By Ted Sares – Joe Calzaghe has been in against Mikkel Kessler and Bernard Hopkins, and while looking great against the undefeated Dane, he was somewhat less than compelling against the 43 year old “Executioner,” but then few ever look good against Hopkins who can give the word “ugly“ new meaning. Joe is 36; Roy is 39. Both are headed to the Hall of Fame. Calzaghe outworks his opponents using superior stamina, rhythmic focus, great punch volume, and ring smarts. Against Jones, he will need to put on pressure, utilizing his trademark smart flurries at the end of several rounds.
Roy can no longer move around the ring as he once did and has a propensity to hang on the ropes which could prove very dangerous if Joe traps him in a corner and turns on the volume as is his wont. Moreover, a 39 year old Roy may not be able to do anything about it, though Calzaghe must be cautious of Jones‘s snapping counter left hook off the ropes which could change the fight faster than you can say “Nonito Donaire.”
However, even though his reflexes are clearly not what they once were, if he proves capable of fighting in the middle of the ring and if he does his trademark hit and run stuff, he may well frustrate Joe’s ability to fight “his“ kind of fight. Hopkins almost did it and I see no reason why Jones can‘t do better.
In the end, I look for Roy to outsmart the smart Calzaghe with moves that will prove both new and frustrating. This will be no Hopkins slap and grab contest, as much as it will be a close UPSET decision for Jones giving him the perfect layer of cement on a great legacy. For Joe, fighting again outside the comfortable environs of Cardiff, it will mean he needs to fight on to achieve the right ending to his great career.
The Outcome
After a solid first round during which Jones stunned and decked Calzaghe, everything went south for Roy Jones who could not put his punches together. He simply could not cope with Calzaghe’s amazingly high punch volume, superior body punching (which paid high dividends in the mid to late rounds). and punishing lefts one of which opened up a deep and troublesome cut over Roy’s left eye.
Calzaghe proved he was a true “Legend killer” tonight as he dictated the pace and totally dominated the once great fighter who simply could not fight in the middle of the ring, thus allowing Joe to fight “his“kind of fight. He was able to walk through Jones and mete out significant punishment. If Calzaghe slaps, those were the hardest and most vicious slaps ever seen in a boxing ring.
In the end, it was painful to watch a cocky and taunting champion soundly beat a great fighter who was once just as cocky and taunting, and the specter of blood streaming down Jones’s face for the first time in his career was not a pleasant sight.
Going into the last round, it would have taken a miracle for Roy Jones Jr. to perform the UD miracle I predicted he would perform. It was not to be.
Calzaghe finishes with an amazing 46-0 record and now awaits the call from the Hall. Joe Calzaghe is an all time great fighter; make no mistake about that.
Almost as an aside, the scores were a resounding 118-109 all around (same as mine).