Joe Calzaghe VS. Roy Jones JR.

I believe it has been mentioned a FEW times that whilst both in their respective primes this fight could have happened. However as we know the fight did not take place until RJJ was shot and "No Ordinary Joe" was past it.

Lets stage the fight at LHW seeing as this could well have even been Calzaghes best weight considering the amount of times he apparently had to seriously push himself to make SMW, plus it is also most probably Roys best weight. Now this fight gets talked about so much on here but I think I am yet to read a real prediction.

So, here goes... Who wins, how do they win and why?

Alexs Main Wonder Points:

One could argue that Roy easily beat a slightly green version of B-Hop whilst Calzaghe struggled with a slightly past it version of The Executioner.

Perhaps some of you feel that 175lbs Calzaghe is not proven enough as he only had two fights at that weight therefore handing RJJ an unfair advantage.

RJJ could perhaps be susceptible to being outworked by Mr. Calzaghe.

Calzaghes lack of power perhaps means that Roy will be able to impose his power onto The Pride of Wales.

Just a few points off the top of my head, I am rather confident you will be able to think of a few more.

Now minions... Discuss... (Please dont hurt my feelings due to the minions comment)

Edit: Also on a side note I read at the bottom of the Homepage that Young_Towzer is 22 in the next 7 days so perhaps we should all chip in to get him something nice... No?

i would just like to make one point about your article that i feel often gets overlooked. jones did not deal with hopkins easily. watch the fight if you havent seen it, and try it without the bias commentary, was a tough close fight, even though the scorecards dont reflect it. anyway regards to jones calzaghe, id have my money on Joe. so quick and absolutely relentless, i feel he would frustrate Jones and take the play away from him. Jones wasnt only used to winning, he was used to winning in style, he wouldnt enjoy fighting Joe

Roy on points for me, too athletically superior, Calzaghes slaps wouldnt be able to keep him away

Jones stops him sometime in the middle rounds for me, better fighter in ever way which is nothing for Calzaghe to be ashamed of Jones was a great, great fighter.

Jones does not like being pressured see this as being a very tough fight for him but Jones takes it for me by close decision.

The genius of PBF wrote:Jones does not like being pressured see this as being a very tough fight for him but Jones takes it for me by close decision.

The way I'd probably see it.

Out of 10 fights you'd be brave to say that Calzaghe doesn't sneak at least a couple. The old adage - sluggers beat swarmers, skillsters beat sluggers, swarmers beat skillsters comes out again here. Jones Jr admitted himself that he'd have struggled with Tarver/Calzaghe in terms of style at any point during his career. No-one Jones fought at LHW in his majestic, nigh on untouchable pomp fought in that swarming style.

So - whilst I reckon Jones probably wins - Calzaghe's chin being tested several times along the way - I'd predict a tough fight for both men - but Jones probably eaks out a close decision when both were fighting in their pomp.

116-112 to Jones

Clazaghe slapping reputation was more towards the end of his career, I believe, due to his hand problems. Before this, Joe did have power. It would have been a good fight, but I can't see any other outcome other than Jones getting it on points. Mind you. It is ironic. A Welshman with an Italian name fighting an American with a Welsh name. ....

I'll get my coat.

Personally, I think that there's a chance of Calzaghe being stopped late, otherwise I would go with Calzaghe UD.

Think that Calzaghe's chin was not too hard to find, but his swarming would make up for the cleaner worker and stop Roy from getting into his rhythm.

Think there's a decent chance Roy could catch Calzaghe and finish him but I imagine it would be very close or be behind on the scorecards.

A few people tried a swarming style and a high output but they couldn't keep it up long enough and rarely landed effective punches, calzaghe would have more success than the other challengers but i think jones would win a decision. I think jones might drop calzaghe in round 3 or 4 after a strong start by joe, and then jones would be able to outland calzaghe throughout the fight and win a fairly wide UD

Lance wrote:i would just like to make one point about your article that i feel often gets overlooked. jones did not deal with hopkins easily. watch the fight if you havent seen it, and try it without the bias commentary, was a tough close fight, even though the scorecards dont reflect it. anyway regards to jones calzaghe, id have my money on Joe. so quick and absolutely relentless, i feel he would frustrate Jones and take the play away from him. Jones wasnt only used to winning, he was used to winning in style, he wouldnt enjoy fighting Joe

Jones Jr allegedly injured his hand early in the Hopkins bout, and fought one handed for most of the fight.

I wouldn't put much stock in the whole boxer/slugger/swarmer triangle. Jones Jr was so unorthodox he slipped out of that triangle.
Jones was more than capable of one shot knockouts, and at 175lbs I'd heavily favour Jones' punches to make Joe think about backing off.

Jones by wide decision..quite simply one of the greatest fighters ever....

I thought Reid beat Calzaghe........

Jones......end of.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:I thought Reid beat Calzaghe........

Really Truss? Reid didn't even think he'd beaten Calzaghe after the fight: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/279246.stm

I don't buy in to this idea that Jones in his pomp would have totally embarrassed Calzaghe, but I do find it hard to see anything other than a Jones points win had this fight happened when they were both more or less at their best (for argument's sake, 2002).

Behind all of his feints, shuffles, showboating and bombast, what sometimes gets forgetten about Jones is that he really could whack, particularly at 175 lb. Calzaghe's chin (as he demonstrated a few times) was sound enough of course, but genuine power is always a nice counter to have against the relentless forward march and windmilling of Calzaghe. Could he stop Calzaghe's march? I think he may well have done.

For all his talent, Calzaghe did get hit a lot more than some would have you believe. I think Jones would have been happy to let Calzaghe set the tempo and do the forward moving, leaving himself open with his constant flurries as he goes. Jones, I reckon, would take advantage of these openings, use his speed (he was one of the few who was as fast or faster than Calzaghe) and ability to work from unusual angles to score with the eye-catching punches and eventually take the legs from under Calzaghe, who'd grow tired from chasing and throwing shots all night while getting countered and having only moderate success himself. By the late rounds, Calzaghe's trading in the centre of the ring and Jones pulls clear; too much movement for Calzaghe to deal with once they're in the pocket.

I think Jones by something like 117-111, having dominated the latter stages. No disrespect intended towards Calzaghe, I just think a peak Jones was made from far better stuff.