My take on Calzaghe....

If you know anything about Roy Jones Jnr you would have heard of Dariusz M, the lineal 175 champ. How about fighting him?

Cant say i`m a big fan of Calzaghe, but he is going to be very difficult to beat no matter what. Simply because that even at 35 he fights at a very fast pace and he can take a punch. Bernard would not be able to keep up with Joes pace, and Bernard knows that. Thats why he never will fight Joe. Kessler on the other hand is young and if he can take a punch will give Joe everything he can handle and perhaps more.

Winky did that because after his loss to fernando vargas no american promoters wanted to give him a chance, if he was getting the fights hes getting now he would have never done that. Mayweather fought jose luis castillo in LA, fought Gatti in Atlantic City and countless other times has had the crowd totally against him. Mayweather could fight anywhere outside of vegas or michigan and basically be out of his comfort zone, our country doesnt wholly embrace one fighter like they do in the UK. Which is why fighting here isnt like fighting over there. u need to read up on winky again because winky went to fight in europe before the vargas fight however ur reason is right he went to fight in europe because he would get no attention from the top american promoters so he signed with acaries brothers and they went fighting all over europe by the time he fought vargas he had already begun fight on american soil, he fought on european soil during his earlier fights.

I also agree with that. If a European comes over here and snags a title he should be able to fight in his backyard. He's the champion. It's his right. He beat the previous champion in their country- next in line can try the same with him. Also, in regards to another post in this thread, I don't think either Kessler or Calzaghe should have to come over here to fight Dawson. He's a relatively unknown name. Both Kessler and Calzaghe can make it a bigger fight there than he could make it here. It's not that America has all the best fighters- it's that Americans are only familiar with boxers that the American media has begun buzzing about- for the most part. Every now and again a Hatton, Khan, Calzaghe and Kessler sneak in but that's happened more in recent years due to the internationalization of the heavyweight crown. America has the deepest pocket. America has HBO and Showtime- Las Vegas and all these powerhouse promoters like Don King, Golden Boy, etc. It's what is ruining the sport but also what drives it- cash. That's why there's this mentality that the Europeans should all come here. Because Don King makes the most money if his guys fight here. Everyone who saw Demetrius Hopkins last fight knows he lost. We don't care what his record say- the commentators, announcers and fans saw the fight. That's what matters. If Wright and Hopkins didn't give a shit about the money- and that wasn't their reason for staying in America- why not go battle with Calzaghe in Wales? Afraid of a hometown decision? Well, like the case of Demetrius the fans will always know who won. Also, most judges are chosen internationally- we can always do the same with referees. So, why not have Hopkins bring it to Calzaghe in his backyard? A fight is a fight. Robinson fought in Europe without a complaint. Let's have our boys do it, too.

My take on it is, I don't care where you are from or where you fight. If you are the champ (which Calzaghe is) then you have the right to stay and fight in your home town if that's what you want. My whole thing is, just fight the best fighters, bottom line. Now I know alot of Europeans on this boeard won't understand but if you want to make the big $$$ then you come to America and fight. Call it bias, call it what you want but thats just the way it is. If I was a soccer player and wanted to play at the highest level and make the most money, I would play in Europe, plain and simple. I don't mind watching fights from Europe but I just want to see good fights, not this joke of a fight we saw this weekend. I thought it was a pre-mature stoppage but I also thought the outcome was inevitable, Manfedo getting beat. Let's stop the whinning and crying and get Calzaghe in there with Kessler, Hopkins or Taylor so we can really determine the greatness of Calzaghe.( or lack thereof)

it is kinda funny that joe thought he hurt peter tho.

I'm not right bothered about Joe Calzaghe to be honest, but I find it strange that the general concensus is that he can't fight, largely due to the xenophobic notion that he's "scared" to leave the UK.

Winky did that because after his loss to fernando vargas no american promoters wanted to give him a chance, if he was getting the fights hes getting now he would have never done that. Mayweather fought jose luis castillo in LA, fought Gatti in Atlantic City and countless other times has had the crowd totally against him. Mayweather could fight anywhere outside of vegas or michigan and basically be out of his comfort zone, our country doesnt wholly embrace one fighter like they do in the UK. Which is why fighting here isnt like fighting over there. This posts explains fighting out of the US pretty good. Also, Americans don't love all their American fighters. By the way things go on here it seems most people not from the US seem to adore either Calzaghe or Kessler. But a lot of americans hate a lot of the american fighters. Like how a lot of us hate Floyd and a lot like Floyd. Same with your James Toneys, Roy Jones' etc...

Witter has not done enough yet to be mentioned on the level of Castillo. However, Castillo is aging and soon maybe that will be fair to say. Castillo will (I hope) give one last great performance vs Hatton. He has trouble making weight and has aged as a result of making 135 for so long. Too bad he and Hatton did not meet a year ago.

We agree on Warren. He's a snake and no mistake. Chad did beat Adamek, you're right. And two best at 140 lbs? Hatton obviously and a much lesser fighter, Junior Witter.

Like I said, the best fighters in general are in the states. If Calzaghe wants to fight Kessler in Europe, fine, but he needs to travel sometime. He said he wants to go to 175 and the best challengers at that weight are fighting in the U.S. now...Adamek, Dawson, Tarver (we'll see on Tarver how he looks next). Dawson beat Adamek, which is why he is a worthy challenge. And those heavyweights you mentioned (Klitschko, Valuev) made moves to the U.S. and will continue to appear in the U.S. in the future. Mormeck does the same thing. And I'm not sure how you figure the two best 140 lbers in the world are Brits...but I'll let that slide. Calzaghe wants to travel it seems but Warren talks out of his ass, offering only fights in the UK. Joe needs to pack his bags, period. Then there will be no issues...take ONE big fight in the U.S. vs Hops, Taylor...or meet up with Kessler on HBO. Do SOMETHING. The man is 35. Handle business already. Joe could beat ANY of the men I mentioned, and some could beat him. But damn, will we ever find out? Probably not if Warren sticks around. Joe has a RESPONSIBILITY to fire that greasy slob just like Hatton did, if he wants to silence the doubters. Then, the idiots who hate Joe will have to begrudgingly give respect.

Yes, you can have it both ways. That's what some of you need to understand, whether you like it or not. I would say most boxers are not cowards, but if you want to be the best, you need to go where the best are. That just happens to be the U.S., whether anyone likes it or not. Right now the best at Super Middleweight are Kessler and Calzaghe, and they're both in Europe. The best at Heavyweight are variously in Eastern Europe and surprisingly enough in Nigeria. The best cruiserweight is French. The best two Junior Welters are British. If you want to be the best you have to go to where the best are eh? If Joe needs to go to the U.S. to get a challenge, like Hops, Taylor, Dawson, Wright, or whoever...then he better just pack his bags, or be content with question marks about his career. I believe he does need to fight the likes of Taylor, Hopkins and Kessler to secure a legacy. I think that Wright would be just too small to be worthwhile, and I don't understand why Dawson would be considered a worthy challenge at light heavy over the likes of Clinton Woods, Glen Johnson, Antonio Tarver or Tomazs Adamek. Calzaghe fights damn well...that covers the 'how'. But it's the 'who' that is missing, for now. I respect your position on this. Calzaghe has the tools to give anyone hell, and he'll prove very difficult to beat for many of the same reasons that Hopkins is so tricky - winning is so important to him. There may be some superstars missing for Calzaghe but superstars are made in fights, and fighting and even beating superstars doesn't necessarily make you one of them.

Yes, you can have it both ways. That's what some of you need to understand, whether you like it or not. I would say most boxers are not cowards, but if you want to be the best, you need to go where the best are. That just happens to be the U.S., whether anyone likes it or not. If Joe needs to go to the U.S. to get a challenge, like Hops, Taylor, Dawson, Wright, or whoever...then he better just pack his bags, or be content with question marks about his career. Calzaghe fights damn well...that covers the 'how'. But it's the 'who' that is missing, for now.

You Europeans will never understand the nature of U.S. boxing and why it is irrational for you to clamor about U.S. fighters leaving the U.S. I'm weary of explaining it to you. You know I agree that certain venues of the United States form the zenith of modern boxing, such as Madison Square Gardens and much of Las Vegas. But while I acknowledge that fighting in the US at least a few times should be the ambition of all top fighters from around the world, it isn't everything, and I do grow a little weary of the constant accusations of cowardice leveled at European fighters for preferring to fight in, for example, Manchester, instead of going elsewhere for what amounts to less money for most fighters. You can't have it both ways. If, say British fighters are cowards for not leaving Europe then Americans are cowards for not leaving the States. Or we can be sensible about things and agree that the more important thing is how a fighter fights, not where.

You Europeans will never understand the nature of U.S. boxing and why it is irrational for you to clamor about U.S. fighters leaving the U.S. I'm weary of explaining it to you.

Are you suggesting it was a robbery? That Manfredo had something up his sleeve? Maybe he was hoping that Calzaghe would slip and bang his head on his stool between rounds.

I think it's very important to keep in mind that the angle showed to you in an HBO pre-fight build up is not necessarily 100% correct. The network has a history of, for the benefit of their pockets, to skew the facts about fighters to make their story more interesting, or riveting- to make you want to see the fight. They'll play Mayweather as the villain and De la Hoya as the boxing prince. They'll portray Valuev as the gentle giant- who always wanted to fit in, but instead had to learn to stand out. They'll show Joe Calzaghe only fighting in Europe - "a big fish in a small pond" to build up to his American expeditions more. To make you say, "Oh my...here comes the pride of Wales finally fighting in America. Let's watch." The fact is Joe has fought some tailor made, hand picked opponents. No doubt. Almost every boxer has. He has also disposed of most European challengers to his title- and it's an ignorant American view point to believe only America has dangerous boxers. Sure, we want to see him fight here...but let's not belittle what he has done. 20 title defenses. He's skilled. HBO has made people believe other European boxers aren't as sheltered through their pre-fight stories. Ricky Hatton for one. They played his coming to the USA as a coming out party. That Ricky had always wanted to be here and finally made it. They didn't focus on the majority of his fights and career being solely in Europe. It can also be said that American fighters refuse to travel around the world. Sugar Ray Robinson was famous for taking a world-wide media voyage and popping over to Europe to tackle some of their champions. Ali fought in Africa. The mega stars- of any nationality- have to be willing to fight on a world stage. That means Hopkins in Moscow and Mayweather in Tokoyo. That makes boxing a world-wide event. American fighters can fight in their backyards, though, and for them it's alright?? Joe is not as sheltered as we are lead to believe. Sure, his fighting locales have been limited but its the same with many American fighters. The question is will Calzaghe- and the other big names- Kessler, Hopkins, Mayweather, etc. fight on a world-wide stage. Let's push for all of them to. Why should two Americans fight in Europe you say? Well, if there's large interest in a fight you need to consider many venues for its hosting. The biggest, with the most exposure should win. In many cases Europe is more interested in boxing than us Americans. In short- all boxers should fight around the world- not just the Europeans. This is absolutely brilliant, and completely spot on, a very intelligent and well worded post.

I think it's very important to keep in mind that the angle showed to you in an HBO pre-fight build up is not necessarily 100% correct. The network has a history of, for the benefit of their pockets, to skew the facts about fighters to make their story more interesting, or riveting- to make you want to see the fight. They'll play Mayweather as the villain and De la Hoya as the boxing prince. They'll portray Valuev as the gentle giant- who always wanted to fit in, but instead had to learn to stand out. They'll show Joe Calzaghe only fighting in Europe - "a big fish in a small pond" to build up to his American expeditions more. To make you say, "Oh my...here comes the pride of Wales finally fighting in America. Let's watch." The fact is Joe has fought some tailor made, hand picked opponents. No doubt. Almost every boxer has. He has also disposed of most European challengers to his title- and it's an ignorant American view point to believe only America has dangerous boxers. Sure, we want to see him fight here...but let's not belittle what he has done. 20 title defenses. He's skilled. HBO has made people believe other European boxers aren't as sheltered through their pre-fight stories. Ricky Hatton for one. They played his coming to the USA as a coming out party. That Ricky had always wanted to be here and finally made it. They didn't focus on the majority of his fights and career being solely in Europe. It can also be said that American fighters refuse to travel around the world. Sugar Ray Robinson was famous for taking a world-wide media voyage and popping over to Europe to tackle some of their champions. Ali fought in Africa. The mega stars- of any nationality- have to be willing to fight on a world stage. That means Hopkins in Moscow and Mayweather in Tokoyo. That makes boxing a world-wide event. American fighters can fight in their backyards, though, and for them it's alright?? Joe is not as sheltered as we are lead to believe. Sure, his fighting locales have been limited but its the same with many American fighters. The question is will Calzaghe- and the other big names- Kessler, Hopkins, Mayweather, etc. fight on a world-wide stage. Let's push for all of them to. Why should two Americans fight in Europe you say? Well, if there's large interest in a fight you need to consider many venues for its hosting. The biggest, with the most exposure should win. In many cases Europe is more interested in boxing than us Americans. In short- all boxers should fight around the world- not just the Europeans.

i think calzaghe is a bitch. and I'd tell it to him in his fukin ugly face if I ever saw him

Those guys over there don't understand that...they are just rah,rah Joe and fat Yank this and that. We over here don't just hop on some guys bandwagon just because he is American. They have there heads so far up Calzaghe's ass their ears are covered. I actually said Calzaghe is a good fighter,in fact I believe he beats Taylor,much like Lacy...he also beats an aged Hopkins. So why are they yelling at me...must I kiss his arse also?