Would Joe Calzaghe Go Through Nigel Benn And Chris Eubank's Resumes Undefeated

Eubank lands screamers in the 3rd and 4th rounds; a right hand in the 3rd and a left uppercut in the 4th - they weren't just the two best punches of the fight, they were two of the best punches you'll see. It's a shame we only ever saw flashes of excellence from Eubank post-Watson II, with the exception of the Wharton fight (excellent skill in every second for nine rounds straight).

Collins clearly wasn't in Eubank's class (or even the class below that top-class), but still Collins clearly wins 9-3 (1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 to Collins, and 2, 3, 11 to Chris) on passion, will and wild workrate.

 

I think the American judges probably gave the 5th and 6th to Eubank based on sneakier skill when he managed to slow the pace a bit, crafty jabbing and cool ducks/slips. I give them to Collins though for the workload, it's very hard not to considering Eubank is only really throwing single jabs.

 

Good thread: boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=485206 I like that thread.

 

The victory over Eubank certainly helped pave Joe's pathway.. But a fighter as talented as Joe would have found another way if not for Eubank..:yep

 

Too mentally weak to have come back from a loss I'm afraid. And one of Wharton, Francis or Liles out of three fights would've beaten him.

 

Byron Mitchell caught him with a fantastic short hook up close that put Joe down hard, but he got back up and came on even stronger, stubborness was a bigger problem for Joe than his punch resistance ever was, even when he did get put down, he always got back up again and never looked badly shaken

When I read the title for this thread and thought about it, G-Man was the first one who came to my head who may give Joe a big problem, but I think as Manny Stewart always used to say, Calzaghe workrate and Rhythm would always give a puncher more hassle than a punch from them could give Calaghe in the long run.

 

Your opinion on Joe being mentally weak, how did you come to that conclusion?

 

Fear of flying (had to be sedated with valium), fear of losing ('If I lose a fight, I don't think I could cope'), fear of leaving Wales (never came to England until fight night, ever), fear of fighting (once or twice a year for 12 years, pulling out of 4-5 fights at hours notice), fear of sparring (hardly ever sparred), fearing of being hurt ('I wouldn't like to be in some of the wars Benn and Eubank were in, pissing blood afterwards and all that stuff man, I'd have to quit if it was like that because there's life after boxing'), fear of the cameras (ridiculously shy for most of his career), etc.

 

Come on now, he was a bit of a diva but when he did go to england in a sort of "prospect vs prospect" match, he had to go to Es*** and get spat on while walking in to fight the fellow undefeated power puncher and home favourite Mark Delaney.

He soon shut the partisan crowd up by dropping Delaney seconds into the fight on his home turf

*that's ess ex

 

Bulldog,

I also noticed you voted that Calzahge could not have gone undefeated through either of Benn and Eubank's resumes...

Which fights do you think he loses?

I voted Benn's but not Eubank's. As Eubank fought at CW, I am not sure Joe would have been able to beat Thopmson, actually I would bet on Thompson..

I think Benn and Joe would have been very interesting.. a potential loss for Joe, but I would lean more towards Joe's speed and work rate making it hard for Benn.. Benn also made a comment about thinking Joe would have probably given him a good going over..

Out of Benn's resume, the biggest one for me is McClellan, again was a murderous puncher.. He potentially could end Joe's night early.. But wasn't the smartest fighter.. If he didn't get Calzahge out of there in the first half of the fight, I think Joe overwhelms him.

A green version of Joe already beat an older version of Eubank that wasn't shot clearly enough for me to believe, the best version of Joe always gives him hell... Maybe a bit closer, but Joe beats him.

 

He's too mentally weak to beat Iran The Blade Barkley, the baddest mofo in South Bronx - 'a bad, bad man - if I was a middleweight I wouldn't go anywhere near that guy' -Mike Tyson said! He struggled enough with Charles Brewer, life and death, and Iran is a different kettle of fish.

Watson, McClellan, and Eubank also take him.

 

In Eubank's resume, Lindell Holmes is a MAJOR threat - he hit much more powerfully than Byron Mitchell and ancient Roy Jones with right hooks.

 

Also, Tony Thornton had a very sneaky right hand and one-shotted at least a few guys with it.

 

So he didn't want to die on a plane, understandable.. I am scared shitless as well, but i do it when I have to..To me it shows mental toughness to do something you are genuinely afraid of..

again, sometimes fear drives a fighter to be even tougher.. fear is not such a bad thing in a fight, does it mean he is mentally weak? not necessarily. It seems like you took this statement and ran with it..

Fighters have different habits, he did leave Wales, again assuming he was actually afraid of leaving, he faced fears. Admirable characteristic..

Joe did have genuine hand problems, he often broke them in training from what I understand..

Never heard he was afraid to spar..

Keep in mind boxing is a business, Calzaghe is a dad.. There is life after boxing. I don't think any of the above actually means he was weak mentally..

In his defense, he proved a lot of mental toughness in the ring.. The rest is trivial.