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Although some of what Palle says is correct, I think he is a bit jealous that Calzaghe is making loads of money with his HBO contract, whilst his fighter has not been offered anything. Frank Warren claims that Palle only wanted the fight with all 4 belts up for grabs, and that was not possible.
Danish promoter proclaims Kessler No.1
By Ant Evans: WBC/WBA super-middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler's promoter Morgen Palle has launched a scathing attack on WBO rival Joe Calzaghe even as the Welshman embarks on a press tour to hype his next fight.
Undefeated Dane Kessler rivals Calzaghe's claim to be the very best fighter in the 168lbs (12stone) division and Palle has wasted no time in rubbishing Calzaghe's April defense against 'the Contender' reality TV show runner-up Peter Manfredo Junior.
"It is another pathetic, bull**** fight for Joe Calzaghe and I can't understand how the press can stand for this all over again," spat the Danish promoter. "Frank Warren is talking about some record Calzaghe will be making with this fight with Peter Manfredo, some sort of a record of world title defenses. Record of what? Record for Calzaghe fighting more middleweight bums than any other super-middleweight champion in history?"
Calzaghe is widely considered to be the man in the division. Also undefeated, the southpaw has held his WBO title for over nine years - longer than Kessler has been a pro - and last March also destroyed IBF champ Jeff Lacy in a fantastic display of speed and skill.
The Lacy win silenced a great many of Calzaghe's critics and also - finally - opened American cable giant HBO's eyes to Calzaghe's pound-for-pound credentials.
Palle, though, believes Calzaghe's reputation is based on a padded record and a lone win over a grossly over-hyped American.
"Jeff Lacy is a bum," the elder statesman of European boxing said. "He's so slow, with no will and no skill. Last week even Vitali Tsypko beat Lacy - Lacy needed a hometown decision in Florida to get by with a bull**** points win. Tsypko was beaten easily by Jackson Chanet, who then lost two of his next four fights. Tsypko is not even a European championship level fighter, he can't break an egg but he nearly knocked Lacy out in that fight last week.
"That shows you what Calzaghe's win over Lacy is worth."
Perhaps.
But what, then, is Kessler's October KO 3 win over defending WBC champion Markus Beyer, who has also fought his share of sub-standard opposition and has needed the benifit of a hometown decision or two in his time?
Moreover, if Lacy was such a push-over, why didn't Kessler accept short money to face the American last November and scoop the glory Calzaghe is currently enjoying?
Palle said: "The difference between Calzaghe and Kessler is that Mikkel is willing to fight the best available opposition and, as a promoter, I have no fears of matching him with anyone in the world. I knew Beyer would be knocked out, yes, but I also knew that Lacy was too muscle bound and slow to win a round against Calzaghe or Kessler.
"And Mikkel has already proved himself willing to travel anywhere to defend his title by going to Australia to fight Anthony Mundine (June 2005). I don't think anyone can (reasonably state) it is Kessler who is afraid to fight away from home when Calzaghe and Warren demand every single possible advantage in every one of Calzaghe's fights.
"I can get Kessler, who is only 27 years old, to defend his title 25, 30 times if the WBA and WBC will sanction fights against middleweights or fighters coming off loses. I could easily build the same record that Calzaghe has for Mikkel.
"But neither Mikkel or I want that. We want to prove that Kessler is the No.1 in the division by fighting the best fighters out there."
Kessler has been ordered to fight hard-hitting, undefeated Mexican Librado Andrade next in a mandatory defense of his titles. Not surprisingly, Palle was keen to draw comparisons between Andrade and Manfredo.
He said: "Kessler is going to fight a No.1 ranked challenger who is undefeated and has proved himself by beating some good fighters like Otis Grant. It is a tough fight, another though opponent for Mikkel. Meanwhile, Calzaghe will be slaughtering a man from a ****** TV show, who lost on that show twice in five round fights. Five round fights! What kind of bull**** is that? Manfredo is not a real fighter and I don't understand how the press and the TV stand for this."
While many where disappointed when Manfredo was confirmed as Calzaghe's 20th WBO title challenger, the rationale is that "the Contender" series made Manfredo a huge star in the US (and the UK, for that matter) and the win will catapult Calzaghe into a late 2007 super-fight with Jermain Taylor or Winky Wright.
But Palle remained unimpressed: "Jermain Taylor looked very poor on Saturday. He backed off and backed off all night from a light middleweight (Kassim Ouma) who can't punch. I am sure Frank Warren would love Calzaghe to fight Taylor, another middleweight, or even Winky Wright, who is a light middleweight, even better.
"Real boxing fans know the only fight at super-middleweight is Mikkel against Calzaghe. But Calzaghe and Warren are afraid and it won't happen.
"Meanwhile, Mikkel will continue to fight (superior opposition to Calzaghe) and more and more press and public will see that he is the only real champion at super-middleweight."
Danish promoter proclaims Kessler No.1
By Ant Evans: WBC/WBA super-middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler's promoter Morgen Palle has launched a scathing attack on WBO rival Joe Calzaghe even as the Welshman embarks on a press tour to hype his next fight.
Undefeated Dane Kessler rivals Calzaghe's claim to be the very best fighter in the 168lbs (12stone) division and Palle has wasted no time in rubbishing Calzaghe's April defense against 'the Contender' reality TV show runner-up Peter Manfredo Junior.
"It is another pathetic, bull**** fight for Joe Calzaghe and I can't understand how the press can stand for this all over again," spat the Danish promoter. "Frank Warren is talking about some record Calzaghe will be making with this fight with Peter Manfredo, some sort of a record of world title defenses. Record of what? Record for Calzaghe fighting more middleweight bums than any other super-middleweight champion in history?"
Calzaghe is widely considered to be the man in the division. Also undefeated, the southpaw has held his WBO title for over nine years - longer than Kessler has been a pro - and last March also destroyed IBF champ Jeff Lacy in a fantastic display of speed and skill.
The Lacy win silenced a great many of Calzaghe's critics and also - finally - opened American cable giant HBO's eyes to Calzaghe's pound-for-pound credentials.
Palle, though, believes Calzaghe's reputation is based on a padded record and a lone win over a grossly over-hyped American.
"Jeff Lacy is a bum," the elder statesman of European boxing said. "He's so slow, with no will and no skill. Last week even Vitali Tsypko beat Lacy - Lacy needed a hometown decision in Florida to get by with a bull**** points win. Tsypko was beaten easily by Jackson Chanet, who then lost two of his next four fights. Tsypko is not even a European championship level fighter, he can't break an egg but he nearly knocked Lacy out in that fight last week.
"That shows you what Calzaghe's win over Lacy is worth."
Perhaps.
But what, then, is Kessler's October KO 3 win over defending WBC champion Markus Beyer, who has also fought his share of sub-standard opposition and has needed the benifit of a hometown decision or two in his time?
Moreover, if Lacy was such a push-over, why didn't Kessler accept short money to face the American last November and scoop the glory Calzaghe is currently enjoying?
Palle said: "The difference between Calzaghe and Kessler is that Mikkel is willing to fight the best available opposition and, as a promoter, I have no fears of matching him with anyone in the world. I knew Beyer would be knocked out, yes, but I also knew that Lacy was too muscle bound and slow to win a round against Calzaghe or Kessler.
"And Mikkel has already proved himself willing to travel anywhere to defend his title by going to Australia to fight Anthony Mundine (June 2005). I don't think anyone can (reasonably state) it is Kessler who is afraid to fight away from home when Calzaghe and Warren demand every single possible advantage in every one of Calzaghe's fights.
"I can get Kessler, who is only 27 years old, to defend his title 25, 30 times if the WBA and WBC will sanction fights against middleweights or fighters coming off loses. I could easily build the same record that Calzaghe has for Mikkel.
"But neither Mikkel or I want that. We want to prove that Kessler is the No.1 in the division by fighting the best fighters out there."
Kessler has been ordered to fight hard-hitting, undefeated Mexican Librado Andrade next in a mandatory defense of his titles. Not surprisingly, Palle was keen to draw comparisons between Andrade and Manfredo.
He said: "Kessler is going to fight a No.1 ranked challenger who is undefeated and has proved himself by beating some good fighters like Otis Grant. It is a tough fight, another though opponent for Mikkel. Meanwhile, Calzaghe will be slaughtering a man from a ****** TV show, who lost on that show twice in five round fights. Five round fights! What kind of bull**** is that? Manfredo is not a real fighter and I don't understand how the press and the TV stand for this."
While many where disappointed when Manfredo was confirmed as Calzaghe's 20th WBO title challenger, the rationale is that "the Contender" series made Manfredo a huge star in the US (and the UK, for that matter) and the win will catapult Calzaghe into a late 2007 super-fight with Jermain Taylor or Winky Wright.
But Palle remained unimpressed: "Jermain Taylor looked very poor on Saturday. He backed off and backed off all night from a light middleweight (Kassim Ouma) who can't punch. I am sure Frank Warren would love Calzaghe to fight Taylor, another middleweight, or even Winky Wright, who is a light middleweight, even better.
"Real boxing fans know the only fight at super-middleweight is Mikkel against Calzaghe. But Calzaghe and Warren are afraid and it won't happen.
"Meanwhile, Mikkel will continue to fight (superior opposition to Calzaghe) and more and more press and public will see that he is the only real champion at super-middleweight."
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