Carl Froch and Joe Calzaghe are two former super middleweight champions who have a rivalry going back years.
Both of these boxers left an indelible mark on the sport, though they never faced each other in the ring.
Known as the ‘Pride of Wales,’ Calzaghe was an undefeated world champion who retired with an impeccable record of 46 wins from 46 fights. His quick hands and exceptional endurance helped him dominate the super-middleweight division for over a decade with notable wins against the likes of Chris Eubank, Jeff Lacy, Roy Jones Jr and Bernard Hopkins before hanging up the gloves for good in 2008.
‘The Cobra’ meanwhile was respected for his iron chin and will to win and that earned him a record of 33-2, with one of his losses to Kessler being avenged and the other to elite level fighter Andre Ward. He held the WBC, IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles at various points and fought two famous fights with George Groves, winning both by stoppage to end his career back in 2014.
Both fighters are widely celebrated but fans frequently debate who would have triumphed had they met in the ring.
Speaking to Ring Magazine, Froch has now claimed that Calzaghe shouldn’t have retired with an unbeaten record. He thinks that Robin Reid should have got the decision when they fought.
“Robin Reid could really bang, and in my opinion he deserved the win over Joe Calzaghe in their fight.”
The fight took place in 1999 and was controversial in terms of its decision – one judge had Reid win by a wide 116-111, while the other two went 116-111 for Calzaghe. After the contest Reid was convinced he should have got his hand raised.
“Yep, I believe to this day that I won. The more I’ve looked at tapes of the fight the more convinced I am. I won by at least two rounds and that includes the point [I was] deducted for a low blow.
I went home, watched the tape, and it confirmed to me that I won. We were both as dirty (in the fight) as each other. The difference was the referee always seemed to be on my case.”
Froch would face Reid himself eight years later and would get the win when his opponent retired on his stool at the end of the fifth round.
