When was the peak of Joe Calzaghe?

Agreed. Hence why even though he may not have been physically in '05-07 what he was in '99 or '02, he was still good enough physical in the Lacy/Kessler fights and hit his peak in terms of his ring smarts and overall level of ability.

 

Don't know... Something I always wondered is, was the pre-slappy Joe better than the prime Joe? In his earlier career Calzaghe had real punching power, until he became Calslappy because of his brittle hands. So even if he became a better fighter, he had lost a lot of his punching power.

 

Not a exactly a Calzaghe expert but I struggle to see how one can't vote for the period where he beat Mitchell, Lacy and Kessler. Lacy and Kessler are probably his biggest wins alongside Hopkins and both where good fighters who he convincingly beat.

 

Regarding his power, decking Eubank should count for something. Chris specifically commented after the fight that Joe pounched hard, and went on to fight Carl Thomson at Cruiser twice, without hitting the floor.

 

When he was amateur. His hands were badly damaged before he turned pro and was told that he wouldnt be able to box before turning pro at one stage.
He had chronic hand trouble throughout his pro career fighting with badly damaged and broken hands in many bouts

 

2000-2004

 

He got better and better, shame he could never use his broken hand for real power

 

He had good power in his early years in my opinion, he did manage to floor Eubanks, who was one durable *******.

 

Tis true! Anyone can plainly see that pre-"brittle-handed" Calzaghe's punching technique was still "slappish" even prior to his "supposed" brittle hands. He definitely was less a power puncher than prime Bernard Hopkins. I suggest Slappy White's so called brittle hands are more a result of his infamous career long terrible punching technique rather than anything to do with "brittle bones". :yep

 

Interesting question.

There's a difference between physical prime, and mental prime - Calzaghe was a good case in point..... in that he had the best moments of his career when he was on the slide physically.

I'd say 2006-7, even though physically he peaked probably in the early 00's.

 

Calzaghe dropped Eubank heavily in the first , not something that happends very often.

Joe was a great puncher up to British level , just need to look at the delaney fight to see this.

From around the Sheika fight , he also showed good power , winning on cuts , but doing real damage.

I think Joe then realised that if he took something off his punches , then his speed increased to a point where he had a distinct advantage.

Joe stopped some good fighters , and they may have been TKO's , but I dont see many KO's on Hopkins record and he punched probably with equal power.