Jones in the frame for Calzaghe
Joe Calzaghe is being lined up to fight American legend Roy Jones Jr in July.
Calzaghe's stock has rocketed following his masterful points win over Jeff Lacy in Manchester on Sunday morning and he now has a raft of lucrative options.
"We are looking at July next and the ideal opponent would be Roy Jones," said Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren. "I am sure Joe would do a job on him.
"But Joe will take a break and we'll talk to the TV companies because Joe's reputation has risen significantly."
The IBF and WBO super middleweight champion's biggest decision is whether to remain at 12 stone and attempt to unify the remaining two portions of the title or move up to the more lucrative light heavyweight division.
Neither of the other two super middleweight champions, Mikkel Kessler or Markus Beyer, are big names in America, while Jones is big box office.
Light heavyweight might represent Joe's future and Roy Jones is a fight I would make in a flash
Frank Warren
Calzaghe's promoter
Jones, 37, is a four-weight world champion but has lost his last three fights, twice to former light heavyweight king Antonio Tarver.
Tarver has also been mentioned as a possible opponent, but he is set to fight former undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins in June.
Another possible opponent is Sheffield's IBF light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods, who has been angling for a match with Calzaghe for some time.
Warren said: "Clinton Woods would be a decent fight but it would be difficult to make and it might also be seen as a step backwards for Joe by those in the United States.
"The same goes for the other super middleweight champions which is why light heavyweight might represent Joe's future and why Roy Jones is a fight I would make in a flash."
come on, this fight is 5 years too late..
everybody knows that jones is done, he is just risking his health now. this is one fight i do not want to see, being a jones fan, calzaghe is one fighter i dont want to see own a win over jones.
I agree.I will watch the fight tho because I do like seeing RJJ KOed I don't know why I just like it for some odd reason.
Everyone knows the reason. Whiteboys always become irate when a blackman is cocky and they start rooting against them. Everyone knows that so just be honest.
If Jones was in his prime, this would have Fight of the Year written all over it. QUOTE]
What's with these stupid statements? Are you on crack or just retarded? If Jones were in his prime theb if would be the same boring one sided fight we were accostomed to...unless you are going to say Joe is better than Hopkins, Johnson and Toney. In that case you would be clearly boosting Joe up because he is white and you would have zero credilility.
Beyer's lucky to even still have his title. Calzaghe would destroy him, and I would've said that before the Lacy fight.
definetely, as long as he didnt break his hand like he did against Ashira he would knock him out 9 out of 10 times, Beyer has no power and is smallish, Calzaghe could do whatever he wanted to him.
Beyer, easy nights work for Joe, if he got offered the same kind of money he did for Veit if not more, to fight Beyer in Germany he could take it and just wait for Tarver, Calzaghe would Knock him out Beyer that is.
Beyer's lucky to even still have his title. Calzaghe would destroy him, and I would've said that before the Lacy fight.
Beyer...all more intriguing fights than this one.
Beyer, easy nights work for Joe, if he got offered the same kind of money he did for Veit if not more, to fight Beyer in Germany he could take it and just wait for Tarver, Calzaghe would Knock him out Beyer that is.
Roid is on the juice :rolleyes: , Calzaghe by brutal KO on 8 rounds if it happens, Calzaghe would kill him now and back then, dont take the fight Roid, otherwise u asking for trouble!
I agree 100 %, but if that's what Joe feels he needs to do to make it big over here, then more power to him. I would definitely like to see him fight someone other than Jones, though.
I suppose if he's aiming at gaining a little recognition and loot then sure...go ahead and beat up on a huge name in Jones.
Honestly the only one I REALLY want to see him in the ring with is Mikkel Kessler...but a Glen Johnson fight would be pretty damned entertaining too.
Seriously Calzaghe needs to fight someone who isn't washed up with 3 losses in their last 3 fights.
Glen Johnson, Kessler, Beyer...all more intriguing fights than this one. Roy Jones needs to retire.
For money purposes yeah it makes sense for Calz but fuck that.
I agree 100 %, but if that's what Joe feels he needs to do to make it big over here, then more power to him. I would definitely like to see him fight someone other than Jones, though.
First off let me say I'm a RJJ fan. However I think Cal showed some good inside work vs Lacy and would swarm RJJ like Glen Johnson did. Remember even in RJJ prime he use to let guys put him against the ropes, but back then they couldn't hit him even against the ropes ala Mayweather. If Cal uses that ruff swarm clinch, hit break, swarm hit style I see it being bad for RJJ. Now I do think RJJ still has alot of speed and more power than anyone ever really gave him credit for but I'm not sure if its enough at this point in his career. He appeared a little gun shy in his last fight and a bit unwilling to take a chance or exchange.
Dont get me wrong I still like RJJ and my heart (possibly even a small amount of my money if I get good odds) will be with RJJ. However my mind tells me Cal will win.
Seriously Calzaghe needs to fight someone who isn't washed up with 3 losses in their last 3 fights.
Glen Johnson, Kessler, Beyer...all more intriguing fights than this one. Roy Jones needs to retire.
For money purposes yeah it makes sense for Calz but fuck that.
the fight should happen because Joe has wanted him for years, and it will be a great fight while it lasts, styles make fights even if this is a 'shot' Roy Jones, its a big pay day for Joe and a big name on his resume and sets a Tarver fight up nicely.
styles make fights and jones is faster and hits harder then calzaghe plus a reach advantage which is what killed him against tarver..calzaghe shouldn't fight jones unless its the biggest money fight because jones will probably beat him.. too much speed and calzaghe not enough reach 72 to 74
This fight makes perfect sense if you look at it from a business point of view for Cal instead of a fans point of view. Cal isn't trying to solidfy a legacy with this fight he is trying to solidfy his bank account. Cal is still pretty unknown in US and wouldnt generate significant PPV numbers vs any other opponent other than Light heavies. With this fight he gets instant cash and (if he wins) becomes a more marketable name in US for future fights.
Now in terms of legacy, No it doesnt make a lot of sense. Cal's reputation can only be hurt by this fight not improved. If he wins they'll say he beat a shot RJJ. If he loses then they'll say (rightly so) that he was an over hyped fighter who's marquee victory was against another over hyped 1 dimensional fighter.
For Cal to secure a reputation as a great fighter he will have to beat some other top guys.
Now for RJJ, this is also a win win if you discount the fact that he could possibly take a serious beating. If RJJ wins he is a great champ who even with considerably diminished skills reclaimed a title. He also gets a big pay day from this fight and, if he wins a couple of HUGE pay days.
The real bad part is that RJJ could get his first real punishment of his career. He never took punishment throughout his career. Even in his KO losses he didnt take punishment, it was devastating KO's but no sustained multi-round accumaltive punishment. Cal, whom I regard as a decent puncher but not that one punch lights out punch could possibly inflict real damage on RJJ over several rounds.
the fight should happen because Joe has wanted him for years, and it will be a great fight while it lasts, styles make fights even if this is a 'shot' Roy Jones, its a big pay day for Joe and a big name on his resume and sets a Tarver fight up nicely.