I don't see Ward/Calzaghe as a wash in favour of Joe at all. As Hut keeps pointing out, Ward DID have a significantly easier time than Kessler. And if Ward beats Froch, he won't have Joe's longevity at 168, but he'll have a better core of quality wins than Calzaghe at the weight. Keep in mind, if the Super Six idea is floated back in Calzaghe's prime, he's Bute.
Look at you throwing your jumper and rucksack off hoping the bear will stop to sniff it. I won't Slice, I won't! I'm gonna eat ya!
Calzaghe outboxed and outhustled Kessler clear as day for six straight rounds. Ward headbutted Kessler's heart from him. Additionally, you can dismiss this as much as you like, but Kessler was unbeaten and a unified champ when Calzaghe beat him. He then took a looooong time off, so much so that a lot of people wondered if he'd quit the sport. His return was a very average effort against some garbage fighter. These matter, no doubt about it. MTF
I shouldn't have bothered in this thread; Slice has said everything worth saying on the matter. Honestly, I can't see how anyone can say Ward is better than Calzaghe. He just clearly isn't. He's very average and a dirty bastard to boot. Calzaghe would have peppered his face for him. MTF
Froch already has this, but I'd never, in a million years, pick Froch to beat Calzaghe. Joe would have tortured Froch. MTF
He would have fucked Queen Elizabeth long time "like a right proper black snake, INNIT?... go on, love, give us a bit of the auld in n' out" -- Her Majesty, to the undressed Bob Foster
I think Ward will prove to be a much better fighter than Froch though. We'll have to wait and see how Ward's career pans out.
Foster could have possibly knocked Calzaghe out..if he took him out early. Joe seems vulnerable in the early rounds. But the longer the fight lasts the more frustrating it would be for Foster given Calzaghe's ADVANTAGES in speed, workrate, elusiveness and southpawedness. Ultimately, Foster is too big and too rangy and would win by early KO or decision.
he would have knocked Bernard out, man... you are blind to how fucking GARBAGE these guys he's fighting are If Chad Dawson, who is fucking clueless, could be appearing to walk Hopkins down as early as round 1, a real fighter like Foster would beat him to death And Calzaghe has NOTHING for Foster
The annoying thing is that I suspect Ward would have won anyway, but he resorted to dirty tactics to get that W: no doubt about it. I'm not even against roughhouse tactics per se, they are part and parcel of boxing IMO, but if you are comparing Calzaghe and Ward's respective performances against Kessler, you have to take into account that Joe outboxed and outhustled Kessler from halfway, whilst Ward clinches, punched and butted his way to victory. MTF
How "garbage" Hopkins' opponents are is irrelevant actually. Hopkis himself isn't garbage and he's never shown to be either hittable or vulnerable to punches. We can't assume that Foster would knock him out just because Foster is FOSTER. Btw...I'm (conveniently) talking abou tthe Bernard of a few years ago who beat Tarver...not the recent guy who fought Dawson and the Frenchman.
Tarver couldn't carry Foster's jock It's easy to be unhittable when your opponents are imbeciles (yes, Tarver is very much included) and they don't know how to deal with you trying to hug them the whole fight
I agree that he was. Never said otherwise. I'm simply referring to the Bernard who fought Tarver...the fighter of a few years ago. The tarver name is actually irrelevant, what is irrelevant is the timeframe. Hopkins has chin, guile, stamina. I see no reason why Foster owuld KO him..just on the basis of him being Foster.
But you can't just disregard the opposition when making claims about a fighter's skills. It was a good win for Hopkins historically...but Tarver (who was nothing that special to begin with) looked like he needed a nap for most of that fight. The jump in class between Foster and Tarver is HUGE...and it IS relevant to the discussion.
Hopkins would lose to Foster, no question. I do think the Hopkins from about five years ago goes this distance, however. Shoot me!