Calzaghe vs Collins...97...

[dwilson]

How do you guys think this fight would have gone if it had happened?

[FLINT ISLAND]

Calzaghe ...........late stoppage or points

Collins ducked out of the fight...............cos he knew the score

[Beeston Brawler]

Probably Calzaghe on points, but wouldn't rule out Collins at all.

[Paddy]

Calzaghe ...........late stoppage or points

Collins ducked out of the fight...............cos he knew the score

same way calzaghe is ducking dawson and froch???

[FLINT ISLAND]

same way calzaghe is ducking dawson and froch???


yeah

what goes around comes around

[stonerose]

All you need to know is Collins pulled out having no injury. He knew the score . Calzaghe on points .

[MightyLondoner]

Calzaghe by bitch slap :happy

[hit me HARDER]

Calzaghe TKO 11

[PrideOfWales]

Collins was very much disinterested in the game at the point that Calzaghe came around. Joe was all action and Collins didn't want to put himself through a fight like that with his frame of mind at the time.

IF the fight had gone ahead given these factors then you have to go with a probable late stoppage or Collins quitting on his stool.

An interested and prime Collins would have given a prime Calzaghe a hell of a fight over 12 hard rounds. Two gritty, tenacious warriors... would be a cracking fight that Calzaghe should win a close decision after finishing the stronger of the two.

As for 1997, you have to wonder why Collins left it so late to pull out.

[brown bomber]

How do you guys think this fight would have gone if it had happened? Its a tough call.. No one has ever tried to match Calzaghe for intesity. Collins of 97 had started to show a bit of wear and tear. He was floored in his last fight and proved very hittable. There were also rumours of him suffering a KO in sparring. I don't think Collins of 97 would have had what it takes. I don't think he pulled out because it was Calzaghe, I think had it been any young gun in the other corner he'd have folded pre fight. He knew he didn't have it anymore and rather then get exposed for a few quid he retired, dignity and faculties intact. Every credite'

[Rebel 08]

Its a tough call.. No one has ever tried to match Calzaghe for intesity. Collins of 97 had started to show a bit of wear and tear. He was floored in his last fight and proved very hittable. There were also rumours of him suffering a KO in sparring. I don't think Collins of 97 would have had what it takes. I don't think he pulled out because it was Calzaghe, I think had it been any young gun in the other corner he'd have folded pre fight. He knew he didn't have it anymore and rather then get exposed for a few quid he retired, dignity and faculties intact. Every credite'

he wasn't knocked down in sparring he collapsed and doctors told him him if he fought again he could end up with serious brain damage, would of been a hell of a fight if the two of them were in their prime. Calzaghe on points i'd say.

[brown bomber]

he wasn't knocked down in sparring he collapsed and doctors told him him if he fought again he could end up with serious brain damage, would of been a hell of a fight if the two of them were in their prime. Calzaghe on points i'd say.Fair play... wasn't sure if the ins and outs... for some reason recall a story about Howard Eastman putting him out.... prob fabricated or exaggerated.

[JonOli]

he wasn't knocked down in sparring he collapsed and doctors told him him if he fought again he could end up with serious brain damage....


If true, that seems like a decent enough excuse to pull out of a fight to me.

[Healy]

Hard to say, can vaguely remember Collins but recent clips have rejogged my mind.
He was ferocious, very agreesive and thick skulled, like Margarito in a way..
Dont know if he would have enough to beat a prime Joe Calzaghe though, but if he got Calzaghe when he was younger and more naive he would have caussed him lots of problems

Hard to say, there are very different versions of both fighters down through the years

[Brummy1976]

Calzaghe by bitch slap :happyNot in 97, he was'nt slapping then !

[ICTChris]

Calzaghe on points.

[Beatboxer]

Calzaghe UD.

[Mookhound]

Calzaghe would have been in trouble then. He was a power puncher until at least 2000. His hands screwed up and he changed his style and, frankly, became a better fighter as a result. Collins' jaw would have survived Calzaghe's then good, but probably not excellent, world championship level power and it would have been close on points.

Calzaghe is an example of why this 'prime' thing is slightly redundant. The youthful Calzaghe power puncher would not even beat the Calzaghe of today. I always think of Tszyu when it's said he was past his prime vs hatton. now maybe he was a little too old at that time, but I would always say the later Tszyu with his accurate, better choice punching was more of a nightmare for Hatton than the more athletic but more frantic earlier Tszyu.

However, the versions I consider to be Calzaghe and Collins' peaks (vs Lacy for the former and Eubank 2 for the latter), I'd take JC to win on comfortable ud.

[warrior85]

calzaghe decision

[rumour24tiger]

It's interesting that like with Mac-Nelson, he picked the fight when the champ was old, and in both cases the champ ended up leaving the title behind.

Do we blame the champ for bowing out for whatever reason, or how about the challenger for waiting till thew champ is oooollllldddd? My belief is that the fight was made only because of Collins-Cummings!

Collins WAS on better form than Eubank, let's not forget, and Joe had some problems in there with Eubank who had probably trained some knock out an easy opponent at 175.

[SouthpawSlayer]

my heart says collinsand always will