The super-middleweight division has historically played host to some of the most thrilling eras in boxing, yet few periods match the sheer depth, talent, and competitive fire of the times defined by Calzaghe and Ward. While their paths to greatness featured different styles, geographical origins, and career trajectories, both men achieved the ultimate goal of retiring at the very top of the sport without tasting defeat. Now, years after both gloves were hung up for good, former world champion DeGale has broken down their respective legacies during an appearance on the Fight Your Corner podcast, revealing which of the two elite operators he ultimately rates as the superior fighter.
Joe Calzaghe enjoyed a legendary career that spanned over a decade at the absolute summit of the sport, ultimately retiring with a pristine record of 46 wins and zero defeats. Known affectionately as the "Pride of Wales," Calzaghe dominated the super-middleweight division for more than ten years, making an incredible 21 successful defenses of his world title. During his dominant run at 168 pounds, the Welsh southpaw systematically dismantled top-tier opposition, securing career-defining victories over elite contenders such as Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler and American puncher Jeff Lacy in a masterclass of high-output boxing.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Calzaghe later ventured upward into the light-heavyweight division toward the twilight of his illustrious career. Rather than taking easy fights to pad his record, he stepped into the ring against true legends of the sport, convincingly outpointing Bernard Hopkins and veteran icon Roy Jones Jr. to prove his greatness across multiple weight classes. His relentless work rate, blinding hand speed, and unorthodox southpaw angles made him an absolute nightmare for any opponent, earning him admiration from fans, pundits, and fellow fighters alike.
Following Calzaghe’s eventual transition away from the division, American standout Andre Ward emerged to take the mantle as the premier force at 168 pounds. Ward quickly established his dominance during the prestigious Super Six World Boxing Classic, a tournament designed to crown the undisputed king of the super-middleweight division. Much like Calzaghe before him, Ward crossed paths with Mikkel Kessler, defeating the formidable Dane to claim world honors for the very first time in his professional career.
Ward did not stop there, continuing his tear through the division by securing dominant victories over top-tier contenders such as Arthur Abraham and British star Carl Froch. Through these stellar performances, Ward cemented his legacy as the standout super-middleweight of a golden era for the weight class, showcasing a brilliant combination of suffocating inside fighting, supreme ring IQ, and an unmatched defensive mindset.
Following his domestic and international dominance at 168 pounds, Ward mirrored Calzaghe’s career path by venturing up to the 175-pound light-heavyweight division. There, he engaged in a pair of fiercely contested, high-stakes bouts against fearsome Russian puncher Sergey Kovalev. In their first encounter, Ward climbed off the canvas to secure a hard-fought, albeit controversial, unanimous decision victory to capture the unified light-heavyweight world crowns. He removed all doubt in their subsequent rematch, delivering a definitive stoppage win in what would ultimately prove to be the final fight of his professional career. Ward walked away from the sport for good with a flawless 32-0 record, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most cerebral and unbeatable competitors of his generation.
Speaking candidly on the Fight Your Corner podcast, James DeGale compared the two legendary figures and offered deep insight into why he believes Calzaghe ultimately edges out Ward as the superior fighter. DeGale, himself a decorated operator who captured world championship gold at super-middleweight, admitted that the Welsh icon was one of his primary childhood idols.
Expressing his admiration for Calzaghe’s unique style and legendary stamina, DeGale highlighted the specific attributes that made the "Pride of Wales" so uniquely difficult to handle inside the squared circle. According to the former IBF champion, Calzaghe’s relentless volume and exceptional physical conditioning set him apart from nearly every other fighter of his era.
Reflecting on Calzaghe’s career during the podcast appearance, DeGale explained that the Welshman’s incredible attributes left a lasting impression on him as a young fighter coming up through the ranks. "Calzaghe is the number one," DeGale stated. "The amount of punches he threw, he was super fit, he was a southpaw, he was brilliant. He is one of my idols. I remember growing up watching him, I loved him."
At the same time, DeGale was quick to shower praise upon Ward, acknowledging the American’s extraordinary tactical brilliance and near-impenetrable defensive mastery. Despite placing Calzaghe at the top of his personal list, DeGale made sure to emphasize just how difficult it would be for anyone to crack the code of the Olympic gold medalist from Oakland, California. "Ward was unbelievable, as well," DeGale added. "He was just a genius in the ring, it’s hard to even say that you would beat him."
The mythical matchup between Calzaghe and Ward has been a frequent topic of debate among boxing enthusiasts, analysts, and historians alike, particularly given how closely their careers intersected in terms of dominance, eras, and weight divisions. Both men have even been asked in the years following their retirements how an actual contest between their prime versions might have played out. Interestingly, when the topic has been brought up in interviews, both Calzaghe and Ward have demonstrated mutual respect for one another’s extraordinary achievements, playfully suggesting that a fantasy fight between them would likely have been so closely contested that they would be more than happy to settle for a draw.
