Tale of the tape Calzaghe-Kessler

[Martini643]

How tall is Calzaghe? Everywhere I've seen its listed him as 5'11 which i find very hard to believe, he was A LOT taller than Lacy (5'9) and in the pictures with Kessler he looks to be the same maybe slightly taller who is listed at 6'1.

[brooklyn1550]

He looks more like 6-1

[El Bombasto]

kessler's has broader shoulders which give the illusion of being shorter, but i think 5'11" is pretty accurate for calaghe

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calzghe's slim frame makes him look taller than he really is.

[buddynabuick]

kessler's has broader shoulders which give the illusion of being shorter, but i think 5'11" is pretty accurate for calaghe

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calzghe's slim frame makes him look taller than he really is.


I would agree. BTW, what size ring will they have? Ring size does not seem to be as much of an issue as it was in the 70s/80s. Which fighter would be better suited for a bigger or smaller ring?

[boxeo#1]

How tall is Calzaghe? Everywhere I've seen its listed him as 5'11 which i find very hard to believe, he was A LOT taller than Lacy (5'9) and in the pictures with Kessler he looks to be the same maybe slightly taller who is listed at 6'1.

So that would mean the info on boxrec is not correct. That is kind of hard to believe since the height of a fighter is almost allways shown before the fight..:huh That would be a big mistake for ''easy to get info'':huh
It can for example depend from the point from were the photo is taken..

[Mendoza]

This is going to be a GREAT fight.

[Boro chris]

I would agree. BTW, what size ring will they have? Ring size does not seem to be as much of an issue as it was in the 70s/80s. Which fighter would be better suited for a bigger or smaller ring?

Well Kessler should be doinig his best to keep away from the ropes (if he has any sense) so you could say that a smaller ring would favour Calzaghe.

[unclepaulie]

you could also make the case for kessler being the harder hitter and, having less foot and handspeed than calzaghe, maybe a smaller rng would favor kessler

[Boro chris]

you could also make the case for kessler being the harder hitter and, having less foot and handspeed than calzaghe, maybe a smaller rng would favor kessler

Possibly. But JC is the far superior infighter. Kessler will want to keep it in the center of the ring and try to use his jab and straight right to keep JC under wraps.

[TBooze]

This is going to be a GREAT fight.

Public do not think so, sells have been poor, only 30,000 tickets gone, and they trying to break Ali/SpinksII 63,000 indoor record...

Got to admit, I cannot get motivated for it, Kessler maybe good, but outside of continental Europe and hardcore fans, who has heard of him?

[TBooze]

Actually, ticket sales were 30k after 3 hours. They've now sold around the 50k mark and they're still a month and a half away from fight night, without the undercard being named.

Considering most American fights struggle to reach 10k even, they're doing just fine.

Well ****** said in his piece in The Sun today 30,000 have been sold. He may of given away 20,000, but I doubt that... Yet!

It is a lot of money to pay for an unknown, unproven fighter at this level (in Kessler), on like you said a bill that is still to be made.

I think ****** may need to import a couple of big names on the undercard to prop this up or he is going to lose a lot of money, because with Santana he is not going to make a huge amount on pay per view sales either...

[TBooze]

Amir Khan would be a good enough name to attract more and maybe a HW fight of some importance.

Kessler is unproven, I agree.. I don't think he's worth any of the hype attached but seeing Joe sell out 30k in his last fight against Manfredo makes me believe Kessler means shit to why this fight is selling so much.

Amir (I believe) is on an exclusive ITV contract so I guess he cannot fight on the undercard if it is for Santana.

If ****** wants to sell this to America you are right a big Heavyweight match is needed.

[achillesthegreat]

Everything I've seen suggests Calzaghe is over 5'11. I'd say he is a shade under 6 foot, if not bang on. His reach is probably about 74". I'd say Kessler is a shade over 6, or 6'1.

[The Whaler]

Everything I've seen suggests Calzaghe is over 5'11. I'd say he is a shade under 6 foot, if not bang on. His reach is probably about 74". I'd say Kessler is a shade over 6, or 6'1.

I agree. Calzaghe's boxrec profiles lists him at 5'11.5'' tall. I think he just may scrape 6'.

Jeff Lacy is noticeably shorter then the 5'9'' he lists himself at. I think he's 5'8'', maybe even a little less.

[41fever]

I think KEssler is the superior fighter, we'll see though...

[The Whaler]

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If Manfredo is 5'9'' then 5'11''-6' sounds right for Calzaghe.

[teetop]

Calzaghe is at least 6 foot.. more likely 6 foot 1.

He fought 6'4 Veit and didn't look that small in the ring, he fought 6'1 Woodhall and had the same height. He's fighting 6'1 Kessler and has the same height.

No he wasn't blocky. Woodhall was clearly taller than joe. Also, woodhall is 6'2"

[buddynabuick]

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If Manfredo is 5'9'' then 5'11''-6' sounds right for Calzaghe.


They look exactly the same height in that photo which would mean joe is closer to 5-9 if manfredo is actually 5-9

[achillesthegreat]

I agree. Calzaghe's boxrec profiles lists him at 5'11.5'' tall. I think he just may scrape 6'.

Jeff Lacy is noticeably shorter then the 5'9'' he lists himself at. I think he's 5'8'', maybe even a little less.
Jeff Lacy said he is 5'10!!!

[hmi]

On the picture posted by The Whaler, Manfredo is standing on a chair. lol
But yeah, Calzaghe looks like a 6 footer in the second pic. He looks like 3 inches taller than Manfredo.

[shanemfr]

Got to admit, I cannot get motivated for it, ,
Maybe you should find another sport to follow, there is huge interest in this fight here in AUS as well as reading other forums the Americans are hanging for this fight as well.

[PATSYS]

Can't wait!!! :happy :happy

[TBooze]

Maybe you should find another sport to follow, there is huge interest in this fight here in AUS as well as reading other forums the Americans are hanging for this fight as well.

Not disupting the hardcore fans are intrested, but no normal person outside Wales and Continental Europe could care less. It shows how far boxing has slipped in mainstream support. The fact this is on Santana as well does not help matters either.

[duran83]

Calzaghe is 5.11 and 3/4 so really he is nearer to 6ft than 5 11.

[cuchulain]

Not disupting the hardcore fans are intrested, but no normal person outside Wales and Continental Europe could care less. It shows how far boxing has slipped in mainstream support. The fact this is on Santana as well does not help matters either.


Amongst true boxing fans, this is the most anticipated fight of 2007.


The Ballad of the battle of Cardiff

(first Published in "LEGENDS OF THE RING, DECEMBER 2057)

When true fans are listening, with eyes that are glistening
To the greatest of boxing’s great tales.
As two pugs did clash, over huge wads of cash
In that faraway land they call Wales.

That night in November, Do you still remember?
Things started off cautious and slow.
The cheers had abated and everyone waited
For the entrance of Mikkel and Joe

The stadium was teamin’, with folks who were dreamin’
that their man would come out on top.
Imagine the pain of both Welshman and Dane
If the bout were to turn out a flop.

The youth of Mikkel, at the opening Bell
Seemed to point to a one-sided rout.
But while Welsh fans looked craggy, they knew that Calzaghe
Had a heart that was stalwart and stout.

And though neither faction, at the start of the action
Could be sure that their hero would win.
For months they’d been waitin’, no more hesitatin’
They howled for the fight to begin.

With the crowd in a trance, Mikkel did advance
But Joe was evasive and fast.
Both threw lots of punches, that landed in bunches
At that pace, this just wouldn’t last.

Cal’s fists were on fire, he must surely tire
No man could keep up such a pace.
But Kessler was tough, and when things got rough
He tattooed Joe’s body and face.

To much satisfaction, this fight was all action
And Kessler was blazing new trails.
The Welshmen were mute, this Dane was a brute!
They worried, Is this where Joe fails?

As round ten had finished, his pace much diminished
the Viking had started to lag.
Batina began, to scream at his man
He’d thought the fight was in the bag

And the Welsh spirits rose, Joe’s up on his toes
And he’s pressing with power shots galore.
As the punches connected, Mikkel looked dejected.
He can’t take this beating much more.

Mikkel thought “Thank heaven, I’ve got through eleven”
He pondered the possible score.
He threw out his duke, to try a left hook
But Joe feinted and countered once more.

The Danes were all hush, as Joe landed flush,
Then threw a hard left to the belly.
The Dane’s jaw was saggin,’ a hook from the dragon
had turned Kessler’s legs into Jelly!

"What’s wrong with my ear, this street sure looks queer"
Were the last thoughts Mikkel could remember.
The Welshmen all cheered what the Danes had all feared
That fateful night in November!

When true fans are listening, with eyes that are glistening
To the greatest of boxing’s great tales.
Old China Hand Joe, still tells of the show
Put on by Calzaghe in Wales.