Who is the more versatile/adaptable fighter? Mayweather or Calzaghe?

Should have made a poll out of this one. As far as versatility and adaptability (if thats even a word ) go, my vote would be for JC. Mayweather can look awkward and confused at times when going up against "different" styles, whereas JC adjusts, adapts, and can change his style as needed. This brings up another question; which style would he use against BHop, a master of the sweet science? I see JC going SRL and unleashing flashy flurries that "wow" the crowd to get the decision

 

ok disregard the poll comment in my last post....apparently I wasn't paying attention

 

Let me also say, the best of the previous era, Roy Jones Jr., is clearly a cut above just about every fighter in history at his best.

 

Yes. When he chooses to do so, absolutely, way more accurate, and he is a bigger puncher for his weight class.

 

It hard to argue with you but I'll try. In the versatility part of boxing I think Floyd is better skilled than Joe except in combination punches. In adaptibility I think Floyd got the advantage because he been in tough battles in his career and showed the heart and skill to come threw and win. It not Joe fault that nobody ever push him or almost beat him. Kessler is a great fighter and I wouldn't be shocked if Kessler is a hall of famer when his career is over but I thought Joe beat him without having to much trouble after the 4th round. I want to see Joe struggle in a fight against a great fighter and come back and show his greatness in the fight. I think if he fought Roy Jones and B-Hop in their primes and his prime to see how would he react in trouble. Thats why I think Floyd is the more adaptable fighter.

 

i say joe.

why? because he has less godly talent than floyd. not saying he's slow or anything.

because floyd is so damn fast and has snake like reflexes he hasn't really needed to struggle or do much differently. he fights his own way and makes opponents fall into his trap.

joe has faced more adversity than floyd overall, and each time he has changed his style totally in order to win.

but if we are going on pure boxing skills and physical talent then floyd wins hands down, easily.

i truly think calzaghe shows more variations in his game than floyd. but due to less talent than floyd, some of his fights look harder than floyd's hence why people think floyd adapts better.

 

Floyd been tested in his biggest fight and come through when it looked bad for him. Joe is great but I want some one to push to the limit to see whether he'll break or come through

 

:good It is.

 

tough choice. Both are extremely adaptable as we saw against Judah and Kessler. I gave Joe the nod ever so slightly.

 

While Mayweather's adaptibility is underrated (he can fight as a slickster, a pure boxer, or a more assertive counter-punching boxer-puncher) I think there are very few boxers who can match Calzaghe in this regard. I've seen Calzaghe through most of his career, and watched him adopt the style of a boxer, a puncher, a swarmer and (perhaps most often) a flexible hybrid of a boxer and a swarmer.

Furthermore, while Mayweather's infighting is also underrated, I've seen only a handful of boxers who can fight as effectively on the inside and the outside as Calzaghe. For instance, the Lacy domination was so comprehensive because years of fighting in the UK had taught Calzaghe the art of infighting, which many American refs do not allow, preferring to break boxers as soon as possible.

While I think Mayweather has the better resume and is the better boxer overall, when it comes to the category of adaptibility there are very few who can match Calzaghe. Indeed, like his personality, it's something that is similar to Lennox Lewis: both are aloof and mentally stable outside the ring, and both could change styles to fit differing opponents (Lewis was never a swarmer, but he could box, punch, box 'n' punch, and brawl).

 

Excllent comments. I wouldn't bet against either of these guys. If Calz. gets beat in the new future It will be because he's lost a step. Mayweather could maybe be beat by a Cotto Williams, but only if they show speed that's close to his. Hard to pick between, Mayweather or Calz. for vers./adaptability, kinda like picking out the best of 2 great beers.

 

Of course it's Joe

He can brawl with the best of them, he can fight on the inside (infact many clueless yanks thought he was nothing but an inside fighter at first) or he can box as shown in the Kessler fight. He can counter, or he can attack

Mayweather can undoubtedly do all of the above, unfortunately he usually sticks to countering off the backfoot and displays his adaptability far less regularly. I'm almost begging him to come forward at times, and display his full potential, instead of boring us all to tears

 

I would go with Joe.

Joe does not seem to have a "style" that would cause him problems if his heart is in the fight. Where as educated pressure with a good Jab seems to bother Floyd.

Joe basically can do everything as a boxer and extremly well. Floyd cannot brawl and swarm as well as he can box on the outside. Joe can.

 

It's not even a comparisson . . . no contest . . . PBF wins by a mile. :yep

 

Floyd.

He's shown more versatility by fighting a larger variety of fighters and in more than one weight class.

*He needs to fight Margarito.