This matchups probably been done numerous times, but what the hell. I think this is a solid matchup and tough to call. I'd favour Calzaghe, but not by much. Ward is technically very sound and very good at what he does. I think he could handle the incoming and frustrate Calzaghe. Tie him up etc, take Calzaghe out of his rhythm. We know that Calzaghe going forward is brilliant, but against Ward I think he'd definitely have to alter his game plan in order to win.
Calzaghe clearly. Any posts by the Celtic alliance or their accomplices on Joe Calzaghe should not be taken seriously as they are fuelled by hatred. Which makes this a landslide victory in favour of the Welsh wizard. End of discussion.
Calzaghe will REALLY REALLY want to fight WARD for 5-10 years but ducks him all the way into retirement.
There is a "controversial" decision. The 5 people worldwide who cared about the fight in the first place debate the nuances and scorecard for weeks. Everyone outside this group is annoyed seeing such a worthless thread bumped. This special panel of 5 will not be deterred by the general lack of interest however. Oh no, they will not! ~ years of ridicule and struggle ensue ~ They resort to creating their own discussion panel and meet once a year to talk about it. The next table over is a group who meet up annually to discuss a 1973 Belgian musical.
Calzaghe would pepper Ward all night long, easy win. Ward would change his nickname to S.O.J. after the fight
Yup, I'd take Ward. Dre might not be a big puncher, but he counters sharply enough to get Sloppy Joe's attention, and on the inside, I think Calz would be surprised at how physically strong Ward is, and how well he does at infighting. At 168, the only guys I'd take over Ward would be Roy, simply because Roy's speed and power would be too much for Dre to overcome. Also, if a prime Hopkins moved up, I'd take him over Ward as well, simply because he did everything Ward does, only better. But Calz? No, I think Ward handles Calz.
Yep, too much for Ward to handle. Calzaghe had a great boxing mind and knew how to adjust, Ward is good but he's just not on the same level as the Newbridge Nitrogen bomb.
Like who? If you say someone like Eubank, or Collins, I'll laugh. Jones would beat Ward. But there's no shame in that, Roy at 168 was one of the best fighters ever. You could make a decent case that Toney beats him also. A very good case. Can't see a good case for many others. Apart from maybe G-man, who would have a legit puncher's chance.
I don't see how anyone could pick Hopkins as a lock over Ward and not Calzaghe since Joe is obviously better when you remove the bias from your heart.
Bullshit. Calzaghe had a perfect STYLE to slap-avalanche-bemuse a FORTY-TWO YEAR OLD Hopkins who could only throw 25 odd punches a round. And he still barely did (on the night i scored it for B-Hop in fact).
<iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/16846330" width="500" height="375" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/16846330">Maniac / Michael Sembello / Flashdance Original Soundtrack</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user5178794">TIENDAEU</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
That's because you can't score a fight and you hate Calzaghe. Hopkins didn't do shit after round three bar the odd right hand.
Call it what you will, he was landing punches and winning rounds. More punches than Hopkins had ever taken in his career up to that point.
Hut hit it on the head. Hopkins hasn't been able to sustain a high workrate since about 03. And even STILL, the fight was close. Peak Hopkins kicks Joe's ass.
It wasn't close. Hopkins won rounds 1-3 (with a KD), and then lost everything after. Calzaghe beats any version of Hopkins. It wasn't because of age that he lost (he had more than enough stamina to pummel Pavlik for 12 rounds in the fight directly after), it was because Calzaghe adjusted and found his range.
Pavlik obviously wasn't on the same level as Calz. Perhaps that's what you wanted to hear. Kelly was slow, and one dimensional. Calz was not. Hopkins still had enough left to beat a sloth like Pavlik, but he didn't have a high enough workrate at that point to beat Calz.
Pavlik threw about half as many punches as Calzaghe. Calzaghe gratist jazzercize slap bemuser of are time. Old man have too bow down in reel life, young man to fast to powarful
