Calzaghe should try to unify LHW

I would much rather see Joe Calzaghe take on Tarver and Dawson than I would see him fight RJJ. It is about time that big time boxing became a sport again. When meaningless fights are made based solely on the amount of money that the 'names' involved bring to the table, then boxing ceases to be a sport at all, and becomes little more than "Sports Entertainment" exactly like WWE. In my eyes, the man who follows up his cleaning out of the SMW division with a similar cleaning out of the LHW division, only this time against exactly the kind of US opponents he has been criticised for not facing throughout his long career, is far more deserving of respect than a man who chooses to beat one LHW champ and then end his career with what would essentially be an exhibition match. Tarver and Dawson are the live champs in Joe's division and taking their belts from them to unify would be an incredible achievement. The RJJ fight would still be there for him at the end, with exactly the same credibility, and if anything would only make more money if both Joe and RJJ had beaten some live opposition in the meantime. I want to see Joe Calzaghe make all he can of himself as a boxer, not as some sort of "star attraction", and I want to see boxing respected as the great sport that it can be. I think if Joe were to choose the legitimate, 'honest', boxing path then i think it would be better for Joe, better for boxing, and better for the fans too. ________ Water bongs

Comments (18)

Boxingwizard

Dawson isn't likely - simply didn't distinguish himself from the pack against Johnson, with the majority thinking he'd lost, & doesn't have the name to overcome that. Johnson didn't get robbed, it was a close fight that went in Dawson's favor. Johnson had three close fights with Woods and no one is complaining about those decisions, the point is Dawson deserved that win. Dawson isn't going to fight Calzaghe next anyway, maybe next year, but thats a big IF.

18y ago

macman

Think that Tarver is probably the only one that we have a real possibility of seeing him in with, & that's only if Jones's negotiations break down (always a possibility with Jones, & almost looking likely with the 2 fight plan b*ll). Best fight in the division would probably Calzaghe VS Glen Johnson. Have a feeling that would make a great fight... but unfortunately would probably only see it if Jones, Pavlik, & Tarver falls through as opponents. Dawson isn't likely - simply didn't distinguish himself from the pack against Johnson, with the majority thinking he'd lost, & doesn't have the name to overcome that. Would like to see Dawson against Kessler after Kessler makes the transition to Light-heavy (if he ever actually gets around to signing a fight). As for Calzaghe sticking around & unifying the division, suspect that Calzaghe has only 2 top level performances left in him at most... He's been around a long time, & has been plagued by injuries.

18y ago

hardmanbrit

He tried to get Hopkins and Jones years and years ago but they did not want to fight him. Now he is 36 and sadly looking well past his best they want to fight him. I will admit, however, that despite the fact that he has been a World Champion for well over a decade now his resumé is only okay, with the likes of Kessler, Eubank, Hopkins, Mitchell, Reid and Lacy being among the best he has defeated.

18y ago

abadger

The Kessler fight does seem much longer ago than 5 months, oddly enough. I would like to sit down and talk to Joe about his hands and see what the deal is. I think he's not letting on how bad his hands are. If they're as bad as you suspect, then we could actually be looking at a 2 weight Ring champ and undefeated boxer who wins fights without actually being able to hit his opponent properly! Joe is the man! ________ CZECHOSLOVAKIAN COOKING

18y ago

FRKO

Doh! Remind me never to rely on my brain ever, ever again. Still, if he could punch then, then maybe he can still punch now. Hope so anyway. The Kessler fight does seem much longer ago than 5 months, oddly enough. I would like to sit down and talk to Joe about his hands and see what the deal is. I think he's not letting on how bad his hands are.

18y ago

abadger

The Kessler fight was only 5 months back. November 3, 2007! Yes, he has a condition, I've seen him describe it in a documentary but I can't remember what the condition is exactly. Doh! Remind me never to rely on my brain ever, ever again. Still, if he could punch then, then maybe he can still punch now. Hope so anyway. ________ BHO HASH OIL

18y ago

FRKO

That's a good point about the KOs. What exactly is up with calzaghe's hands, I know he's broken them on occasion but does he have a condition or what? I agree that if there was one thing Joe didn't do against Hopkins it was punch hard, and I've never really subscribed to the slapping theory before, but I really saw why people say it in that fight. he unloaded some good ones against Kessler though, but that was two years ago and who knows what could have changed since? The Kessler fight was only 5 months back. November 3, 2007! Yes, he has a condition, I've seen him describe it in a documentary but I can't remember what the condition is exactly.

18y ago

RichCCFC

That's a good point about the KOs. What exactly is up with calzaghe's hands, I know he's broken them on occasion but does he have a condition or what? I agree that if there was one thing Joe didn't do against Hopkins it was punch hard, and I've never really subscribed to the slapping theory before, but I really saw why people say it in that fight. he unloaded some good ones against Kessler though, but that was two years ago and who knows what could have changed since? He had a career threatening wrist injury as an amateur.

18y ago

abadger

I think Hopkins has a style which is ridiculously difficult to look good against and he would/will look much better against Jones, but I can't help thinking Calzaghe is on the downward slope now. I think his hands have totally crapped out on him, but the guy just doesn't know how to lose a fight, it's insane how he always finds a way to win, so I never bet against him. I learned not to do that many, many years ago! Tarver and Johnson defeated Jones by KO. Calzaghe doesn't have the power in his hands any more to do any serious damage, by the looks of it. I dunno man, I'm still thinking about this one. That's a good point about the KOs. What exactly is up with calzaghe's hands, I know he's broken them on occasion but does he have a condition or what? I agree that if there was one thing Joe didn't do against Hopkins it was punch hard, and I've never really subscribed to the slapping theory before, but I really saw why people say it in that fight. he unloaded some good ones against Kessler though, but that was two years ago and who knows what could have changed since? ________ WEEDTRACKER

18y ago

FRKO

I was worried about that too at first, but I've watched the fight again (I got a copy now) and I now think calzaghe looked fine. He did what he always does, its just Hopkins being so Hopkins like that made me think he was losing it. I've noticed a lot of people revising their opinion of RJJ now and saying he could give Calzaghe trouble, but we have to remember he's lost to both tarver and Johnson, and surely against Jones we would see the more open boxing match that Joe specialises in. You don't think? I think Hopkins has a style which is ridiculously difficult to look good against and he would/will look much better against Jones, but I can't help thinking Calzaghe is on the downward slope now. I think his hands have totally crapped out on him, but the guy just doesn't know how to lose a fight, it's insane how he always finds a way to win, so I never bet against him. I learned not to do that many, many years ago! Tarver and Johnson defeated Jones by KO. Calzaghe doesn't have the power in his hands any more to do any serious damage, by the looks of it. I dunno man, I'm still thinking about this one.

18y ago

abadger

I think Joe should get out of the LHW division, and if he fights Jones like he fought Hopkins, he's asking for trouble. I was worried about that too at first, but I've watched the fight again (I got a copy now) and I now think calzaghe looked fine. He did what he always does, its just Hopkins being so Hopkins like that made me think he was losing it. I've noticed a lot of people revising their opinion of RJJ now and saying he could give Calzaghe trouble, but we have to remember he's lost to both tarver and Johnson, and surely against Jones we would see the more open boxing match that Joe specialises in. You don't think? ________ Outdoor tube

18y ago

KingTito

I'm thinking it'll be either Pavlik or Roy. I'm curious to see both fights. I'm not too sure which one I wanna see more. Maybe Pavlik because he's much younger, and Roy is on the downside.

18y ago

FRKO

I think Joe should get out of the LHW division, and if he fights Jones like he fought Hopkins, he's asking for trouble.

18y ago

abadger

I understand why some of you would like to see Calzaghe fight Pavlik, that is a fight I would like to see happen too. I just think that ultimately Calzaghe would beat Pavlik quite easily and with it being back at SMW (presumably), in the end it wouldn't really do as much for his legacy as if Joe were to go on and fight the two 'name' US LHW champs. I think he beats both Tarver and Dawson quite easily too. I guess I would like to see boxing return to the days when the big fights are made between the champs, with belts being respected as meaning something and fights made because of it. I'm not really bothered about Erdei and Green, but in this day and age of multiple belts, the partial unification against Tarver and Dawson would be about the biggest achievement Joe could make. Better to be 'The Division Killer' than 'The Legend Killer'. Legends are exactly what they mean: not real. ________ BLACK **** TUBE

18y ago

RichCCFC

Joe Calzaghe vs Roy Jones JR = $40,000,000 Joe Calzaghe vs Antonio Tarver = £6,500,000~ Joe Calzaghe vs Chad Dawson = £4,000,000~ Money speaks!

18y ago

TheGreatA

If the Roy Jones fight leads to Calzaghe fighting the winner of Tarver vs Dawson or Kelly Pavlik then I'm all for it. He has had two tough fights in a row now so an 'easy' fight with Roy Jones as a tune-up and a moneymaker won't hurt. But if it's simply an attempt to cash in (with the rumoured two fight clause) and retire, I would be quite disappointed. Joe still has it, Hopkins just made him look bad. He could try to break Marciano's record or something like that. I would not advise him to retire unless he looks shot against Roy Jones.

18y ago

Kilrain

Calzaghe should fight Pavlik. Forget Tarver, Antonios name means nothing anymore as far as I'm concerned, he gasped out a 12 round decision over a guy who was undeserving to carry his gym bag, that doesn't mean jack. And he's on the slide. Dawson, well Dawson is the future, and he needs to sack up and give Glen his rematch. Pavlik is the one with no one decent or legitimate to fight at 160, they need to get it signed before Joe retires, but he'll likely take the easy fight RJ

18y ago

Drunk_Punch

It would be pretty much meaningless for Calzaghe to fight Erdei, Green, Tarver etc. Okay, Tarver may be the exception, but he's almost as boring as B-Hop. He has one fight left so it's either gotta be Pavlik or RJJ.

18y ago