by T.K. Stewart
Joe Calzaghe, The Ring Magazine champion at 168 and 175 pounds, says that he has been waiting a long time to get Roy Jones, Jr. in a boxing ring and that he knows good things come to those who wait.
Calzaghe is well into his training routine for the November 8th fight against Jones at Madison Square Garden and he's already got his game face on.
"At the end of the day, I wanted to fight Roy Jones six years ago," said Calzaghe. "He admitted to me he didn't want to fight me, but now he's happy I'm fighting him. I don't need Roy Jones now, I didn't need Roy Jones then. He's got more to gain than me. If he wins he shocks the world, I'm expected to win."
Calzaghe didn't limit his comments to Roy Jones either. He brought up Kelly Pavlik's name and says that Pavlik, so far, is basically a one-hit wonder and essentially hasn't beaten anyone of real consequence. Calzaghe thinks that Pavlik needs to prove more before he's eligible for a fight with him.
"At the end of the day I've beaten all of the opponents," said Calzaghe who sports an undefeated record of 45-0 (32KOs). "Now people are talking about Kelly Pavlik - after one win. This is like deja vu of Jeff Lacy, another guy with one decent win."
Calzaghe expressed a great deal of disdain for Pavlik and dismissed the recent success of 'The Ghost' from Youngstown, Ohio. Calzaghe claims that Pavlik has turned down a fight against him on more than one occasion.
"We actually tried to get the fight with Pavlik," said 'The Pride of Wales' who is training in his Newbridge gym for what might be his last fight. "Three years ago after the Jeff Lacy fight he was our first opponent, but he didn't want to fight. He went for the middleweight title and after he won the middleweight title we tried to fight him again and he didn't want it."
Calzaghe says that once his fight with Jones was rumored to be happening that strange things began to transpire when it came to Pavlik and his brain-trust.
"It's funny when people come and knock on your door when they know you're going to fight somebody else," said the Welshman. "I think maybe it's just a case of people wanting to make publicity off my back."
Calzaghe, who pulls no punches in training, in his fights or with his comments continued.
"There's a difference between Pavlik and Roy Jones," he said. "I'm fighting a legend in Roy Jones and Pavlik I'd just be fighting a promising champion. There's a big difference there."
When asked what he thought would happen if he ever did fight Pavlik, Calzaghe fired more verbal jabs.
"To be honest, I think I'd have an easier job with Kelly Pavlik than Roy Jones. I'll tell you the reason being is that I love fighters who come to me. Pavlik is a bit one dimensional, he can punch hard. You have to remember against Jermain Taylor in the first fight he was knocked out. Most people would have stopped that fight. We all know he can punch, but yeah, if I fight Kelly Pavlik of course I think I'll win."
However, if Calzaghe holds true to his word, the world may never see he and Pavlik in the ring together. Calzaghe told reporters a few weeks ago that the fight with Jones may very well be his last. Whatever the case, he claims he's relishing what could be his final training camp after 15 years as a professional.
"The way I prepare now is that I'm enjoying it," he said. "Because I know it's going to be over soon and I'll be retired for a long time."
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