Boxing
Joe Calzaghe names surprising fighter as the hardest puncher he ever faced
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Joe Calzaghe is remembered as one of Britain’s finest ever boxers, but who was the most powerful opponent who the Welshman faced?
In a lengthy career that lasted 15 years, Calzaghe climbed to the top of two weight divisions and beat some impressive names along the way including Chris Eubank, Bernard Hopkins, and Roy Jones.
Finishing his career unbeaten, Calzaghe had to show plenty of grit and heart on numerous occasions as he climbed off the floor to register numerous victories.
Despite being dropped by Byron Mitchell, Hopkins, and Jones, Calzaghe insists that Charles Brewer was the hardest puncher he faced when they clashed in 2002.
“Kessler hit hard, but I’d probably go with Charles Brewer,” said Calzaghe when speaking to The Ring in 2014.
“My game plan was to outbox him, but Charles Brewer I had seen knock out lots of guys. So, I figure I’ll outbox him. I remember in the first round he came out and whacked me right in the solar plexus.
“If you watch the tape, you see me take a deep breath and then go toe to toe for the rest of the fight. He buzzed me up a few times in that fight. Heavy-handed and dangerous from the first round till the 12th.”
