Calzaghe plans warm-up for Lacy

Joe Calzaghe's search for a meaningful fight is again on the back-burner as he plans a warm-up bout while waiting for a unification clash with Jeff Lacy.

The WBO super middleweight champion says he is certain to move to light heavyweight next year, but for now Lacy is his only big-fight option.

"The fight with (IBF super middleweight champion) Lacy seems certain later this year or early next," said Calzaghe.

"But I won't wait around and hope to know about a warm-up fight soon."

The 33-year-old, undefeated Welshman remains desperately keen to become a two-weight champion.

But options in the light heavyweight division have been limited recently, with Antonio Tarver defeating Glen Johnson and IBF champion Clinton Woods arranging a bout with Julio Gonzalez in Sheffield in September.

"I'm disappointed with Woods," said Calzaghe in his column for the South Wales Argus.

"The guy called me out but he's chicken because now he doesn't want to fight me, and I suspect it's because he knows I would knock him out and retire him."

Tarver is regarded as the leading light heavyweight in the world following his revenge victory over Johnson earlier this month.

Calzaghe had predicted the result, but was disappointed as he felt he had a better chance of securing a bout with the winner had it been Johnson.

"Time has obviously caught up with the pair and they are there for the taking, I believe I would beat them both," said Calzaghe.

"But all doors appear to be closing on me except the one leading to a unification fight with Lacy."

Even that fight is dependent on the American defeating England's Robin Reid in August, though.

I think at 33 Calzaghe has seen better days himself so better get a move on.

blah blah blah please retire, your a ****ing joke JC.

all the talent and no desire.

fraud. ;)

Come on bro stop sittin on the fence :D
It has been a waste of a career though when you look at what he's done since '97', he's made a lot of £££ but not got much credibility, too many injuries as well.

these type of fights will get him motivated againn

its too little too late for me.

i was a huge calzaghe fan even covered this for the BBN and spoke to him and ricky and FW

http://www.britishboxing.net/?page=news&id=577

THEN CALZAGHE BLEW IT BY NOT TRAINING AND BEING READY AND PUTITNG THE FIGHT BACK A WEEK, THEN HURTING HIS BACK SHAGIGNG HALF THE FEMALE POPULACE OF CARDIFF.

i thought **** him.


i dont care anymore, he has taken the piss out of the british boxing public for long enough. I refuse to fall for it any longer.

Calzaghe plans warm-up for Lacy

Joe Calzag's search for a meaningful fight is again on the back-burner as he plans a warm-up bout while waiting for a unification clash with Jeff Lacy.

The WBO super middleweight champion says he is certain to move to light heavyweight next year, but for now Lacy is his only big-fight option.

"The fight with (IBF super middleweight champion) Lacy seems certain later this year or early next," said Calzaghe.

"But I won't wait around and hope to know about a warm-up fight soon."

The 33-year-old, undefeated Welshman remains desperately keen to become a two-weight champion.

But options in the light heavyweight division have been limited recently, with Antonio Tarver defeating Glen Johnson and IBF champion Clinton Woods arranging a bout with Julio Gonzalez in Sheffield in September.

"I'm disappointed with Woods," said Calzaghe in his column for the South Wales Argus.

"The guy called me out but he's chicken because now he doesn't want to fight me, and I suspect it's because he knows I would knock him out and retire him."

Tarver is regarded as the leading light heavyweight in the world following his revenge victory over Johnson earlier this month.

Calzaghe had predicted the result, but was disappointed as he felt he had a better chance of securing a bout with the winner had it been Johnson.

"Time has obviously caught up with the pair and they are there for the taking, I believe I would beat them both," said Calzaghe.

"But all doors appear to be closing on me except the one leading to a unification fight with Lacy."

Even that fight is dependent on the American defeating England's Robin Reid in August, though.

I think at 33 Calzaghe has seen better days himself so better get a move on.

Why will Joe Calzaghe not fight Mikkel Kessler,because he are one big chicken :boxing:

Why will Joe Calzaghe not fight Mikkel Kessler,because he are one big chicken :boxing:

Kesslers hardly a big fight, he's a decent opponent but its not the big match up he's hoping for. Calzaghe needs to be fight P4P opponents, its just a shame not of them want the risk of Calzaghe.

Calzaghe plans CIA title warm up


JOE Calzaghe is set to defend his WBO super-middle weight title in Wales for the first time since early last year.

The 33-year-old Newbridge southpaw has been pencilled in for an appearance at Cardiff International Arena on September 10 - and tough American Scott Pemberton is in the frame to be his opponent.

Calzaghe, who has fought in Edinburgh and Germany since seeing off Armenian Mger Mkrtchian at the ice rink in February 2004, wants to fit in an extra bout before his crunch unification battle with IBF counterpart Jeff Lacy, assuming Lacey gets past Robin Reid next month.

Pemberton, now 38, was under consideration as Joe's foe in Scotland last October, but in the event he fought Egyptian spoiler Kabary Salem, perhaps a safer choice given the turmoil in the Welshman's private life at the time.

If Scott does get his shot it will not be too soon. He has been in and around the ratings for years, but has always been avoided.

He made his name with two sensational wars with Calzaghe victim Omar Sheika, winning both, but Sheika is the one who will take on WBC boss Markus Beyer on September 3 - even though Pemberton is that organisation's mandatory challenger.

"All I want to do is fight for some decent money," says the veteran from Massachusetts.

"If I beat Calzaghe I'm pretty much on top of the world. I'd be in a great position to make big money.

"I happen to know a little about Joe. I've seen him fight a few times. He kind of reminds me a little bit of myself."

I did say in another thread about this that Pemberton might be the opponent and while I favour Calzaghe it'll be a good action fight while it lasts :boxing:

Won't be Pemberton then!

WBC #1 super middleweight Scott "The Sandman" Pemberton has signed to face #3 ranked former interim titlist Danny Green. There is no date or venue at this time, but the bout will take place in late October at Perth, Australia. With WBC #2 ranked Christian Sanavia's defeat over the weekend, it is expected that the bout will be approved as a WBC eliminator, but that is not official yet. There is also the possibility that this will be part of a box-off, with the winner to face the winner of another box-off bout.

Calzaghe and his management are being very stupid, he has a big money fight against Lacy, now commonsense says yes he might be a little rusty but no more than in recent times, it will only be about 8 months at that he has had longer layoffs than that look when ricky last fought before he met Tszyu must have been six months. Now that Pemberton has another fight they should cancel the warmup, for example Calzaghe gets a damaged hand or nasty cut

Kesslers hardly a big fight, he's a decent opponent but its not the big match up he's hoping for. Calzaghe needs to be fight P4P opponents, its just a shame not of them want the risk of Calzaghe.

Kessler is his big fight in SM from the boxing perspective while Lacy is it the one that will pay the most.
Why should any of the P4P fighters (like Hopkins) fight him when he has showed no desire to at least dominate the division he is in? If he was a unified champion he would be much harder to ignore.

Kessler is his big fight in SM from the boxing perspective while Lacy is it the one that will pay the most.
Why should any of the P4P fighters (like Hopkins) fight him when he has showed no desire to at least dominate the division he is in? If he was a unified champion he would be much harder to ignore.

Why hasn't he ever tried to unify before this? Is it because all the other champions are afraid of him? Come on, the man is a heartless coward, who just wants to sit on his belt and continue to fight manditories. Lacy is going to kill him when they fight.

Joe, the "O" has got to go.

Why hasn't he ever tried to unify before this? Is it because all the other champions are afraid of him? Come on, the man is a heartless coward, who just wants to sit on his belt and continue to fight manditories. Lacy is going to kill him when they fight.

Joe, the "O" has got to go.

He did try to unify against Ottke but wasn't prepared to risk getting shafted in Germany so it fell through.

He did try to unify against Ottke but wasn't prepared to risk getting shafted in Germany so it fell through.

That is the problem with having 2 protected money spinners in the same division.

Why hasn't he ever tried to unify before this? Is it because all the other champions are afraid of him? Come on, the man is a heartless coward, who just wants to sit on his belt and continue to fight manditories. Lacy is going to kill him when they fight.

Joe, the "O" has got to go.

It is true that he has been happy just defending the WBO belt against often poor opposition. So i do hope that the Lacy fight will be made (if he can get past Reid). But i doubt Lacy can beat him so this could be the chance for him to unify some of the titles.

That is the problem with having 2 protected money spinners in the same division.



It is true that he has been happy just defending the WBO belt against often poor opposition. So i do hope that the Lacy fight will be made (if he can get past Reid). But i doubt Lacy can beat him so this could be the chance for him to unify some of the titles.

good post and i agree.

You guys are too negative. Trust Joe. He will deliver the big title. Its taken him too long, but cant really dwell on that now. Lets save that to when he retires. Then we can all look back and either praise or criticise.

C'mon Joe. You can do it!!!!!