How would Calzaghe do in the Super Six tournament?
November 27th, 2009
By Scott Gilfoid: Joe Calzaghe opted to retire recently rather than stick around and take his chances and risk his unbeaten 46-0 record against the talented trio of Andre Dirrell, Andre Ward and Jermain Taylor, not to mention some good serviceable other fighters in the Super Six tournament such as Arthur Abraham, Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch.
Had Calzaghe stuck around and fought in the Super Six tourney, boxing fans would have had a clearer picture whether Calzaghe was really as good as his unbeaten record suggested that he was. The problem now is that we’ll never know if Calzaghe was truly a great fighter or just someone who benefited by fighting during a weak era in the super middleweight division. Ward, Dirrell, and Taylor weren’t big factors in the division during the time that Calzaghe fought and have only recently rose to the top of the heap since Calzaghe pulled out.
However, we do have Calzaghe’s performance against Kessler to give us a glimpse of how he’d do against the unbeaten American Andre Ward. Calzaghe defeated Kessler by a 12 round decision by the scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 116-112, whereas Ward recently defeated Kessler by a 11th round technical decision by the scores of 97-93, 98-92 and 98-92.
Although Ward’s final judge’s scores were only slightly better than Calzaghe’s, Ward seemed to dominate Kessler in a much more impressive performance than Calzaghe did. Ward punished Calzaghe for 11 rounds, tagging him with hard lefts and rights and rarely getting hit by him. The fight was totally one-sided and there was never a point in which Kessler was competitive with the young Ward.
While some of Calzaghe’s fans say that he was getting up there in age at the time that he fought Kessler and that he was 35, the fact still remains that Ward arguably looked better against Kessler did compared to Calzaghe. At 35, I think Calzaghe was still fighting at the top of his game. If there was any slippage, I couldn’t see it with my eyes. Calzaghe looked to be the same fighter he was earlier in his prime, maybe even better because of his better knowledge of the sport.
Below I give my estimate of how Calzaghe would so if he were to have stuck around and fought in the Super Six tournament:
Carl Froch – I see Calzaghe as being much too fast for Froch, and way too good on the inside for Froch to try and get an edge by playing rough at close range. Calzaghe would likely batter and out-slick Froch on the outside, making him miss much like Dirrell did in their October 17th fight. On the outside, Froch would have problems with Calzaghe’s speed, and at close range, Calzaghe would likely overwhelm Froch with fast combinations.
Prediction: Calzaghe by 10th round stoppage
Jermain Taylor – If this fight had taken place before Taylor’s recent 12th round TKO loss to Abraham, I would consider this a pick em’ fight. However, I think Taylor’s chin might be compromised enough for Calzaghe to have a chance of stopping Taylor if he could load up with a big shot. It would come down to Calzaghe’s brittle hands. If they held together, then I think he’d beat Taylor. If not, then Taylor would get the edge.
Prediction: Calzaghe by 11th round stoppage
Mikkel Kessler I suspect that Calzaghe would still have Kessler’s number if they were to fight right now. Kessler looked slow, robotic and mechanical with his movements in his loss to Ward on November 21st. Calzaghe, unless he’s slowed down since retiring last year would probably be still too good for Kessler. All Calzaghe would have to do is throw a lot of punches, stay in close and he’d have Kessler out of his comfort zone. It would be a tough fight for Calzaghe, as he’d take a lot of shots in the fight like he did last time, but I think he’d win it.
Prediction: Calzaghe by 12 round decision.
Arthur Abraham – Abraham would be too slow and limited to beat Calzaghe. Abraham fights hard only in the last 30 seconds of every round, and that just wouldn’t get the job done against Calzaghe. Abraham would find himself getting badly outworked and no matter how much he covers up and tries to blocks shots with his gloves, Abraham wouldn’t be able to block all the incoming punches from Calzaghe. At the same time, Abraham’s shots wouldn’t have the desired effect on Calzaghe and he’d take them without going down.
Prediction: Calzaghe by lopsided 12 round decision.
Andre Dirrell – Here is where Calzaghe would run into problems. Dirrell would likely have too much hand speed, and be too hard to hit with his excellent defensive ability. Dirrell, the bigger fighter, would pour in hard left hands that would cause Calzaghe problems. Calzaghe would try to get close enough to overwhelm Dirrell with punches, but the American wouldn’t go along with his plans by staying on the move and tagging Calzaghe with hard shots with both hands.
Prediction: Dirrell by 12 round decision.
Andre Ward – Calzaghe would really have a lot of troubles with Ward, simply because of Ward’s speed, power and movement. Ward would be a tremendous leap up in competition for Calzaghe and he’d be huge problems for him because of his speed. I don’t see this fight being even slightly close. Ward would likely beat on Calzaghe all night long and have an easy time winning a decision. I see Calzaghe taking more punishment in this fight than Kessler did in his loss to Ward. It wouldn’t be pretty sight.
Prediction: Ward by lopsided 12 round decision.
Tags: 40 Responses to “How would Calzaghe do in the Super Six tournament?”
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I think Calzaghe would have been the favourite.
We saw Calzaghe-Kessler, so we don’t need imagination… Calzaghe won.
I can see Calzaghe easily dominate both Froch and Dirrell, and overwhelme Taylor in a spectacular match.
I think only Abraham (for his power and defensive prudency) and Ward (for his talent and great number of punches) could have some more chances, but I would have bet on Calzaghe.
Not much to say here really – Ward dominated Kessler in a better fashion if you like. Kessler was 10 times better on the night of the Calzaghe fight though. In reality Joe’s win was more impressive, I still think Joe would beat Ward now and he’s been retired for a good while now. I don’t buy into the SM divsion is a lot stronger now, it’s just as bad if not worse. It’s true that this tournamount has brought some excitement back, no doubt but that doesn’t mean that the quality is better.
Garbage. The whole article.
For whatever reason, Kessler just didn’t show up against Ward.
As for how Calzaghe might have done: IRRELEVANT.
He’s retired.
Come on guys. I am sure we all have learned in recent years that styles really do make fights. That is precisely what makes this tournament so appealing. It really doesnt matter what your record or past opposition is or was; the talent in this tourney is vast and the styles are even more vast. It truly is a toss up.
We all know that Kessler is gonna beat Froch. We all know that Kessler vs Abraham is gonna be a really competitive fight. That being said, I still think that Ward would have an even harder time with Abraham than Kessler– based on styles.
Eh, the analytics are too much.
Boxers put brawlers on the outside. Calzaghe would put Abe and Carl on the outside– box them silly.
Joe dix pack has really competitive fights against slick boxers. Based on styles and despite the fact that Taylor has been punch drunk, he would give Joe dix pack alot more trouble than Abe and Carl.
And as for AD and AW, they are by far the most talented boxers– not fighters– of the tournament. Joe dix pack has really competitve fights against slick boxers.
In the end, it really all depends on who wants it more. I don’t believe I am so wrong in pointing out that Ward showed that a lion’s heart coupled with a superior-to-his-peer’s boxing ability is an absolute recipe for success.
Scott you are talkin rubbish calzaghe had an amazing work rate that dirrell and ward would never of lived with. Who has ward beaten for you to give him so much credit. Miranda and kessler were useless according to you so ward also has fought nobody and never will because apart from dirrell all the other competition is no good. Untill you have actually put on the gloves and fought then you should give boxers alot more respect. You should take a long look in the mirror because you have an absolute cheek to write about a sport you truely know nothing about.
Calzaghe hand picked his apponents. GOOD ONE LOSER
He beat and lets be honest ended Mikkel Kessler and then went out and beat Bernard Hopkins who all americans say was too old bla bla bla. If Hopkins is so old why did he school Pavlik who you americans used to say would beat Calzaghe. What we need is Hopkins school ward,dirrell like he did with Pavlik then you cant say anything about Calzaghe.
calzaghe overrated,,,to affraid of losing his 0,,he beat hand picked apponents
Calzaghe, would win this tornament hands down, dirrell an ward may be quicker than joe but boxing abilaty would have 2 go 2 calzaghe an he is much smarter boxer than the pair of them. Ward may not have beaten kessler if it was not 4 joe, as he used the calzage fight as a as a way 2 beat kessler, he seen that speed an the southpaw style where the way 2 beat kessler
Calzaghe would hammer all of these fighters even at the age he his know the only fighter likely to give him problems would be abraham with his power but it’d just be the same as when he fought lacy. Calzaghe hasn’t struggled against many fighters if he as a good camp he wins well if he doesnt he still wins but people say he isnt as good as we thought either way he beats everyone. and u saying calzaghe would beat froch bt not dirrel conradicts froch beating dirrell cus he’s to defensive minded and how would calzaghe take more of a beating than kessler when he’s quicker and stronger.
Joe would beat them all, same night too!
If Dirrel lost to Froch what does that tell you! That said, if he actually let his hands go I think he would beat Calzaghe
calzaghe isnt young and this is a long tournement about 2 years so he was never gunna enter it and ward and dirrell an abraham have only just broken onto the main seen he wasnt gunna fight them wen no one knew them boxing is bussiness names make money non were names bk then
Joe would win every fight easy, Joe you no nothing about Boxing, you muppet!
Calzaghe nuthuggers refuse to look at facts…Calzaghe had trouble with Kessler while Ward crushed him..Its a fair question to ask how Ward would do and all indicators point to him doing pretty good.
are people not happy unless every fighter turns out like muhammed ali? calzaghe retired at a time when he was deteriorating, going down to hopkins and jones jr. he has a family to think about scott, he doesnt have to prove anything to people like you. kessler hasnt been the same since calzaghe beat him (taking nothing away from ward, it was an excellent performance).
i still think calzaghe would have won the tournament, easily, but by the time it finishes he will be hitting 40.
scott, stop writing about british boxers, you have no right to comment on them.
calzaghe is the best super middleweight of all time.
He’ll beat them all
funny how you think your fave 2 boys would beat joe. imposible.
theyd crap it in there corner.
joe wouldnt even need to be in the super six if he were around because hed still be the best in the world at that weight and would have every belt.
infact there wouldnt even be a super six tornerment.
Joe retired unbeaten because he had beaten every body there was to beat from his era.. he didnt need to fight the young pups coming up because if he did hed have critics like yo saying “there only raw novices” or if he got beat it would then be “joes to old now,” thats the bottom line.. 1ce your the best of your era time to hang it up
Wow Scott… your saying Calzaghe would beat everyone expect the americans yeah?
What a surprise.
Your an idiot.
Calzaghe would murder all these guys in the super 6 EASILY. If you’d seen him fight as many times as me you’d realise how truly special he was. There’s no way Dirrell and Ward, especially Dirrell would beat him, i mean come on Dirrell couldn’t even beat Froch who isn’t fit to lace Calzaghe’s gloves. If Calzaghe was American you’d be saying he was the best ever. Also Calzaghe fought Kessler when Kessler was younger, hungrier, unbeaten and full of confidence in his prime and wasn’t ring rusty like he was versus Ward (You said it Scott) You’ve just confirmed again Scott what an absolute racist, biased, retarded moron you are.
Every boxer that was put in front of jc he beat. This includes B-hop and RJJ baring in mind THEY refused to fight him and thats why he fought them late on. Its a pity you can come on this sight and read about upto date boxing and not a liud of C”"p that some idiot writes just to wind people up. I am suprised you are a loud to write you articles and youve not been removed. AA to win now kessler has lost.
for me, you could add Calzaghe and Pavlik tomorrow to make an 8-man round robin and let them fight to catch up on the 1st round of the tournament.
Calzaghe wins the lot hands down. without any question whatsoever. he has found a way, even in the face of criticism, to find a way past anybody and everybody that has ever been put in front of him.
he retired on top of his game and is many many light-years ahead of the rest.
the only man you could give a puncher’s chance to, would be Abraham. and even then, I dont see Calzaghe losing.
The idea of comparing Calzaghe with the Super Six tournament is pointless, because Calzaghe retired.
Scott Gilfoid, you are clearly biased, because you give more chance for Taylor to beat Calzaghe than Abraham and Froch both of them KO Taylor.
And btw Abraham win over Taylor was a KO not a TKO.
Well two points mainly.
Firstly, Joe hung up the gloves long before this idea really started to take any form.
Secondly, trying to judge two fighters based on their performances against a common opponent is just a near stupid thing to do.
On a peraonal note Calzaghe would Jeff Lacy Dirrell & Ward, and Taylor wouldn’t stand much of a chance going the full 12.
The Europeans are “serviceable”, while the Americans are “talented”? That is simply idiotic. People like you, Mr Gilfoid, give USA its bad name.
What a load of nonsense. Calzaghe would have taken the tournament hands down. None of these guys will ever equal his record. Chirs Eubank was a bonafide elite fighter and Kessler in his prime was almost undefeatable. Give credit where it is due as Calzaghe has fought and beat a lot of champions and former champions.
Not a bad article for a change! though we’ll never know! I don’t think Calzaghe would have been a walk over for any fighter today even if he were to lose, and you’re underestimating his resourcefulness!
calzaghe is overrated
You started so well, then said ’servicable’ relating to the European fighters. Now 2 of them had knocked the talent out of Taylor. Froch had chased the talent out of the ring against Dirrell. Ward has had one good fight.
Its ok though Scot i know you are on the wind up, you are no boxing fan, you don’t care about boxing. You like to stir peopel up, and that you are good at, one of the best. As an internet wind up you are top quality i salute you. You make me laugh daily.
I think Abraham, and Ward would fare best. Dirrell does not have enough experience. There is a giantic difference between Froch and Calzaghe.
scott at least this article was not just simply bashing calzaghe just for the sake of it, there were for the first time ever some slight undertones of compliments from you towards calzaghe. Also at least your points were constructive, and i’ll give you +1 on your credibility score for that. But that still leaves you at -65 lol.
JOE CALZAGHE IS A LEGEND, THE BEST 168 OF LAST TEN YEARS, A LEEEEEEEEEEEEGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNDDDDD
SO LEAVE HIM ALONE.
The tournament will determind who is the best 168 of 2010 and is an exciting tournament.
Joe has nothing to prove, he accomplish all.
Give credit to the ones that deserve credit.
Peace
In your hypothetical Calzaghe v Ward fight, would elbows and head-butts be punished?
I see calzaghe UD over froch, late stoppage of taylor, UD over kessler, dirrel and abraham and losing by stoppage late on against ward.
PS Ward or Abraham for super 6 title
all these sorts of questions are endlessly debatable and completely silly. who would win in a fight between a dog and a monkey? superman vs. spiderman? jesus and kali? i’ve got a better matchup: who will win between you and your grandma when she finally tries to kick you out of her basement?
What a load of absolute gonads. Fighting in a weak era in the super middleweight division? He was fighting in his era.
I tell you what, go back in your time machine a little bit. Chris Eubank would have kicked seven barrels of shyte out of anyone in the super six, even after the Watson fight. Ask Calzaghe about him.
Calzaghe would win with one arm tied behind his back
I agree mr hands of stone
Write something with substance if your capable. It’s not all about getting comments, the majority of people who visit this site do so for the latest boxing news. Not for some biased American predicting every other American will beat anyone outside of America. Oh well…if it helps you feel wanted that your work causes controversy…
I actually can’t wait until Dirrell and Ward face off. Whats your prediction going to be…they both win? The first ever decision were both boxers were soo good, they both deserved to win…???
Dirrell & Ward are not fit to carry Calzaghe’s spit bucket!