Perhaps once Saul “Canelo” Alvarez hangs up his gloves, discussions about who the greatest super middleweight of all time was will include his name. But today, the two boxers in the running are Joe “The Italian Dragon” Calzaghe and Andre “Son Of God” Ward. Who would win if, by some miracle, their prime versions could face each other? Let’s explore this question in this latest episode of “Fantasy Fight”!
Joe Calzaghe: The Most Underrated Great Champion?
When Joe Calzaghe was set to face undefeated American puncher Jeff Lacy in March 2006 for a highly anticipated unification bout of the IBF and WBO super middleweight titles, the Italian Dragon had already defended his belt 17 times. Yet, skepticism lingered, especially in the United States, where experts remained unconvinced about him. To illustrate, on the eve of the fight, the popular U.S. boxing website BoxingScene conducted a staff survey asking its writers for predictions, and out of 27 responses, only 8 picked Calzaghe as the winner. Anyone who saw that fight knows that Joe gave Lacy a stunning boxing lesson, dominating him for twelve one-sided rounds. But despite that sensational win and the many that followed, not everyone today is willing to recognize the greatness of the Welshman. This likely stems from the fact that Calzaghe’s boxing style was never aesthetically perfect, and some analysts struggle to accept that in boxing, one can be highly effective without strictly adhering to textbook technique and form.
Andre Ward: A Ring Chameleon
Most boxers are at their best with a single fighting style. Only champions can switch things up, adapting to circumstances and modifying their style depending on the opponent and the dynamics of the fight. However, even many champions lose some effectiveness when forced to abandon their primary game plan. Andre Ward, in this respect, was always an exception: much like a chameleon changing colors to blend in, Ward would select the most advantageous role in the ring, transforming into an elusive outfighter, a counter puncher, a pressure fighter, or a spoiler based on what the moment demanded. If the referee allowed it, “Son Of God” would also bend the rules to gain an advantage: attempted elbows against Bika, headbutts against Kessler, and low blows in the rematch against Kovalev are just a few of his “dirty tricks.”
Joe Calzaghe vs. Andre Ward: The Fantasy Fight!
Weight class: Super Middleweights. Scheduled Rounds: 12.
To imagine what might happen in the early stages of a fight between these two ring masters, it’s crucial to consider how each typically began their bouts. In doing so, it becomes evident that their approaches were entirely different.
Joe Calzaghe was known for explosive starts: at the first bell, he would launch himself at his opponent, overwhelming him with punches, aiming to land meaningful combinations early to tilt the fight in his favor. Sometimes, this aggression paid off, as when he floored the more experienced Chris Eubank, unsettling him mentally, or when he demolished the then-unbeaten Mario Veit in less than two minutes. But other times, his over-aggressiveness put him in danger, like when he walked into a dangerous right hand from Bernard Hopkins, getting dropped in the first round of a fight where he had to claw his way back.
Andre Ward, by contrast, was a slow starter. S.O.G. was similar to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his initial approach: he wouldn’t reveal his game plan immediately, preferring to take a few rounds to study his opponent’s movements, style, and power before crafting the best strategy and beginning to dictate the pace. It’s no coincidence that most of the very few rounds Ward lost in his career occurred early in his fights, and even technically limited boxers like Edison Miranda and Artur Abraham gave their fans fleeting hope that they could compete with Ward for a few minutes before being thoroughly outclassed by the American star.
Given their contrasting styles, it’s likely that the early rounds of this fantasy matchup would favor Calzaghe. Ward’s power and explosiveness, while certainly respectable, were never his primary weapons, and it seems unlikely that he would find the perfect counter right away to punish Calzaghe’s relentless pressure. Moreover, since thinking and strategizing while someone is charging at you and throwing punches from every angle is far from easy, Ward’s usual study phase might have lasted longer than usual. S.O.G. could thus find himself at a similar disadvantage to the one he faced, for different reasons, when he first fought Sergey Kovalev.
Figuring out the best strategy to neutralize Calzaghe’s style wouldn’t have been straightforward. An elusive approach wouldn’t be very effective, as the Welshman cut off the ring masterfully, leaving no space. On the other hand, trying to spoil the fight by making it chaotic with clinches wouldn’t work either since Joe was crafty and even a master like Bernard Hopkins couldn’t outmuscle him in close quarters. However, Ward was a genius in the ring, and as the minutes passed, he would likely have found the best approach: playing the role of a counter puncher.
The optimal way to undermine Calzaghe’s unorthodox and suffocating style, rather than running or clinching, would have been to plant his feet, let Joe take the initiative, and then catch him with precise, sharp counters after making him miss, forcing Calzaghe to hesitate and think twice before rushing in. This is exactly how Robin Reid troubled him in 1999, and it’s how Bernard Hopkins managed to keep him at bay in the first half of their fight before fading athletically.
As Calzaghe’s initial energy waned and he faced a fully-adjusted Ward countering every mistake with pinpoint accuracy, his momentum would likely have slowed, diminishing his early lead. The key factor would be Ward’s ability to slow the pace, highlighting his cleaner punches and more orthodox technique in the judges’ eyes.
By the time the championship rounds arrived, the fight would likely be on a knife’s edge on the scorecards. At that point, the final outcome would depend on numerous unpredictable factors. How lenient would the referee be? What criteria would the judges prioritize? Who among the fighters would have conserved just a bit more energy for the final push? The answers to these questions would determine the winner, and in the absence of concrete evidence, we can only speculate.
Personally, I believe Calzaghe would have expended slightly more energy to keep the fight even heading into the final stretch. Given Ward’s superior energy management and excellent conditioning, I think he would have made one last push to edge out a win on at least two scorecards, sparking endless debates among fans that would last for decades.
Fantasy Prediction: Calzaghe starts strong, taking advantage of Ward’s slow beginning and banking some early rounds. Ward adjusts, adopting a counter-punching strategy that forces Calzaghe to slow down and take longer breaks between attacks. In a thrilling and closely contested finish, Ward’s superior freshness sees him narrowly earn the judges’ nod. Result: Andre Ward defeats Joe Calzaghe by Split Decision.