By Darren Munsey: As this is my first article for boxingnews24 I would firstly like to thank everyone taking the time to read it.
I am going to write about the legacies of Joe Calzaghe (46-0) and Carl “The Cobra” Froch (27-1, 20 KO’s) and try to determine which 1 will leave behind the greatest legacy. I thought the best way to do this was to compare their careers in 3 categories.
1. Boxing Skills
2. Entertainment – who would you pay to watch?
3. Records, including calibre of opponents.
So let’s start with boxing skills. For me it was quite easy to determine who has the best skills. Calzaghe’s foot movement, work rate, reflexes and lightning hand speed all show that his boxing skills out way Froch’s by quite a distance, Froch’s low hands means he is far to easy hit, if you couple that with his somewhat 1 dimensional front foot come forward style you have to make Calzaghe the more skilful boxer. Calzaghe showed in his fights with Hopkins and Kessler that when things are not going his way he can adjust his style to find a way to win. Unfortunately Froch couldn’t do that against Kessler.
Entertainment: This was quite tricky for me to determine, Joe has put on some great nights for the British public (Eubank, Reid and Kessler come to mind) but he has also been involved in far to many mundane run of the mill title defences in my opinion and his fight with Hopkins was a bit of a stinker which could have really put him on the map in the US. Froch on the other hand has been in several classic wars already (Kessler, Magee and Pascal). The fact that Froch has several technical flaws adds to the overall excitement to his fights because you know that he is going to get hit and his only chance of winning is by having a toe to toe brawl against his opponent. He is not going to outbox many world class fighters but he definitely can out muscle them. Froch knows his limitations and boxes to his strengths which are his body strength, granite chin and his heart. You know that Froch will never give up and it is guaranteed he will leave nothing in the changing room. With Froch’s never say die attitude along with his strengths AND weaknesses’ this all makes for great entertainment so I have Froch a slight winner on this one.
Records: Who can argue with a 46 fight unbeaten record with 22 title defences, undisputed super – middleweight champion and ring magazine champion at 2 weights? I certainly can’t, but I do think you should examine the level of opposition. Calzaghe’s most notable opposition came against Eubank, Lacy, Kessler, Hopkins and Jones. You could argue that 3 of those were way past their best and Lacy was nothing more than US media hype leaving only Kessler. Froch on the other hand has fought Pascal (now arguably the best light heavyweight in the world), Taylor, Dirrell, Kessler and Abraham in his last 5 fights. These are some of the cream of the division and none are over the hill age wise. what’s more with Johnson and maybe Ward next no 1 can ever say Froch ducks anyone. He fights the best at their best, I cannot say the same about Calzaghe unfortunately. Even with that being said as of today Calzaghe’s record still has more substance than Froch’s so I have to give this 1 to Calzaghe.
So there you have it 2-1 in favour of Calzaghe but not by the massive margin I originally thought I would have it by in favour of Calzaghe. What’s more even as I am writing this article I cannot but warm to the take on all comers attitude and the ”Lets go to war” fighting style of Froch so that got me thinking. If Froch were to win his next 4 fights which could be against Johnson, Ward, Bute or Kessler then 1 of Pascal (again), Hopkins or Dawson at light heavyweight would he leave a greater legacy than Calzaghe? I would have to sway towards yes but that’s just my humble opinion.
Thanks you again for reading. I am thinking my next article maybe along the lines of Froch vs Calzaghe, who would win?
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