighter that will accomadate all this for this recipe to make the right batch of cookies. Unfortunatley, mikkel kessler doesn't go in the oven. I just spent the last half hour carefully studying the danes moves. And as an ardent student in the game, I find that mikkel makes as many careless mistakes in the ring as george W makes good decisions as president. Mikkel kessler and what he brings to the table: First off for these one dimensional fans who say kessler pulls STRAIGHT back are not paying attention. Kessler pulls back at a slight angle which keeps him out of danger but right in punching range. Also, kess has this handy ability to to suttlely walk his man down without them knowing it. And as for falling for feints, when you feint mikkel he feints you back. I also think that the dane uses his height as good as height can be used. His relaxation level in the ring in unrivaled. While some may think he's stiff, he is just keeping a disciplined guard without using too much energy. The overall synopsis: Wherein most cases you have a superfight the conventional wisdom says always go with the overall special talent. This is usually the safe bet. However this time, you have such a profecient, and yes almost robotic and pendulum, fighter. You have to ask yourself. Can extreme correctness alter sheer abstraction, or will the painting outsell the artist. Or, are we just to stop and wonder in awe until the day we see the outcome for ourselves. My guess as an addictive personality of this sport that no one can correctly or justifiably name a victor in this contest. While some will say kessler has never seen the style joe will bring or kessler is too strong and hits too hard with accuracy for joe. We don't really know for sure how much of these 2 can bring. Hell, kessler doesn't look like he's ever been in a real fight in there. All his fights look like he just got finished w/ a sparring session, and joe hasn't been challenged since the reid fight. These 2 will fight thier career defining fihts come nov 3, and then we will get to see the best of them. So, until then we'll have to just guesstimate at who's going to win. Because as much as I try to build up calzaghe's awesome skillset over kessler's textbook A plus i take into account mikkel's potential not being reached yet, and I cannot make a proper pick.............Now....... I dare you to!!!
Thats what makes it so exciting. You have never seen Kessler in problems, maybe Calzaghe can push him to the limit.
Very good analysis, Teetop. I will hold back a little for now, because I am currently viewing a wide range of JC fights, and I am also very tired atm. Your excellent analysis - is one of the best thus far. Loved this part - class: "Can extreme correctness alter sheer abstraction, or will the painting outsell the artist."
Calzaghe has not proven this very much - he tends to be willing to get to the in fight - funnily enough though - with jabbers such as Mario Veit, JC chose to box rather than fight for once. Marios punch resistance though was very pathetic to give enough clues.
I am not saying he can't. Unlike you, I don't say such things just because he doesn't do it alot. But thinking he is better on the outside than Kessler, or just as good - is delusional. Calzaghe is a fighter, and fighting in-close is his strength, and thats why he tries to do it as often as he can. Just like Kessler on the outside - Kessler can also fight in-close, but his strengths are from distance, where he can use his jab and sense of distance to control the fight, without taking too much risk - unlike Calzaghe, who takes tons of risks, and is very vulnerable, as proven vs ie Bika, Mitchell and Brewer, but he has a fighters heart, and no one can take that away from him. The rest you are saying is obvious.
You are loosing it. Your old prediction based on styles is good and very textbook. Your judgement of Kessler is very, very poor. And you overrate Calzaghe - and even more his opponents and resume. Claiming that Calzaghe is superior on the outside based on fights with Veit and Ashira prooves how stupid you are. Joe is very good from the outside - but the whole clue in this matchup is that Kessler is generally better on the outside - and Joe is on the inside, as said by DaneP. Blocky - seriously - get lost.
If it goes down as you claim, I'll personally bow down, take my hat of and eat it and play Singstars 24 hours in a row. Just to celebrate your predicition, your wisdom and your impressive physique. in fact - I might start a religion based on your superior intellect and God-like charisma.
