Would Joe Calzaghe be able to go threw RJJ's resume undefeated?

[JAB5239]

I agree also. It's the height of fanboy hubris to assume Joe could go to heavy and beat Ruiz when the guy so far has looked like **** at LHW. And before you say it's "Hopkins style" Hopkins is 100 years old.

I'm sure the Ruiz that beat Holy has a real hard time with tiny ass Joe and his thunder slaps.

Of course, it was also a prime Calzaghe who fought Hopkins eh.

He's barely half the fighter he was a few years ago.

Maybe so, but why did he wait so long to fight the big names? Calzaghe is an excellent fighter. But struggling with the likes of Robin Reid (was he in his prime here?) does nothing to inspire the confidence that he could beat the likes of Toney, Hopkins or Ruiz.

[SHB]

Maybe so, but why did he wait so long to fight the big names? Calzaghe is an excellent fighter. But struggling with the likes of Robin Reid (was he in his prime here?) does nothing to inspire the confidence that he could beat the likes of Toney, Hopkins or Ruiz.

Yeah, winning a decision against a world class opponent after breaking his hand in the 3rd round doesn't "inspire confidence". ****s sake.

He'd have beat the version of Toney that RJJ fought. No question. I'd actually pick a prime Toney to beat him but that was in no way, shape or form a prime Toney.

As for Ruiz, jesus christ. It's a pointless discussion.

Hopkins is an interesting one. A past-prime Calzaghe outworked a past-prime Hopkins. Any increased workrate from Hopkins would be negated by the vastly increased ability to actually punch Calzaghe would have had if they had met in 2002. Still close,but still a definite edge to Calzaghe IMO.

[JAB5239]

Yeah, winning a decision against a world class opponent after breaking his hand in the 3rd round doesn't "inspire confidence". ****s sake.

Point is, this is the best fighter he fought in his so called prime.

He'd have beat the version of Toney that RJJ fought. No question. I'd actually pick a prime Toney to beat him but that was in no way, shape or form a prime Toney.

Im curious as to how you think there is "no question" he would beat that version of Toney when he has never faced that calber of fighter in their prime. I like joe, but he's no Roy and has never carried the same kind of pop in his punches that Jones did at 168.

As for Ruiz, jesus christ. It's a pointless discussion.

The only reason its pointless is because Joe has never fought anyone remotely close to that size for us to guage him against. Never proven he could handle the difference in weight.

Hopkins is an interesting one. A past-prime Calzaghe outworked a past-prime Hopkins. Any increased workrate from Hopkins would be negated by the vastly increased ability to actually punch Calzaghe would have had if they had met in 2002. Still close,but still a definite edge to Calzaghe IMO.

Hopkins was much better defensively in 2002. This would have always been a close match up in my opinion, but I would favor the legend over Calzaghe.

[S A M U R A I]

Maybe so, but why did he wait so long to fight the big names? Calzaghe is an excellent fighter. But struggling with the likes of Robin Reid (was he in his prime here?) does nothing to inspire the confidence that he could beat the likes of Toney, Hopkins or Ruiz.

Calzaghe was calling out Hopkins about 7 years ago. The story goes: Hopkins signed, then priced himself out at the last minute. Believe what you will, but there is plenty of evidence which shows Calzaghe calling out Hopkins (and Jones, in fact) from many, many years ago. Another thing: consider that his promoter was Frank Warren, a man who likes to protect his "cash cows" as much as possible.

As far as I'm concerned, Hopkins and Jones wanted nothing to do with Joe Calzaghe when he was in his prime. This is not fanboyism, nor am I trying to defend Calzaghe, I'm just posting my opinion based on what I have seen, read, and researched.

As for the Reid fight, Joe had an injury (elbow, IIRC), and apparently was recovering from food poisoning. Again, believe what you will. In the post-fight interview, Joe admitted he fought a very bad fight and expressed disappointment with his performance. He said we will never see such a bad Joe Calzaghe performance again, and to date, I don't believe we have. Personally, I thought Calzaghe won the Reid fight, though it was close. More importantly, Robin Reid thought Joe Calzaghe won that fight, too.



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[SHB]

Quote:
He'd have beat the version of Toney that RJJ fought. No question. I'd actually pick a prime Toney to beat him but that was in no way, shape or form a prime Toney.
Im curious as to how you think there is "no question" he would beat that version of Toney when he has never faced that calber of fighter in their prime. I like joe, but he's no Roy and has never carried the same kind of pop in his punches that Jones did at 168.


I say there's no question as Toney looked like ****. More so than the small fact of who was his opponent that day. All to do with the weight - hell he was fighting at CW a year or so later!!

Power-wise, they were pretty comparable. Speed and angles are the key.

[IMDAZED]

Calzaghe was calling out Hopkins about 7 years ago. The story goes: Hopkins signed, then priced himself out at the last minute. Believe what you will, but there is plenty of evidence which shows Calzaghe calling out Hopkins (and Jones, in fact) from many, many years ago. Another thing: consider that his promoter was Frank Warren, a man who likes to protect his "cash cows" as much as possible.

As far as I'm concerned, Hopkins and Jones wanted nothing to do with Joe Calzaghe when he was in his prime. This is not fanboyism, nor am I trying to defend Calzaghe, I'm just posting my opinion based on what I have seen, read, and researched.

As for the Reid fight, Joe had an injury (elbow, IIRC), and apparently was recovering from food poisoning. Again, believe what you will. In the post-fight interview, Joe admitted he fought a very bad fight and expressed disappointment with his performance. He said we will never see such a bad Joe Calzaghe performance again, and to date, I don't believe we have. Personally, I thought Calzaghe won the Reid fight, though it was close. More importantly, Robin Reid thought Joe Calzaghe won that fight, too.

Excuse after excuse after excuse.

Food poisining? You guys are the same ones who claim Toney was out of shape against Jones.

[JAB5239]

Calzaghe was calling out Hopkins about 7 years ago. The story goes: Hopkins signed, then priced himself out at the last minute. Believe what you will, but there is plenty of evidence which shows Calzaghe calling out Hopkins (and Jones, in fact) from many, many years ago. Another thing: consider that his promoter was Frank Warren, a man who likes to protect his "cash cows" as much as possible.

This may very well be true. But if Joe wanted the fight he would have found a way to make it. Hopkins was already established as on of the best p4p fighters in the world, while Calzaghe refused to leave the UK. No?

As far as I'm concerned, Hopkins and Jones wanted nothing to do with Joe Calzaghe when he was in his prime. This is not fanboyism, nor am I trying to defend Calzaghe, I'm just posting my opinion based on what I have seen, read, and researched.

I disagree, but not because I think you're a fanboy or don't respect your opinion.

As for the Reid fight, Joe had an injury (elbow, IIRC), and apparently was recovering from food poisoning. Again, believe what you will. In the post-fight interview, Joe admitted he fought a very bad fight and expressed disappointment with his performance. He said we will never see such a bad Joe Calzaghe performance again, and to date, I don't believe we have. Personally, I thought Calzaghe won the Reid fight, though it was close. More importantly, Robin Reid thought Joe Calzaghe won that fight, too.

That is fair enough. But he wasn't impressive against the lightly regarded Bika either. A fighter who also doesn't come close to the caliber of fighter of even a weight drained James Toney.

[bsrizpac]

Of course, it was also a prime Calzaghe who fought Hopkins eh.

He's barely half the fighter he was a few years ago.

The levels of hyperbole Joe's fans will sink to to make him seem more awesome is staggeringly ridiculous. Give me a break.

[JAB5239]

Quote:I say there's no question as Toney looked like ****. More so than the small fact of who was his opponent that day. All to do with the weight - hell he was fighting at CW a year or so later!!

Power-wise, they were pretty comparable. Speed and angles are the key.

Its a small fact that he lost to the best p4p fighter of the last 20 years? Now that is funny!!

as far as where he was fighting a year or so later is irrelevant. Toney was and is notoriously lazy for long periods of time. He didn't become a fulltime cruiser till 97 or 98 if memory serves.

And power-wise and speed-wise I wouldn't put the best Calzaghe even close to Roy Jones at 168.

[The Scientist]

Toney, Hopkins (at 30) and Ruiz would be the end of his winning streak....hell I'll even throw in Tarver as a possibility.