Style wise I notcied 2 things last night Kessler fights alot like Golota Calzaghe fights alot like Hopkins
dsimon writes: Agreed. I felt that way... I mean for Fuck's sake. Kessler WENT into the fight knowing that if he matched Calzighe punch for punch that Calzighe was the champion and would get the nod. THEN Kessler sees he can tag Joe by going to war with him. So like.... HELLO!!! Kessler isn't going to get a close decision and Kessler had some success making it a war and what does he do? He backs off and lets Joe throw punches all round and outwork him. And FINALLY when he does go to war he again tags Joe!!:doh: :doh: I thought Joe would win but I was very dissapointed in Kessler's fucking Orthodox, European, civilized way of approaching that fight. Whether it be cerebral as you say, or the veneer of civility, or respect I think he would have done a lot better just going to war.... Looking at Joe and imagining that he just raped his wife. That is why I think Hops would be a lot better, if for no other reason that he knows how to be a mean bastard when it suits his purpose. Good point and good thread Attraction, agreed!
dsimon writes: I just feel like Kessler should have known that he needed to go to war and was not prepared to. I am not one of those guys that critiscizes a guy for not risking life and limb in the ring but IMO Kessler did not look ready to leave it all in the square circle. I mean he had success when he risked it and went after Joe and he was in good shape... For the life of me I can't see why he wasn't willing to take some risks and open up more in the ring.
Wow, I can't believe someone read my post and can come with something so far off the point I tried to make. Did you actually read what I wrote or only tried to come up with something clever ????
Everytime Kessler hit Joe and hit him hard Joe would either stand and fight back or back off and pick kessler off easily with his boxing skills. I dont think we should underestimate the effect this would have Kessler. Kessler fought well and would have beaten EVERYOTHER guy in the division that night. Lets not take anything away from Joe - An amazing performance.
dsimon writes: That is what a war is. It is when you smack the guy and he responds in kind. That is nothing to get discouraged about.... I mean Taylor knocked Pavlik down throwing punches and Pavlik threw back.... you can't simply expect the guy you are fighting to go in a shell because you tagged him. In this fight Kessler hit big and Joe hit often. The difference was that Joe did his thing more often and Kessler, like Az said, decided to back up and off and box.
Good post. As far as the OP, Calzaghe didn't seem slower or sloppier at all, imo. Hell, I think he was at least as fast as usual and probably less 'sloppy'. There are very few guys who have styles that look 'exposable', but end up being even more effective against better competition. Hopkins certainly fits. Chavez fits. Hagler. Ottke. Pacq (but not always). And now, Calzaghe clearly fits.