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Why didn't Joe Calzaghe & Sven Ottke ever fight? | BoxingScene Community

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Why didn't Joe Calzaghe & Sven Ottke ever fight?

artfuL_12y ago

After reading over the thread regarding Dariusz and Roy not ever fighting, it got me thinking of another all time great fight that would have broken all types of records (:P) not being made. I speak of two of the most controversial undefeated Super-Middleweights of all-time. Ottke held his IBF title from 98-04 Calzaghe held his titles from 97-07 Any reasons why they never fought? Were they ever close?

Comments (10)

Joe tried, even offered to goto Germany. Ottke was satisfied to never test himself. Beyer called him out, and Michalzewski made him a very big offer.

10y ago

Who would have won?

10y ago

Dirk_Diggler_UK

Ottke's brutal destruction of Mundine struck fear into the Welsh Dragon's heart. I think you mean that Calzaghe's brutal destruction of Manfredo scared Sven into retirement.

12y ago

Ottke's brutal destruction of Mundine struck fear into the Welsh Dragon's heart.

12y ago

Would of been a good fight. They are about the same level of fighter.

12y ago

I understand Ottke fought at home and all times and received preferential treatment. But at anytime in their careers were they close to arranging a deal to fight at all. Edit: Managed to find two arcticles from Calzaghe explaining he was chasing fights with Ottke in the past. Years of the article are dated 2003 and 2007. http://www.boxingscene.com/calzaghe-ottke-belong-near-my-record--11006 http://www.eastsideboxing.com/weblog/news.php?p=339&more=1

12y ago

Ottke didn't want to get TKOd after evading 2 slaps. Calzaghe didn't want to win to lose.

12y ago

Dirk_Diggler_UK

Ottke had a string of robberies in Germany. In fact, most of them were against guys Calzaghe beat - Brewer, Mitchell and Robin Reid were all given bad decisions against them.

12y ago

Because Sven didn't wanna leave Deutschland.

12y ago

Sven Ottke fought every single fight in his career in Germany. Repeat: EVERY SINGLE FIGHT in Germany. You get a fighter like that who's winning controversial decisions it's tough to convince anyone who already has a belt to come over to fight him.

12y ago