Kelly Pavlik
"JOE Calzaghe insists he has no intention of giving up his WBO super-middleweight title and has given the clearest indication yet that his September fight with Roy Jones might not be his last.
It had been widely assumed Calzaghe’s 12-stone days were over following his light-heavyweight win over Bernard Hopkins in April, a belief given extra credence by his decision to relinquish the WBC portion of his title.
However Calzaghe now says he intends to keep hold of the WBO belt he has held since beating Chris Eubank in 1997 – with an eye on a possible showdown with world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik next year.
Calzaghe said: “There is no way I am going to give up my WBO title. I do not have a mandatory challenger at the moment so I do not have to defend my title. If I beat Jones, I might move back down to super-middleweight to face Kelly Pavlik.” "
They're all pretty similar to names on his resume.
Sheika, Woodhall, Brewer, Mitchell, Veit, are all comparable if not better than all of the guys in that list.
And Ottke shouldn't realistically be put on any list if it is a serious list. Fighting Ottke is Germany means you are accepting the loss and can't be much of a star turn anyway.
Markus Beyer was actually shit.
You're spot on there mate.
Not as if the Yanks were gonna jump outta their seats saying "OMG He beat Mads MOTHERFUCKING Larsen!!! " :lol1:
Quoted from Bodog
Calzaghe has spent a great deal of time turning down fights and has never really maximized his position, at least on a worldwide basis. He hasn't really fought what could be termed a "who's who" of the other competitors in his division; indeed, you could list a number of guys he did not fight, including Markus Beyer, Sven Ottke, Anthony Mundine, Danny Green, Antwun Echols, Mads Larsen, Frankie Liles and others. Of course, some of that had to do with promotional conflicts, but it also has to do with the culture of the WBO, which allows a fighter to do that indefinitely if he has the right connections. I mean, when they let you fight the likes of Tucker Pudwill and Branko Sobot and Peter Manfredo in title fights, you are getting a free ride, for sure.
They're all pretty similar to names on his resume.
Sheika, Woodhall, Brewer, Mitchell, Veit, are all comparable if not better than all of the guys in that list.
And Ottke shouldn't realistically be put on any list if it is a serious list. Fighting Ottke is Germany means you are accepting the loss and can't be much of a star turn anyway.
Markus Beyer was actually shit.
I remember Joe was supposed to fight the winner of Echols/Brewer
Joe fought the LOSE..lol
You don't hold a WBO crap-strap for 10 years without PLENTY ducking.
calzaghe also fought and beat a past prime Eubank who twice lost to an equally past prime Steve collins.
Calzaghe's 1 and only legit victory is against Mikkel Kessler<--- who himself is quite the question mark still, as he as well has not faced a legitimate opponent.
They fought. So claiming he ducked him makes no sense at all. If Hopkins was truly scared of Calzaghe, the fight would not have happened. If Hopkins didn't like his contract, then that's another issue. I like Calzaghe, but there is no need to make up stories to make him look better than he is. He's a great fighter. Leave it at that.
They fought but people will always use the "old man" excuse. When in actual fact, they were scheduled to fight right around the time Hopkins was winning his biggest fights.
Im not saying Hopkins was scared, I dont say that about most professional fighters. But he didnt want the risk. If he didnt like the contract, he wouldnt have agreed to the fight. Im not making up anything at all, an article was published in the Ring Magazine where the story was vouched for by someone who sat in on the meeting.
Hopkins fighting him in 2008 - when he had no other really big fights to go after - doesnt discount the fact he ducked him years earlier.
Hopkins agreed to the fight. Backed out and then asked for double the money. Undeniable ducking.
They fought. So claiming he ducked him makes no sense at all. If Hopkins was truly scared of Calzaghe, the fight would not have happened. If Hopkins didn't like his contract, then that's another issue. I like Calzaghe, but there is no need to make up stories to make him look better than he is. He's a great fighter. Leave it at that.
Quoted from Bodog
Calzaghe has spent a great deal of time turning down fights and has never really maximized his position, at least on a worldwide basis. He hasn't really fought what could be termed a "who's who" of the other competitors in his division; indeed, you could list a number of guys he did not fight, including Markus Beyer, Sven Ottke, Anthony Mundine, Danny Green, Antwun Echols, Mads Larsen, Frankie Liles and others. Of course, some of that had to do with promotional conflicts, but it also has to do with the culture of the WBO, which allows a fighter to do that indefinitely if he has the right connections. I mean, when they let you fight the likes of Tucker Pudwill and Branko Sobot and Peter Manfredo in title fights, you are getting a free ride, for sure.
What makes these guys any better than the fighters calzaghe has faced during his career?
Quoted from Bodog
Calzaghe has spent a great deal of time turning down fights and has never really maximized his position, at least on a worldwide basis. He hasn't really fought what could be termed a "who's who" of the other competitors in his division; indeed, you could list a number of guys he did not fight, including Markus Beyer, Sven Ottke, Anthony Mundine, Danny Green, Antwun Echols, Mads Larsen, Frankie Liles and others. Of course, some of that had to do with promotional conflicts, but it also has to do with the culture of the WBO, which allows a fighter to do that indefinitely if he has the right connections. I mean, when they let you fight the likes of Tucker Pudwill and Branko Sobot and Peter Manfredo in title fights, you are getting a free ride, for sure.
That's a self-defeating argument if ever I've seen one.
Calzaghe fought who mattered at 168. And if he didn't beat them he beat the ones that did. No-one passed through his division that you could say was a genuine opponent.
Shame about Hopkins ducking him in 2002 after terms were agreed but them's the breaks. Jones just wasn't an economically viable opponent - more's the pity as that would have been THE fight of the decade if it'd have happened.
Hopkins fought at 160 and Cal at 168. Further more, Hopkins fought him when he didn't have to at 43. As usual, you make no sense and when I point this stuff out you put me on ignore like a coward.
Just how many people are on Tunney's ignore list? It must be pretty substantial. I know that myself and several others are lifelong members.
jones jr, most def. but now he got jones where he wanted at the end of his career but oh well.....it will interesting though
Most def? Considering Calzaghe called him out relentlessly.
Hopkins fought at 160 and Cal at 168. Further more, Hopkins fought him when he didn't have to at 43. As usual, you make no sense and when I point this stuff out you put me on ignore like a coward.
Hopkins agreed to the fight. Backed out and then asked for double the money. Undeniable ducking.
Quoted from Bodog
Calzaghe has spent a great deal of time turning down fights and has never really maximized his position, at least on a worldwide basis. He hasn't really fought what could be termed a "who's who" of the other competitors in his division; indeed, you could list a number of guys he did not fight, including Markus Beyer, Sven Ottke, Anthony Mundine, Danny Green, Antwun Echols, Mads Larsen, Frankie Liles and others. Of course, some of that had to do with promotional conflicts, but it also has to do with the culture of the WBO, which allows a fighter to do that indefinitely if he has the right connections. I mean, when they let you fight the likes of Tucker Pudwill and Branko Sobot and Peter Manfredo in title fights, you are getting a free ride, for sure.
Calzaghe has never ducked anybody.
Ottke, Hopkins and others ducked him.
Hopkins fought at 160 and Cal at 168. Further more, Hopkins fought him when he didn't have to at 43. As usual, you make no sense and when I point this stuff out you put me on ignore like a coward.
Calzaghe pulled out of a fight with Glen Johnson with an injury but still maintained he wanted to fight him.
It was actually Johnson who said he didnt want to fight Calzaghe anymore after he upset Roy Jones.
Probably realistically only Glen Johnson.
Although Omar Sheika was a victory on that level at the time as he defeated Glen.
Glen Johnson, but he was injured twice or was he :D
Allow me to add that Johnson was without controversy outpointed by the mighty Sven Ottke.