Calzaghe can't punch properly

[toffeejack]

I see this being said time again and also from Jeff who is an ex pro boxer and a respectful poster.

So is this said in jest? Or is it something that people in the boxing world (not the fans the people who actually know what they're talking about) believe? I think it's fair to say that he does punch properly at times (the punch that cut Jones the most recent example)

If they truely believe this then why isn't he ever penalised for it by the referee? Or is the cuffing technique you sometimes see him apply within the rules?

Would be great to hear from Jeff and others who know the pro game here :good

[TommyV]

He doesn't consistantly. He can when he needs to, such as the straight left that cut Roy as you say, and he put in some stiff body shots in that fight aswell, but generally he doesn't.

[TFFP]

Not by the book, but if there was nothing on em he would be quickly exposed at this level. Even Jones said the slaps are harder than they look. Nobody has ever backed Calzaghe up, that tells its own story about how "proper" his punches are :bbb

[Primadonna Kool]

People said Michael Johnson did'nt sprint...text book style.

Michael Johnson is the greatest overall sprinter of all-time, on paper, on track and on achievements.

Joe Calzaghe's does slap, but he does it good...who care's.

[brown bomber]

Like the guys above say, what he does, he does very well! I think when he takes his time his technique is close to perfect, but he seems to have an obsession with speed! When he throws a flurry nearly all the punches land with the palm of the glove/lower knuckle- if he were to throw those punches correctly he would lose some speed in the delivery, I don't doubt that his punches hurt I knocked several people out with slaps when I worked the doors.

[9Ball]

JC used to only slap very occasionally and at one time punched with real venom, but since his hands have become more brittle over time he has slapped a lot more - especially in his most recent fights. He does it so that he doesn't injure his hands, you can't blame him. He has broken his hands in several fights previously and managed to go on to win on points but people will always use the 'slapping' as a slur simply because they don't like the man.

Personally I can't stand Calzaghe, he has no class and his father is a prize prick.
But you have to respect his skills and his career acheivments overall.

[9Ball]

I knocked several people out with slaps when I worked the doors.


:rofl:rofl:rofl

[Bodysnatcher]

He can deliver a good straight left, he just doesn't seem to do it enough.

It was pretty much the only punch working for him against B-Hop and instead he decided to flail around, as seen during the now infamous `doggy-paddle` gif.

[brown bomber]

:rofl:rofl:rofl:lol: I wish I had them on a gif, the police used to encourage them until I started cleaning plebs out with them...Don't think they realised that a left hook is in essence a slap with a closed fist and slightly greater rotation.

[toffeejack]

He can deliver a good straight left, he just doesn't seem to do it enough.

It was pretty much the only punch working for him against B-Hop and instead he decided to flail around, as seen during the now infamous `doggy-paddle` gif.

:lol:

[China_hand_Joe]

He has maybe the most effective jab of any fighter in his generation.

[brown bomber]

He has maybe the most effective jab of any fighter in his generation.Better jab then Winky? I think not mate.

[China_hand_Joe]

Winky's is more powerful, though even using his dominant hand I doubt he could do this to a proven world class fighter who knocked down Jeff Lacy in the amateurs.

GjXIzOMHKWg

Evans was psyched for this fight as well.

[PrideOfWales]

Calzaghe's slaps just look messy. I'm sure they have the desired effect though. For what it's worth, I think the people who have a problem with his sometimes amateur looking technique are the old school lovers of the game. I'm sure Jeff enjoyed watching his favourite fighters and spent many years in the gym trying to perfect the way he delivered punches to get the maximum effect. I'm sure dan-b appreciates the way Bernard Hopkins combined near perfect timing and decent power to deliver those trademark straight rights.

The problem is that Calzaghe spent next to no time studying the history of the game or worrying about his punch technique. Calzaghe trained to be the fastest and most active he could be for the longest time possible.

Obviously, Calzaghe's lack of a trainer immersed in the game is a factor. I don't buy the bad hands excuse because he's slapped well before he became well known. The Calzaghe combination do it their way and to hell with everyone else. They are thick skinned and have needed to be due to the criticism recieved over the years. I can forgive the slapping, but I cannot forgive the facial hair he sported against Peter Manfredo Junior.

[GazOC]

A lot of the time Calzaghes flurries are just to keep his opponents mind on something other than his own gameplan.

[DINAMITA]

I do think he was a better puncher when he was younger, so I guess hand injuries must have played a part. I never rated his one-punch power and I have never thought of him as a strong puncher or a good finisher, but at least he did seem to have something behind his punches earlier in his career. Now every punch seems to be thrown with an open glove, and even when he is landing many clean blows it doesn't seem to be actually hurting or staggering his opponent, it's just the speed and volume that flusters them. I have always said that Calzaghe has poor technique and not a lot of technical skill, but whereas this unorthodoxy used to work for him in ambushing and blitzing opponents, now it seems all he can do is flurry his way to points decisions. I think hand injuries must have played a part. He looked like he couldn't have punched his way out of a wet paper bag v Hopkins and Jones.

[mike464]

Not that I would presume to know more about the sport than the previous posters but it looks to me like many of his shots are illegal. I thought that punches that land with the inside of the glove are illegal and certainly not scoring shots. The fact that they are effective is beside the point.

I'm not sure exactly why referees let him get away with it. Maybe referees don't want to be the first to warn such a high profile boxer about something he's been doing for years. Of course that doesn't explain how he ever got away with it in the first place.

[PrideOfWales]

I do think he was a better puncher when he was younger, so I guess hand injuries must have played a part. I never rated his one-punch power and I have never thought of him as a strong puncher or a good finisher, but at least he did seem to have something behind his punches earlier in his career. Now every punch seems to be thrown with an open glove, and even when he is landing many clean blows it doesn't seem to be actually hurting or staggering his opponent, it's just the speed and volume that flusters them. I have always said that Calzaghe has poor technique and not a lot of technical skill, but whereas this unorthodoxy used to work for him in ambushing and blitzing opponents, now it seems all he can do is flurry his way to points decisions. I think hand injuries must have played a part. He looked like he couldn't have punched his way out of a wet paper bag v Hopkins and Jones.

He hurt Jones quite a few times. Completely disagree with you. He snapped his head back on numerous occasions and Jones was not looking like a guy who was having fun.

Against Hopkins, he hardly landed with any significant punches that weren't jabs or parried shots.

Calzaghe has decent power in his shots, there is no question at all about this.

[PrideOfWales]

Not that I would presume to know more about the sport than the previous posters but it looks to me like many of his shots are illegal. I thought that punches that land with the inside of the glove are illegal and certainly not scoring shots. The fact that they are effective is beside the point.

I'm not sure exactly why referees let him get away with it. Maybe referees don't want to be the first to warn such a high profile boxer about something he's been doing for years. Of course that doesn't explain how he ever got away with it in the first place.

How many times have you ever seen a boxer even talked to by a referee for it?

If it was a problem that the sport wanting eradicating, Calzaghe would be the perfect person to make an example of.

[GazOC]

I don't watch amateur boxing much these days but a few years ago you'd often see warnings for incorrect punching but I can't remember the last time I've seen a top level pro pulled up for it.

[brown bomber]

Calzaghe's slaps just look messy. I'm sure they have the desired effect though. For what it's worth, I think the people who have a problem with his sometimes amateur looking technique are the old school lovers of the game. I'm sure Jeff enjoyed watching his favourite fighters and spent many years in the gym trying to perfect the way he delivered punches to get the maximum effect. I'm sure dan-b appreciates the way Bernard Hopkins combined near perfect timing and decent power to deliver those trademark straight rights.

The problem is that Calzaghe spent next to no time studying the history of the game or worrying about his punch technique. Calzaghe trained to be the fastest and most active he could be for the longest time possible.

Obviously, Calzaghe's lack of a trainer immersed in the game is a factor. I don't buy the bad hands excuse because he's slapped well before he became well known. The Calzaghe combination do it their way and to hell with everyone else. They are thick skinned and have needed to be due to the criticism recieved over the years. I can forgive the slapping, but I cannot forgive the facial hair he sported against Peter Manfredo Junior.
Gr8 thesis mate...:deal

[brown bomber]

Calzaghe has recieved warnings before.. i'm positive.

[Grant1]

Calzaghe's slaps just look messy. I'm sure they have the desired effect though. For what it's worth, I think the people who have a problem with his sometimes amateur looking technique are the old school lovers of the game. I'm sure Jeff enjoyed watching his favourite fighters and spent many years in the gym trying to perfect the way he delivered punches to get the maximum effect. I'm sure dan-b appreciates the way Bernard Hopkins combined near perfect timing and decent power to deliver those trademark straight rights.

The problem is that Calzaghe spent next to no time studying the history of the game or worrying about his punch technique. Calzaghe trained to be the fastest and most active he could be for the longest time possible.

Obviously, Calzaghe's lack of a trainer immersed in the game is a factor. I don't buy the bad hands excuse because he's slapped well before he became well known. The Calzaghe combination do it their way and to hell with everyone else. They are thick skinned and have needed to be due to the criticism recieved over the years. I can forgive the slapping, but I cannot forgive the facial hair he sported against Peter Manfredo Junior.

They learned to win, above and beyond anything else, just win.

It's a trait admired by Brits, as long as your not a brit.

[toom]

Calzaghe sacrifices power for speed to get points. He only punches with his arms. Powerful punches start at the toes!

Slapping - you can kill somebody with a proper slap -

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Paul Vunak's a real artist. Fantastic smooth movement and dynamically effective.

[Guy]

Calzaghe sacrifices power for speed to get points. He only punches with his arms. Powerful punches start at the toes!

Slapping - you can kill somebody with a proper slap -

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Paul Vunak's a real artist. Fantastic smooth movement and dynamically effective.



Thats a classic bitch slap technique clip "If he grabs you here BOOM,if he grabs you there BWAM":rofl:rofl

[mattress]

I hope Calzaghe's getting a cut in the royalties from the sales of that DVD

[debaser]

JC used to only slap very occasionally and at one time punched with real venom, but since his hands have become more brittle over time he has slapped a lot more - especially in his most recent fights. He does it so that he doesn't injure his hands, you can't blame him. He has broken his hands in several fights previously and managed to go on to win on points but people will always use the 'slapping' as a slur simply because they don't like the man.

Personally I can't stand Calzaghe, he has no class and his father is a prize prick.
But you have to respect his skills and his career acheivments overall.

Agreed. He can't punch in the way that he used to no doubt about it. It has been pretty funny watching his upcoming opponents comments on his punching technique over the years prior to the fight though. Both Mitchell and Lacy accused him of not being able to punch and then both ended up on the deck, presumably from some hard slaps :lol:

[Guy]

Yeah they always criticise before they lose...

[DINAMITA]

He hurt Jones quite a few times. Completely disagree with you. He snapped his head back on numerous occasions and Jones was not looking like a guy who was having fun.

Against Hopkins, he hardly landed with any significant punches that weren't jabs or parried shots.

Calzaghe has decent power in his shots, there is no question at all about this.

Are you serious??

Jones is a fighter who has been annihilated by single shots from Tarver and Johnson, and Calzaghe landed literally hundreds of clean shots to his face and head in that fight and couldn't put him down once, or even seriously stagger him! If ever there was a fight that showed someone with no snap or venom in their punches, it was Calzaghe v The Corpse of Roy Jones.

[debaser]

Calzaghe has recieved warnings before.. i'm positive.

When?

[brown bomber]

When? Leave that with me... I'll investigate when I get a chance,

[PrideOfWales]

Are you serious??

Jones is a fighter who has been annihilated by single shots from Tarver and Johnson, and Calzaghe landed literally hundreds of clean shots to his face and head in that fight and couldn't put him down once, or even seriously stagger him! If ever there was a fight that showed someone with no snap or venom in their punches, it was Calzaghe v The Corpse of Roy Jones.

Simple question... Do you think that Joe Calzaghe has less than average punch power? The options are YES or NO.

[Guy]

Dinamita started playing the Yes/NO game five years ago and refuses to quit first

[PrideOfWales]

Dinamita started playing the Yes/NO game five years ago and refuses to quit first

Just trying to establish what class of retard he is so that I can play at his level.

[RDJ]

How many times have you ever seen a boxer even talked to by a referee for it?

In the pro's never, in the amateurs constantly.

[steveedster]

A lot of the time Calzaghes flurries are just to keep his opponents mind on something other than his own gameplan.


Yes I totally agree with this. Ask yourself... what is Joe's opponent doing when he is flurrying....nothing! Also in for example a 6 punch flurry, he will generally put in one hard punch.. in the mean time his opponent has done nothing but try and cover up.

Poeple must realise that if Joe only 'slapped' then any decent fighter would just walk through these slaps and knock him out.... this does not happen for a very good reason. People who have a lot of ring time like myself will understand this, others may not. :good

[DINAMITA]

Simple question... Do you think that Joe Calzaghe has less than average punch power? The options are YES or NO.

YES. At this current point in time at light-heavyweight, I think Calzaghe has less than average punching power. An average light-heavyweight would have knocked out Roy Jones (or at least floored him, at least once! Or surely to Christ they would've even seriously and visibly staggered him!!!!!) had they landed hundreds of clean shots to his face and head like Joe did. Tarver and Johnson are good light-heavyweights with decent punching power, and they had Roy on Queer Street with single shots. Your bias is blinding you, the evidence is clear and concrete. Joe's punching power has evaporated over the last few years. Enjoy your denial. :good

[PrideOfWales]

YES.

Thank you for answering. ;)

[Achilleslststnd]

YES. At this current point in time at light-heavyweight, I think Calzaghe has less than average punching power. An average light-heavyweight would have knocked out Roy Jones (or at least floored him, at least once! Or surely to Christ they would've even seriously and visibly staggered him!!!!!) had they landed hundreds of clean shots to his face and head like Joe did. Tarver and Johnson are good light-heavyweights with decent punching power, and they had Roy on Queer Street with single shots. Your bias is blinding you, the evidence is clear and concrete. Joe's punching power has evaporated over the last few years. Enjoy your denial. :good


Joe has always had super middleweight power. Well, Laila Ali super middleweight power anyway. <g>


Very kindly taking time out from training for the Walters fight to speak with this writer (James Slater) earlier today, (Byron) Mitchell spoke about his most famous fights and his hopes for the future..

Here are Byron's answers to my questions.

J.S: I've got to talk about the incredible fight you had with Joe Calzaghe. What are your memories of that fight - a classic short war that was compared to Hagler-Hearns?

B.M: I went into that fight with a lot of animosity. I didn't really want to take that fight. I didn't want it at the time. I had personal issues that handicapped me from being at my best. But I had to take the fight, I was kind of forced into it.


J.S: Joe Calzaghe says that was the hardest he's ever been hit, when you became the first man to floor him. Was the fight stopped too soon, do you think?

B.M: Yes, I think it was premature. I think they'd [Calzaghe's team] had seen a tape of my fight with Julio Cesar Green where I was down twice in the 1st, but came back to stop him (in the 4th round). I think they knew how dangerous I was. It was definitely a premature stoppage. But I also know what I did wrong in that fight. Day in day out today, when I'm training for a fight, I go over that fight in my mind. I will do so until I finally retire. I would love another go at him, but I know that's not gonna happen (laughs).

J.S: You never know. Joe is looking at having a farewell fight in Cardiff, Wales. If you were to get a few wins under you belt, he might look at a rematch. The first fight was so good after all.

B.M: Well, I would gladly welcome that. But he's a pussy so I really doubt it. Maybe if I get knocked out he'll take a chance.

J.S: To this day, some people refer to Calzaghe as a slapper. Rate his power for us, Byron.

B.M: Joe has respectable power. His speed was what caught me off guard. He was a lot faster than I thought he would be. He does throw amateurish punches. They're borderline slaps. I do give him some credit, not a lot, but a little. He basically tries to overwhelm his opponents. I'd say he has enough power to make you respect him.

[debaser]

Joe has always had super middleweight power. Well, Laila Ali super middleweight power anyway. <g>


Very kindly taking time out from training for the Walters fight to speak with this writer (James Slater) earlier today, (Byron) Mitchell spoke about his most famous fights and his hopes for the future..

Here are Byron's answers to my questions.

J.S: I've got to talk about the incredible fight you had with Joe Calzaghe. What are your memories of that fight - a classic short war that was compared to Hagler-Hearns?

B.M: I went into that fight with a lot of animosity. I didn't really want to take that fight. I didn't want it at the time. I had personal issues that handicapped me from being at my best. But I had to take the fight, I was kind of forced into it.


J.S: Joe Calzaghe says that was the hardest he's ever been hit, when you became the first man to floor him. Was the fight stopped too soon, do you think?

B.M: Yes, I think it was premature. I think they'd [Calzaghe's team] had seen a tape of my fight with Julio Cesar Green where I was down twice in the 1st, but came back to stop him (in the 4th round). I think they knew how dangerous I was. It was definitely a premature stoppage. But I also know what I did wrong in that fight. Day in day out today, when I'm training for a fight, I go over that fight in my mind. I will do so until I finally retire. I would love another go at him, but I know that's not gonna happen (laughs).

J.S: You never know. Joe is looking at having a farewell fight in Cardiff, Wales. If you were to get a few wins under you belt, he might look at a rematch. The first fight was so good after all.

B.M: Well, I would gladly welcome that. But he's a pussy so I really doubt it.

J.S: To this day, some people refer to Calzaghe as a slapper. Rate his power for us, Byron.

B.M: Joe has respectable power. His speed was what caught me off guard. He was a lot faster than I thought he would be. He does throw amateurish punches. They're borderline slaps. I do give him some credit, not a lot, but a little. He basically tries to overwhelm his opponents. I'd say he has enough power to make you respect him.

He's just not being honest with himself. I was at that fight and nobody apart from the American broadcasters were complaining about the stoppage. Most tellingly, Mitchell himself wasn't complaining in the immediate aftermath. He got hit with several unanswered shots, wasn't protecting himself adequately and needed the ref to step in. He WAS hurt, no doubt about it. If you dispute this I advise you to go back and look at the tape, Mitchell was rocked to the bootlaces after the knockdown and never properly recovered. Arguably a slightly premature stoppage, with arguable being the imperative word. Good call in my opinion and most at ringside that night.

[Bigcat]

If Joseph doesn't punch properly, then why does he stop or damage a whole lot of his world class opponents.... His hands seem to look like he slaps , but his wrist is turned slightly so its a very solid shot that he lands inside of a semingly slapping glove.. just look at mister Lacy's face after their encounter........ and at Mitchell too....... and Roy, he is a solid puncher.. This is a very badly thought out argument..

[Guy]

Mitchell WAS in trouble i've watched it a few times.....

[mrplow182]

It's not just about Mitchell being in trouble. He was certainly very dazed and stung but could conceivably have carried on. However referees are entitled to stop the fight at any time if the opponent is not throwing any punches back. Mitchell was dazed, staggering around and getting hit without punching back and when he flopped against the ropes backwards the ref probably just thought it was a correct time to call the stoppage. A combination of being hurt, dazed, taking too many shots, being off balance and not throwing back.

About Calzaghe not punching properly.....his jab, straight left and right to the body are 95% textbook. It's when he starts windmilling his speed hooks from left to right when it starts to look ugly and amateur.

Still feel he was a good puncher until around 2004, just not a one punch KO boxer.