Nowhere to run-nowhere to hide

All I can say is 'What the fuck?' Calzaghe has been hunting Hopkins for years. YEARS. He would fight him in America. How many times must he publically state this? Before Hopkins paired with Wright, Calzaghe was calling him, but Hopkins chose Wright. Now Hopkins chooses to call Calzaghe while he has Kessler coming up in November. And didn't you see the interview last week? Calzaghe publically asked Pavlik to attend Millenium Stadium Nov 3rd. Why? To scout Calzaghe as an opponent! He wants these fighters. This is true and no disrespect to Pavlik but Cal will handle him.

Calzaghe wants to fight all these guys. He is better late than never when it comes to this super fights. However, he is up for the challenge and if he faces BHOP that 0 WILL go.

Witter LOLOLOLOL Hatton was overprotected ticket seller and he was gonna get beat down by the badest man in the division in Kostya Tzyu , Witter was overated and was supposed to get a spanking by Vivian Harris Braithwaite LOL ,Well just another one too go home with a red face after the Enzo fight,a guy who came with high hopes Calzaghe underdog against Lacy and we all no what happened there eh ,There all rated before they fight Joe show some respect lad ,Joe embarrassed a man that was apparently the best fighter in the division he get's a licking goes home and hes half the fighter he was and before he foguht but still Calzaghe does'nt get respect he deserves just like all the other british fighters above ,there is life outside the US bro hard to believe but a fact none the less,and guess what he happens too be fighting Kessler soon another man who is gonna expose him i suppose ask Roy jones JR about Bhop demands when it comes too negotiations ,

I think Calzaghe's reasons for fighting Kessler should not so much be found in what he's gaining from taking it, but rather from what he was losing by not taking it. Calzaghe was getting a LOT of disrespect for NOT fighting Kessler. His entire rule over the SMW division was being questioned over his supposed lack of willingness to fight an obvious contender. Had he gone for ANY other fight he might have gained som US respect or he might not.. But no matter the critisism on him for "ducking" Kessler would NOT have died down - at least not unless Kessler was otherwise exposed. I think the building up of dissrespect impacted on Calzaghe's pride more than it did on Warren. Certain statements from Warren make me believe this fight is STILL not Warren's prefered choice - but Calzaghe in the end was pushing for it to redeem his reputation. - Kudos to Joe for that. (something i was not willing to give hime BEFORE the Kessler fight was signed). Ultimately i think taking the fight, has done more to redeem Calzaghe than some care to admit - and thereby makes him (should he win against Kessler) a more attractive opponent - simply due to the credit he carries. When judging the worth of this fight from Calzaghe's perspective, you cant just simply look at Kessler. You need to look at how Calzaghe would have been perceived WITHOUT Kessler. All that said - i still actually think Calzaghe made a mistake taking the fight. Simply because i think he'll likely lose. :-) Well said. Genuine boxing fans will agree with you

:boxing: The stakes are rising and the contenders are calling; Lining up to test the credability of Calzaghe. Hopkins and Pavlik have recently expressed interest in Calzaghe. Fellow boxing fans have to agree with me on this one: Calzaghe is one of the most protected champions. It wasn't until Taylor-Pavlik match-up that Calzaghe was "pushed" into the fight with Kessler. Calzaghe must know that in order for a fighter to be recognized as a world champion he Must come to the states. He has only vetured out of his country once, and that was against a journeymen fighter from Germany. It's only obvious why Calzaghe recently hinted at the possibility of....retirement? (Kessler.....then Pavlik or Hopkins). We saw the destruction of Lacy, but was Lacy the best that the division had/has to offer? A fight with Pavlik will test your durability and a fight with Hopkins would only give some credance to your ....."Legacy?" I think Calzaghe's reasons for fighting Kessler should not so much be found in what he's gaining from taking it, but rather from what he was losing by not taking it. Calzaghe was getting a LOT of disrespect for NOT fighting Kessler. His entire rule over the SMW division was being questioned over his supposed lack of willingness to fight an obvious contender. Had he gone for ANY other fight he might have gained som US respect or he might not.. But no matter the critisism on him for "ducking" Kessler would NOT have died down - at least not unless Kessler was otherwise exposed. I think the building up of dissrespect impacted on Calzaghe's pride more than it did on Warren. Certain statements from Warren make me believe this fight is STILL not Warren's prefered choice - but Calzaghe in the end was pushing for it to redeem his reputation. - Kudos to Joe for that. (something i was not willing to give hime BEFORE the Kessler fight was signed). Ultimately i think taking the fight, has done more to redeem Calzaghe than some care to admit - and thereby makes him (should he win against Kessler) a more attractive opponent - simply due to the credit he carries. When judging the worth of this fight from Calzaghe's perspective, you cant just simply look at Kessler. You need to look at how Calzaghe would have been perceived WITHOUT Kessler. All that said - i still actually think Calzaghe made a mistake taking the fight. Simply because i think he'll likely lose. :-)

I like Zag also. But there is no hiding the fact that he has been protected for the last 10 years. I think he is the real deal but he is stull unproven at - 34??? Kessler and then another older 'champ' to secure his legacy. He has to go Hopkins route and fight the aging champions. If he fights a young gun he could get old overnight. That's what happens to fighters. If he wants to be remembered he has to take on Hopkins. In deed...Fighting Hopkins is his best option, should he get by Kessler

Everyone knows that Zag has been fighting chumps and B level contenders for the past 10 years. His title reign for the last 10 years has been...well...easy. To say the least. Alot of people said the same about Hopkins. All it takes is one fight. And he could be a massive star. Kessler would be great for his legacy. He is getting up there so he better start challenging older stars. Maybe Tarver, Hopkins. If he gets in there with Dawson in a few more years...it could be too late. Even though I like Calzaghe alot, this post is accurate to me. Warren has overprotected him, and he's rich and undefeated for it. God, I'd just like to see Calzaghe smash Kessler and get on with really proving he is the real thing.

Perhaps you should reiterate the "overprotected" status to starjammer Why can't you reiterate it? Yes, Calzaghe is protected. That's Frank Warren for you. Calzaghe wanted Taylor, but Taylor outpriced himself by a couple more million than negotiated. Taylor ducked out. So Calzaghe goes for the next big name, fighting the best that the super middleweight division has to offer. The SM division is not full of big names. It's not like it was in the 90's. How many marketable names can you muster from this division, that Calzaghe hasnt faced, or would be outclassed by him? The notion that a champion need to come to America to be called a champion is tired and boring. Calzaghe is the WBO SM champion, 10 years running. And he's doing it all in Europe baby. What about these American fighters huh? They just don't want to leave home and face the true champion. What a disgrace. :bottle: Those that find the bottle to come over, they get taken down.

I think Calzaghe is just looking for a solid fight to retire on, to enhance his legacy before he finishes up. He's well aware of his overprotected status. I thought he might retire after Lacy, thinking that he'd finallly gotten over this hump. Luckily for us, he's taking this a few steps farther. Perhaps you should reiterate the "overprotected" status to starjammer

funny how we say "World" Champion...but define that by fighting in NA only Yeah its fucking bullshit. Sure NA has an awesome stable of fighters, but half these fans think the boxing world is contained solely in NA.

Wait, wasn't Joe looking for a fight with Bernard before the Hopkins/Wright fight was decided?

:boxing: The stakes are rising and the contenders are calling; Lining up to test the credability of Calzaghe. Hopkins and Pavlik have recently expressed interest in Calzaghe. Fellow boxing fans have to agree with me on this one: Calzaghe is one of the most protected champions. It wasn't until Taylor-Pavlik match-up that Calzaghe was "pushed" into the fight with Kessler. Calzaghe must know that in order for a fighter to be recognized as a world champion he Must come to the states. He has only vetured out of his country once, and that was against a journeymen fighter from Germany. It's only obvious why Calzaghe recently hinted at the possibility of....retirement? (Kessler.....then Pavlik or Hopkins). We saw the destruction of Lacy, but was Lacy the best that the division had/has to offer? A fight with Pavlik will test your durability and a fight with Hopkins would only give some credance to your ....."Legacy?" All I can say is 'What the fuck?' Calzaghe has been hunting Hopkins for years. YEARS. He would fight him in America. How many times must he publically state this? Before Hopkins paired with Wright, Calzaghe was calling him, but Hopkins chose Wright. Now Hopkins chooses to call Calzaghe while he has Kessler coming up in November. And didn't you see the interview last week? Calzaghe publically asked Pavlik to attend Millenium Stadium Nov 3rd. Why? To scout Calzaghe as an opponent! He wants these fighters.

funny how we say "World" Champion...but define that by fighting in NA only

:boxing: The stakes are rising and the contenders are calling; Lining up to test the credability of Calzaghe. Hopkins and Pavlik have recently expressed interest in Calzaghe. Fellow boxing fans have to agree with me on this one: Calzaghe is one of the most protected champions. It wasn't until Taylor-Pavlik match-up that Calzaghe was "pushed" into the fight with Kessler. Calzaghe must know that in order for a fighter to be recognized as a world champion he Must come to the states. He has only vetured out of his country once, and that was against a journeymen fighter from Germany. It's only obvious why Calzaghe recently hinted at the possibility of....retirement? (Kessler.....then Pavlik or Hopkins). We saw the destruction of Lacy, but was Lacy the best that the division had/has to offer? A fight with Pavlik will test your durability and a fight with Hopkins would only give some credance to your ....."Legacy?" I think Calzaghe is just looking for a solid fight to retire on, to enhance his legacy before he finishes up. He's well aware of his overprotected status. I thought he might retire after Lacy, thinking that he'd finallly gotten over this hump. Luckily for us, he's taking this a few steps farther.