Carl Froch vs Joe Calzaghe was an all-British showdown that boxing fans never got to see.
Both men claimed world honours at super-middleweight, with Calzaghe first ruling the 168lb division for a decade from the late 1990s to the late 2000s. The Welshman then moved to light heavyweight for the two final fights of his career, before retiring in November 2008 with a perfect 46-0 record.
Froch then burst onto the world scene after Calzaghe’s career had ended, first becoming world champion in December 2008 and remaining at the top of the division for the next six years. He competed in 12 straight world title fights, before retiring in May 2014 following his knockout win over George Groves.
Another British fighter that knows what it is like to claim world honours at 168lbs is Billy Joe Saunders, and he once offered his thoughts on who would have come out on top had Froch and Calzaghe ever met.
Speaking previously to the Daily Mail, Saunders felt that it would have been a comfortable win for Calzaghe, and that the Welshman would have even won by knockout.
“It would have been a good fight, but there would have been only one winner: Joe Calzaghe. He fought the best and he beat the best. He was a slick southpaw with speed and strength, and a good boxing brain. Froch is strong, but Calzaghe beat strong fighters, such as Jeff Lacy, with ease.
“I’ve got no other option than to say that Calzaghe would absolutely smash him. Calzaghe had the power and skill to knock him out late. Calzaghe was a fast starter, unlike Froch, and I think Calzaghe would have too much for him.”
Saunders isn’t the only man to make a prediction for the fight, with former Froch and Calzaghe opponent Mikkel Kessler also making a pick having experienced first hand what it is like to face both men.
