Current Events > What does CE think of the Pride of Wales - Joe Calzaghe?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Dude retired undefeated and smashed both Hopkins and Jones in their own back yard. The sort of guy you didnt want to knock down cause hed just get back up with a fire kit under his ass. Massively underrated by Americans imo.

https://youtu.be/Z93vGUvhY_4?si=BH_Y9Z4xSt-JvGPi

When you consider that he couldn't really punch at full power because his hands were so fragile . . .

I have nothing against Calzaghe and think he was pretty damn good. But Jones had clearly fallen off by the time they fought. This wasnt the same Jones as the 90s Jones who was untouchable at Middleweight/Super Middleweight and into his early light heavyweight days. He went like a decade without losing a round back then.

Once he moved to heavyweight to fight Ruiz and then drop back down to light heavyweight he wasnt the same. The reflexes and speed were clearly not what they were and at this point he was roughly 35? Everyone ages different in boxing but he was clearly a different fighter. He managed to beat Tarver the first time but got smashed the next year. He ended up having a 3 loss skid where it was clear he was no longer the same fighter at all.

By the time Calzaghe got him he was in a 12 fight stretch where he went 5-7 and none of the wins were very impressive. Sure he hung on and managed to score some wins late in his career but hes not fighting elite guys either. He obviously loves boxing and he was something to watch in his prime of the 90s. But you can draw a line in 2003 where that ended and was no longer the same fighter.

I actually give him more credit for his victory over Hopkins. Hopkins was able to defy age almost more than any fighter I have ever seen and what he accomplished at an advanced age against some pretty good fighters was impressive.

I never saw in Hopkins the clear drop off that Jones had though he was obviously not the same the last 4 years of his career from 47 to 51. Still with that being said as good as he looked at times he was 43 by the time Calzaghe fought him.

I hate to sound like Im putting him down but I look through his entire career and one of the only notable names I see on there is Jeff Lacy. I mean if you wiki the guy his notable fights are Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. Thats pretty much it and we already know where they were in their careers.

He isnt a guy that jumps in my mind when it comes to all time greats despite the unblemished record.

Great post.

Man, I haven't seen that name in forever.