The Case Against Joe Calzaghe
August 10th, 2009
By M.T.H: Joe Calzaghe was one of the top five fighters that the small British principality of Wales has ever produced. He was a long reigning world title holder who staked a claim as arguably the best British Super-Middleweight of the last twenty years. Calzaghe’s life at the highest level of the sport began way back in 1997 when he faced former world title holder Chris Eubank for the lightly regarded WBO belt.
In his next fights Calzaghe overcame a late replacement, Branko Sobot, and a 39 year old from Paraguay who would go on to finish his career with a 61-14-4 record. Calzaghe’s first real challenge came in 1999 when he faced former belt holder and domestic rival, Robin Reid. Calzaghe struggled to overcome the wily Reid, and was lucky to be awarded the victory by the judges in a fight some feel Calzaghe actually lost.
It seems that Calzaghe was a contented Champion. He hung on to his WBO belt for 10 years, and made 21 successful defences against opposition that was often lowly and illegitimate. Although former world title holders like Byron Mitchell, Ritche Woodhall and Charles Brewer, as well as good domestic fighters like David Starie did provide more credible opponents for the Welshman.
Many of Calzaghe’s opponents showed no desire to win the fight, and some even seemed flabbergasted to have got the opportunity to fight for a world title. In 2001 Calzaghe did actually face a legitimate contender in unbeaten German fighter, Mario Veit. Calzaghe utterly outclassed and stopped him in the first round. Calzaghe’s career seemed to be in an embarrassing holding pattern when four years later Veit was given a rematch. The fight ended in a similar fashion with Calzaghe again winning a knock out victory.
It took the best part of a decade for Team Calzaghe to secure their fighter a career defining fight. When it eventually came, the opponent was one Jeff ‘Left Hook’ Lacy. Lacy was an unbeaten IBF belt holder. He came with a fearsome reputation. Although the fact that Lacy had previously struggled to overcome lowly opposition in the fights leading up to Calzaghe, perhaps meant that that reputation was somewhat inflated or perhaps even entirely unwarranted. Calzaghe thoroughly dominated Lacy and won via a wide unanimous decision. Calzaghe had now unified the IBF and WBO world title belts.
(Jeff Lacy has done nothing of note in the four years since his loss to Calzaghe, which only serves to reassert his hype-job status).
Resting on his laurels after the Lacy success, Calzaghe then defeated Reality TV show stars Peter Manfredo Jr. and Sakio Bika in his next two fights. Seemingly reluctantly Calzaghe then stepped up in class and signed a contract to fight the unbeaten, but unproven at the elite level, Mikkel Kessler.
Early in the fight Calzaghe struggled to overcome the one-dimensional Dane, but once the Welshman found his rhythm he managed to edge the fight. With this victory Calzaghe had unified the Super-Middleweight division, it had taken him over a decade, and in that time he had only faced a handful of credible opponents. This would be the last time that Calzaghe won a legitimate world title(s).
Calzaghe was a notorious stay-at-home fighter. He seemed reluctant to travel. All but five of his forty six fights took place in Great Britain. Only two took place in America. Calzaghe did somehow eventually manage to find his passport and the courage to face ring legend Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas for The Ring Magazine’s Light-Heavyweight title. Hopkins was approaching his mid forties and had lost two of his last four fights.
Despite this, Hopkins was able to give Calzaghe all kinds of problems, even dropping him in the first round. But because Calzaghe was the younger and fresher man, he was able to outwork the aging legend. However, Hopkins still landed the cleaner and more meaningful shots throughout the fight. The judges awarded Calzaghe a split decision victory; in a fight that a significant numbers of people felt that he lost.
Calzaghe was a notorious complainer. He would often complain that many of the top fighters would refuse to step in the ring with him. Having now defeated an American Legend and having fought on US television networks several times, Calzaghe was an established name.
He had the opportunity to take his pick of opponents. Many thought Calzaghe would face an unbeaten young champion like Chad Dawson or Kelly Pavlik, to cement his legacy. And despite being on record as saying that Roy Jones was ‘shot’ and ‘not worth fighting’ Calzaghe instead opted for the easy option of a fight with the ancient and decrepit Roy Jones Jr.
After twelve agonizing rounds of cringe worthy showboating, the “fight” was thankfully over. Calzaghe had won a decision that meant nothing and proved little. And with very little fanfare, Calzaghe announced that he was hanging up the gloves. Despite the questions that remained unanswered.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that Calzaghe was a good fighter. There is no doubt that he accomplished a lot in his career. There is no doubt that he could mix with the best fighters at the elite level. But Calzaghe never proved his greatness, because he never defeated another great fighter in their prime.
Tags: 19 Responses to “The Case Against Joe Calzaghe”
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Carter that was well thought out. I agree with most of it but a prime Bhop probably beats Calzaghe as he is able to follow up on the knockdown and not fade at the end.
As an American, I didn’t think that BH would beat Calzaghe, simply on the strength of styles. BH is not a hard heater and never has been. Sure he could knock out the likes of Tito, but it took him 12 rounds of his hardest punches and time, to wear him down to do that. Don’t get me wrong I like BH rough style of fighting. But as Taylor illustrated, that only works if you come to BH, not too quick and you don’t through too many punches. Because of that BH lack of power and Taylor’s quickness, strength and at time activity, BH was never able to take advantage of Taylor sinfully law guards. Calzaghe’s high volume punches and quickness gave BH on the problems of Taylor without the inherently defective boxing style and lapse in pace. As such, Calzaghe’s style would have tested BH even in his prime. I pretty much would give Calzaghe the win over BH on points every time, because BH simply didn’t have the power to make Calzaghe slow down. RJ, well it really is hard to argue that he wasn’t finished before he fought Calzaghe having lost 3 out of his prior 4 fights. The real problem with RJ wasn’t that he was shot as a fighter, it was exactly what Calzaghe’s father said, RJ simply lost his heart, and so he was content to just go the distance rather than fight, because he was too afraid of being hit that punch he did see (i.e. RJ never got over being knocked out by Tarver, he fought all of his subsequent fights in that same defensive manner with little to no activity) knocked out. Had RJ had heart, even at his age he had enough speed and power to beat Calzaghe. But it just goes to show that without heart nothing else matters. It may be that by the time that Calzaghe got going there just were no real fighters set to challenge him. So that would make him the best of his time. But that probably isn’t likely, the three fights that Calzaghe should have taken rather than BH and RJ was Dawson, Johnson and Tarver, as all of those fighter were ripe at the same time as Calzaghe. And Johnson claims that Calzaghe had ducked Johnson for years. Johnson is a hard hitter, quick and keeps his activity level up; all the problems Calzaghe didn’t have in BH and RJ. Dawson is similar to Johnson, speed, power and a good activity level. I believe that Tarver would have beat Calzaghe based on style. Tarver wouldn’t have the problem of a lunging boxer, through half punches that he had in BH. With Calzaghe coming straight to Tarver it would have been a question of who was the stronger fighter. Tarver’s fights with Johnson were a microcosm of what Tarver’s fight with Calzaghe would have been.
MTH – Have read both articles pro JC and against JC’s legacy. A very good bit of writing, showing both sides views. Congratulations
Is MTH a Yank by any chance? Why should a champ like Calzage go chasing Americans who won’t come to the UK to fight the champion?
Rubbish article, all be spouted before.
Johnson signed contracts 2 times to fight Calzage,calzage pulled out both times with some lame-brain excuse.Two months after pulling out against he defended against an unknown russian.e even defended against that Danish based Kenyan Lt.middleweight,who hurt his arm early in the fight,and yet Calzage could`nt put him away.He defended against Manfredo who also came up from lt.middle in the contenders.Calzage was obviously a good fighter,but a great fighter ,he most definitely was not.Both Calzage and Hatton were two of the most protected world champions in modern-day boxing
lol i do agree with the fact that both bop and joes were stay at home fighters. chris eubank did fight tompson after joe and lost twice. he was done and dusted so stop trying to defend joe record its kind of sad. accept that joe is a good fighter but with a very padded record. i can’t be the only british person to think this.
Calzaghe… lol what a joke … i seen bums fight better and fight better opponents at the park … please stop insulting Marciano by comparing him to this scrub
The man was great. Some would never give him his due no matter who he fought. He was entertaining, humble, and had a unique boxing style. Joe Calzaghe could beat anyone who is out there right now. It is irrelevant because he has retired. He is awesome and great. Let him enjoy his well deserved retirement.
To everyone who’s slagging off the article M.T.H has done a case for calzaghe aswell…
Which is a better one lol
Good article. But as u can see some people in the comment section are in denial of this and see the article as a complete joke. lol
I guess I got away with it!
He did fight Thompson after Calzaghe so that arguement is irrelevant
Someone name a fighter joe ducked
or a fighter that would of beaten him.
A nineties roy jones jr maybe but who else in joes era.
Ricky, you dont know what you are talking about. Save your comments for youtube.
At least Calzaghe fought outside his home country, because I think you will find that Roy Jones has never fought outside the US (as a pro).
But yet, you all worship him as one of the best boxers the world as ever seen.
B-Hop could have fought Calzaghe in 2002, a fee was agreed in principle but then at the last minute B-Hop pulled out demanding more money.
I can’t believe you yanks don’t rate Sakio Bika, he should be in the Super Six Tourney instead of Jermaine Taylor, Dirrell or Ward. Totally unproven americans, and consequently over-hyped.
Very biased article. I have always found it interesting that it is an acceptable for an American fighter to say ‘I’m the champion, you’ve got to come to me’ and not travel to Britain, but when a Brit has the same attitude somehow it is different – could someone explain that.
I have never read such rubbish (enter stronger word here) in all my life! It seems that for 10+ years that Calzaghe has simply been in the right place at the right time and lucky to even be a boxer! I agree with parts of this article but it smacks of somebody writing something to go against the grain of what the majority actually believe just for a reaction. You mention that Lacy has gone on to do little which only serves to his hype-job status but then fail to mention that after Hopkins lost to Calzaghe, he won in spectacular style against Pavlik, who you also say Calzaghe should have fought.
What a joke of an article RJJ and Hopkins Ducked Eubank and Benn for yaers before Calzaghe beat him. Then they ducked Calzaghe
the reason lacy hasnt done nuttin since calzaghe is because when you take a systamatic beating for 12 rounds you will never be the same.before calzaghe you americans were saying hes king kong, and just coz calzaghe battered him- lacy must be overrated. the fact is history knows calzaghe was the under dog that night and he won.its not calzaghe’s fault he didnt face rjj and bh in their prime, why couldnt they step up to the mark 5-6 years ago? and b-hop isnt doing that badly afterwards is he- absolutly hammering one of the US’s “finest”.
Did Eubank not fight Carl Thompson at cruiser at the very end of his career. I’m pretty sure that it was his last chance saloon.
In fact, im 100% sure he was a SMW at the time of fighting Joe. Collins pulling out wasn’t Joe’s fault either.
Slightly biased article but at least it serves an opinion. Joe made the most of his boxing career & made good money & it has to be pointed out that not many Americans come over here to fight, especially somebody as awkward as Calzaghe. He was in Roy & Hopkins age group so why not fight them if they wanted to.
& a final point is that most people avoided the whole SMW division & jumped straight up to LHW. Why would that be?