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Andre Ward Says Joe Calzaghe Would Have Given Him More Problems Than Anthony Joshua

Andre Ward made a surprising claim about which of the two Brits would have given him more problems.

By
Danny Gilfillan
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Andre Ward has made a surprising claim on which of the two Brits would give him a harder fight.
Andre Ward has made a surprising claim on which of the two Brits would give him a harder fight.
Andre Ward has claimed that Joe Calzaghe would have posed him more problems than former unified heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua.

There was talk of Ward returning to the sport in 2018 for a staggering heavyweight contest with Joshua, however this never materialised.

The 39-year-old American defeated the likes of Sergey Kovalev, Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch during his glittering, undefeated professional career, which saw him inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2021.

British fight fans have also speculated on how ‘S.O.G.’ would have faired against the man who was regarded as his predecessor to the super middleweight throne – Wales’ Joe Calzaghe.

In a recent interview with Boxing News, Ward remarkably explained that he believes Calzaghe would have posed a tougher test stylistically than Joshua.

Ward shared the ring with some of the greatest fighters of the modern era - and beat them all. (Christian Peterson)
Ward shared the ring with some of the greatest fighters of the modern era – and beat them all.
(Christian Peterson)

“I know nobody can imagine me being able to go strength for strength with Joshua because of his size and the way he looks, but I don’t think I’d have been overpowered from a physical standpoint.

“The big, one shot would have been my concern with Anthony Joshua. He doesn’t have the style – he’s not like a big man, like George Foreman. George knows how to tie you up and walk you back and wear you down.

Despite the weight difference, Ward says he'd have fancied his chances against AJ.
Despite the weight difference, Ward says he’d have fancied his chances against AJ.

“[Joshua’s] trying to box and be cute as well. I can look out for that right hand a lot easier when you fight like that, so Joe Calzaghe would have been a tougher fight. A different style, and a different mentality.”

An interesting take from the Californian, who would have more than likely been over four stone lighter than ‘AJ’ if they ever did lock horns in the ring.

Like Ward, Calzaghe also retired from the professional game without ever suffering a defeat, and is widely viewed as one of Britain’s finest ever fighters.

Unfortunately, fans will never know how a match up between either Joshua or Calzaghe would have played out.

AJ will take on Francis Ngannou next, after the former UFC star gave Tyson Fury all he could handle in Saudi Arabia last October.

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