Joe C's Comments On Kessler Fight

[Jim_Davis]

To be honest Calzaghe's record sucks for his age and how long he has had the title. Jeff Lacy was a very prosperous fighter he was good and Cazaghe dismnatled him brilliant but thats not enough to be able to call yourself the best super middleweight in the world. He really needs Hopkins Taylor or Wright

[Guest]

So what are you guys saying then?

I don't know what the others are saying, but I personally was not dis*****g there was cash in the US. (I dunno how much of a blanket statement that is, though... there has to be a developed market for fighters and it's not a bottomless pit, surely?)

All I was saying is that there was no demand for The Blow, so for people to suggest it's his own fault for not getting top card US fights like he can pull them out of thin air is not quite the whole picture. But you've suggested an alternative to that, which is a valid point.

[OptimusWolf]

I pretty much agree, although I don't think it's a hard and fast rule that big fights have to be made "in america". I do think to make the big money they need to be on US TV.

But yes, Calzaghe has wasted a good opportunity with his career although you'll get a lkot of people arguing that it wasn't his fault

[El Jesus]

To be honest. I think that Calzaghe wants the big fights in America for the money, the fame and the legacy. But none of the big fighters want him.

I think that he is frightened of taking the small 'tune-up' fights in America through fear that he will end up getting screwed over (we've heard before that he is paranoid about his career) for a small payday that will damage his legacy. He's not the only fighter who has thought this way about fighting out of his home country, including many very highly-rated American champions. I DO think that he needs to take a risk, but I understand his concerns.

i agree, i understand his concerns too, but its his own fault.

[.Mik.]

To be honest Calzaghe's record sucks for his age and how long he has had the title. Jeff Lacy was a very prosperous fighter he was good and Cazaghe dismnatled him brilliant but thats not enough to be able to call yourself the best super middleweight in the world. He really needs Hopkins Taylor or Wright

Thats the whole point though. He doesnt want the tune ups, he wants those big fighters and he cant get any of them. If he were from America, with his unbeaten record, long title run and victory over Lacy (among others in his career), he'd be able to make any fight he wants. As it is he represents far too much of a risk to any of the big fighters because he isnt considered enough of a draw in America to make it worthwhile them facing the overwhelming likelihood of being outclassed and defeated for the kind of payday they could get for fighting guys they are much more likely to defeat.

[Guest]

I agree with you to an extent though Anorak. I mean the guy sat on the WBO for a long time fighting mando's. All that time & he couldn't make a big fight? I highly doubt it. I know there have been failed attempts to make big fights but come on. It really seemed he was content to make money off fighting the opposition in front of him instead of trying to make bigger fights.

But a lot of it does come down to the need in the marketplace IMO.

Frank Warren - yeah, he's a **** - has been trying to get one of his stable of heavyweights a title shot for years now. Okay, his stable of heavyweights are a crock of ****, but they all have a reasonable ranking to get a shot at someone. However they only time he managed it was off the back of Danny beating Tyson. This is what I imagine happens in meetings:


Frank - "Hey Don, let one of my boys have a shot at Valuev, would you? So it looks like I'm doing something with my fighters."

Don King - "Ha ha ha, **** off, baby. Only in America, you can piss off. I've got deals with Bob Arum that are more important."


Big fish in a small pond. But put Frank up against the US money machine and he has to sc**** for an opportunity. The same principle - to a lesser extent - applies to The Blow and the way he's managed. Even after the Lacy victory many of the name fighters just aren't interested.

[.Mik.]

i agree, i understand his concerns too, but its his own fault.

Yeah, mostly. Its partially the system to blame though. Fighters should be recognised and admired based on their record and their performances. Not where they are from and where they fight.

Thats not something that is likely to ever be overturned though and Calzaghe knows that as well as anyone.

[riza]

**** kessler, and who the **** is andrade and berrio? that bastard frank warren needs to pay up to get the fights joe wants. it looks like joe will never get his career defining fight if he stays with this *****.

even a fight with jones, woods, dawson or even tarver would be better than this crap.

[!!! Beowulf !!!]

The difference, were not a small island. Were a vast reigon where leaving one state can earn you a ****load of hate. Fighting in Atlantic city, or florida, or LA, or New York, or Vegas is the same as if i fought in Sheffield, The Netherlands, Sweden, Spain. All of those places pose different areas of fandom and support.

The bottom line is, America has better champions fighting here from around the world, far more than in europe, this is a fact. The best fighters come to fight here, Mexicans, Puerto ricans (who are americans anyway), Columbians, Asians etc who are great champions, prove it here along with americans. Thats the difference between our place and yours, thats why this place is the way it is. Thats why we hold the standard we hold.

People dream of a title fight in Vegas, hardly anyone dreams of a title fight in europe.

Bull****. Fighting 20 miles away from your hometown in the UK can meaan you'll be hated. Hell, Calzaghe has fought plenty of times in England and that isn't his home "state". He has also fought in Germany and Denmark which is certainly the same as if he fought in the US.


Personally I think this is all down to American bigotry and American nationalism. If a white European doesn't fight in the US they get called a "bum" whereas if a US American spends his entire career in his home country it's "yo Floyd you iz P4P".


Top US fighters hardly fight outside their home country (apart from guys like Winky) so I guess they don't deserve respect.

The only difference is that British fans are more loyal to their favourite fighters. Travelling to support them thousands of miles away.

[Guest]

(now awaiting a bit of bad karma from Anorak for "dissing the Blow" + his usual chun chun schnell schnell chun chun routine he's so fond of)

Whatever, ****wad... keep the flames in the Thunderdome, yeah?