Close fight. I'd lean towards Joe with his workrate and movement, though. But Ward would land the more damaging blows.
Agreed with Muzse. Ward has become perhaps the most underrated fighter on FB, because he's so disliked. Whilst too many on here like to lick Joe's nuts.
I like both Ward and Calzaghe so I don't have a horse in this race, but Calzaghe beats the living fuck out of Andre.
ward may not slap but his power is crap compared to calzaghe. ward cant punch at all. he may as well be slapping. calzaghe, when he actually turned his punches over, actually had good power.
This. Ward is a few level above Calzaghe. And seeing how he lost (imo) to a geriatric bhop, i fail to see how he would beat ward who has a similar style but his much more active and athletic
Very little chance of a knockout in this one but stranger things have happened: Nunn-Kalambay, Martinez-Williams.
Calz "beating the living fuck" outta Ward is one of the most absurd things I've ever heard, and a testament to how overrated slapper Joe has become.
Lol. Most media at ringside had hopkins winning. Calzaghe wiining easily is one of fightbeat biggest myth (not too surprising considering the proportion of brits on this site, coupled with the fact that brits are the most biased when it come to their fighters)
nonsense. Williams looked to have a solid chin and martinez wasn't known as a banger.....and Nunn-Kalabay was expected to be a counterpunching snoozefest.
While it's true that Calzaghe never fought a guy like Ward, the same is true on the flip side. Ward has never fought a guy with the workrate, movement, and hand speed of Calzaghe. I'm just not 100% sure Ward has the style to convincingly beat him. It's an even match up for me, with the difference being the speed and movement. I don't think Joe would stay in there and just let Ward rough him up. Would be a good scrap IMO.
Calzaghe can fight on the inside just as well as Ward and can turn his opponent comfortably. I'm kidding about it being easy but I think he has the ring IQ to match Ward.
And it's really odd because circa 2005, they hated his fucking guts. Then, because he beat a guy with one-punch and a couple of old guys...he's P4P Darling. I never rated him then now or ever. And he's a cunt.
What fighter of Ward's caliber has Joe ever given a pasting to? Ohhhh, that's right.... Joe never fought anybody as good as Ward. Ancient versions of Hop and Jones don't count.
I agree with you that there is no way that Calzaghe would dominate Ward. No way. However, I think you underrate the version of Hopkins that Calzaghe fought. The Calzaghe fight happened between dominating both Tarver and Pavlik. You have to give Calzaghe some credit for that win.
Ward would have SOUNDLY outboxed the Calz that beat Hopkins. The Calz of the early 00s was quicker and better and would be tougher for Ward.
Both would be the best opponent the other has faced. And both have attributes which would bother the other. Ward's defense and countering abilities, and accuracy would pose problems for Joe, and Joe's handspeed, awkwardness, and workrate would pose problems for Ward.