The smooth pure boxing technician with a piston jab against the old defensive master. Who do you see winning this interesting chess match? Would Kalambay's movement trouble a boxing craftsman like Benton, much like it did with Benton's student Mike McCallum? I think Kalambay's jab helps him win this one.
I feel like Benton's main success would come by slipping Kalambay's jab and countering with something straight. But I can't see this being a viable way of winning without relying on Kalambay to step in after throwing the jab, to try and land something else. Kalambay wouid undoubtedly try and go for a three-piece combo of something at some point, but I think after being made to miss a couple, or tasting a counter or two, he'll decide to not do that again. I can't see Benton becoming a pressure fighter good enough to beat Kalambay. I haven't seen Benton vs Giardello, and I don't know if it even exists, but I tend to think put that one down to Benton being good enough to exploit a great, but inconsistent fighter (although if I'm wrong, please correct me). Benton out-working a disinterested Joey doesn't seem unlikely. I don't think Benton is good enough to beat the Giardello who beat Tiger, but like I said. I havn't seen their fight, if it even exists. I also tend to see Kalambay as a better technician than Giardello, anyway.
Benton’s win over Giardello just seems to have been his masterpiece performance. I wouldn’t put it down to any fault in Giardello. Nobody was at their best for every fight when they fought that often, especially against such a consistently high caliber of opponent. Even worse when one of those opponents was having a career night. Easier to score upsets/lose close decisions in 10 round fights, too. Not so much for 15 round title bouts.
