Kessler: I Want Calzaghe, If He Dares"

[Xcel]

I am sure Calzaghe heard that statement and turned his TV off.

[.Mik.]

Who would compare Lacy and Kessler? Do you think Kessler is as untested as Lacy? Do you think his defenses is on the Lacy level? His foot work? His ability to change the game plan?

You try hard to make Kessler sound like a nobody, with 39 easy wins and two belts he picked up by accident..

Belive me.. Even if Calzaghe should win, Kessler wont make it look easy.

Just for the record, I belive Kessler would win.

You are taking too much heed in WHAT I said...and not what I said it in response to.

Pardoy said:

"Kessler should beat Calzaghe, He is a huge super middleweight that can probably make light heavyweight if he wanted, and he has good general ring skills."

I responded: "Like Lacy". Dont try and tell me that isnt a fair comparison. He is claiming that Kessler would have a huge advantage over Calzaghe because of his size and strength and ability to easily make a higher weight...but Lacy had the exact same situation.

I think that you are being very unfair to Lacy by using false-hindsight to claim that he was untested or wasnt very good. The fact was that he was a highly rated title holder who faced his first really big test and got defeated soundly. Who are you to say that the same wouldnt happen to Kessler? What evidence do you have that he has EVER stepped up his level of competition to someone as high as Calzaghe? Joe has stepped up to a high level of competition a couple of times (against Eubank...who was better than anyone Kessler or Lacy faced, even at that point in his career) and again against Lacy and he shone. Kessler, whether you like it or not, is still untested on the big stage.

Maybe.. He would have to look in that direction if he doesn't get JC. Bute could be a target as well.
But would Kessler get any credit for beating Froch, who hasn't fought anybody with a name? And would HBO care for this fight?

Froch hasnt fought anyone credible enough to get a shot at Kessler YET. Kessler hasnt fought anyone credible enough to get a shot at Calzaghe YET. Can you not see how that is fair logic? He needs a big fight against a legitimate threat on his title (just like Lacy was to Calzaghe) before all of his shouting and calling out Calzaghe will be substantiated and legitimised.

[Scottie2Hottie]

You are taking too much heed in WHAT I said...and not what I said it in response to.

Pardoy said:

"Kessler should beat Calzaghe, He is a huge super middleweight that can probably make light heavyweight if he wanted, and he has good general ring skills."

I responded: "Like Lacy". Dont try and tell me that isnt a fair comparison. He is claiming that Kessler would have a huge advantage over Calzaghe because of his size and strength and ability to easily make a higher weight...but Lacy had the exact same situation.

I think that you are being very unfair to Lacy by using false-hindsight to claim that he was untested or wasnt very good. The fact was that he was a highly rated title holder who faced his first really big test and got defeated soundly. Who are you to say that the same wouldnt happen to Kessler? What evidence do you have that he has EVER stepped up his level of competition to someone as high as Calzaghe? Joe has stepped up to a high level of competition a couple of times (against Eubank...who was better than anyone Kessler or Lacy faced, even at that point in his career) and again against Lacy and he shone. Kessler, whether you like it or not, is still untested on the big stage.



Froch hasnt fought anyone credible enough to get a shot at Kessler YET. Kessler hasnt fought anyone credible enough to get a shot at Calzaghe YET. Can you not see how that is fair logic? He needs a big fight against a legitimate threat on his title (just like Lacy was to Calzaghe) before all of his shouting and calling out Calzaghe will be substantiated and legitimised.

who does he need to fight to become worthy of calzaghe? perhaps beat a geriatric boxer past his prime, then an hbo hype job?

calzaghe hasnt beaten anyone special. im not saying he isnt any good, cuz he certainly is, but he definitely isnt above fighting kessler right now.

[.Mik.]

Because he isnt looking at Kessler. He is looking at bigger fights with bigger names involving more money. He is able to do that because of the fact that he destroyed the last guy who was considered to be the top dog in the division (over himself). Kessler needs to get his attention away from those guys if he wants Calzaghe to fight him. Soundly defeating a bunch of top 10 fighters is not going to get his attention. Soundly defeating one of the other pretenders to Calzaghe's throne just might.

Its not too difficult to fathom.

[Scottie2Hottie]

Because he isnt looking at Kessler. He is looking at bigger fights with bigger names involving more money. He is able to do that because of the fact that he destroyed the last guy who was considered to be the top dog in the division (over himself). Kessler needs to get his attention away from those guys if he wants Calzaghe to fight him. Soundly defeating a bunch of top 10 fighters is not going to get his attention. Soundly defeating one of the other pretenders to Calzaghe's throne just might.

Its not too difficult to fathom.

bigger names like who, sakio bika and peter manfredo?

look at how many americans on this board now rate kessler as a serious fighter, compared to how many rate manfredo as having a chance, so dont give me the "hes trying to make a name in america" spiel.

[rooq]

i don't understand all this "kessler needs to fight someone credible before facing joe" ****...kessler is universally acknowledged as the 2nd best smw in the world with joe the best (except for a growing minority who think kessler is already the no 1).

there are no smw fighters out there between joe and kessler, so who could kessler face to become a credible opponent for joe? a year ago i would have agreed that kessler wasn't quite ready, but since then he's beaten beyer and an undefeated fighter in andrade. i like froch, but he needs to beat another top five or even top ten fighter to become a credible opponent.

another difference between now and kessler 1 year ago is that he has now had hbo exposure, and is becoming more and more well known, and i don't just mean on internet boxing boards. its pretty clear that hbo are building kessler up for a big match-up in the US. unlike other euro opponents joe has faced, i think he'd get a lot of credit if he fought and beat kessler, but he's got to do it quick before his skills diminish any further.

[.Mik.]

bigger names like who, sakio bika and peter manfredo?

look at how many americans on this board now rate kessler as a serious fighter, compared to how many rate manfredo as having a chance, so dont give me the "hes trying to make a name in america" spiel.

Oh for ****s sake. How many times does this same argument keep coming back? Calzaghe doesnt WANT Manfredo. He WANTS Hopkins, he wants Wright, he wants Taylor. BIGGER names with BETTER records who offer MORE money and credibility than Kessler does at this moment. I agree that if he doesnt get these fights, then I'd like to see him face Kessler. But businesswise and careerwise those fights are better for Calzaghe than fighting Kessler. Its virtually undeniable. The casual boxers (ie people not on this ****ing boxing forum. This forum and others like it represent a FRACTION of the people who actually make the PPV or ticket sales) do not know who Kessler is, they will not be interested in seeing a fight between two undefeated and largely unheard of Europeans (particularly as Kessler has not fought any notable Americans...Calzaghe DID with Lacy), they will be more interested in seeing him fight Manfredo cos they actually know who Manfredo is, regardless of the gulf in quality.

i don't understand all this "kessler needs to fight someone credible before facing joe" ****...kessler is universally acknowledged as the 2nd best smw in the world with joe the best (except for a growing minority who think kessler is already the no 1).

there are no smw fighters out there between joe and kessler, so who could kessler face to become a credible opponent for joe? a year ago i would have agreed that kessler wasn't quite ready, but since then he's beaten beyer and an undefeated fighter in andrade. i like froch, but he needs to beat another top five or even top ten fighter to become a credible opponent.

another difference between now and kessler 1 year ago is that he has now had hbo exposure, and is becoming more and more well known, and i don't just mean on internet boxing boards. its pretty clear that hbo are building kessler up for a big match-up in the US. unlike other euro opponents joe has faced, i think he'd get a lot of credit if he fought and beat kessler, but he's got to do it quick before his skills diminish any further.

I agree with you. As far as European SMW opponents go, Kessler is the top guy. But Calzaghe has not been looking in his direction and hasnt been for a while because for the past couple of years he's been looking for more money than that fight could possibly offer against names that will look better on his resume. People like Hopkins, people like Taylor, like Wright...maybe even moving up a division and taking on Woods or Dawson. These are opponents who have bigger names and profiles than Kessler, they also have fought bigger opponents. If Calzaghe were to beat them it would look better on his legacy than beating another European champion who HAS NOT beaten the absolute top guys in the division (like Lacy, like Bute, like Froch MIGHT BE).

Kessler is definitely putting himself in a better position. To the point where I'd like to see Joe fight him if he cannot take on one of the 3 big names he's looking for. But I'd certainly not put a fight that nobody outside of these forums and Europe will be likely to hear about, over a fight against a genuinely big name.

You think that Kessler deserves respect and deserves his big career-defining fights now? Well Calzaghe has been doing the exact same thing for many more years, defending his title for longer against just as, if not more credible opponents. So let him have his big money days and his career-defining fights too and give him the ****ing respect he deserves now too.

[Scottie2Hottie]

[QUOTE=Miksterious;2243281]Oh for ****s sake. How many times does this same argument keep coming back? Calzaghe doesnt WANT Manfredo. He WANTS Hopkins, he wants Wright, he wants Taylor. BIGGER names with BETTER records who offer MORE money and credibility than Kessler does at this moment. I agree that if he doesnt get these fights, then I'd like to see him face Kessler. But businesswise and careerwise those fights are better for Calzaghe than fighting Kessler. Its virtually undeniable. The casual boxers (ie people not on this ****ing boxing forum. This forum and others like it represent a FRACTION of the people who actually make the PPV or ticket sales) do not know who Kessler is, they will not be interested in seeing a fight between two undefeated and largely unheard of Europeans (particularly as Kessler has not fought any notable Americans...Calzaghe DID with Lacy), they will be more interested in seeing him fight Manfredo cos they actually know who Manfredo is, regardless of the gulf in quality.QUOTE]

ok, but when those fights were not available, what does he do? fights nobodies. lets just say for arguments sake that hes being ducked and that hes waiting in the wings for a shot at an american like hopkins or taylor; why, while hes waiting, would he fight sakio bika and manfredo jr, but not kessler?

[Peder]

You are taking too much heed in WHAT I said...and not what I said it in response to.

Pardoy said:

"Kessler should beat Calzaghe, He is a huge super middleweight that can probably make light heavyweight if he wanted, and he has good general ring skills."

I responded: "Like Lacy". Dont try and tell me that isnt a fair comparison. He is claiming that Kessler would have a huge advantage over Calzaghe because of his size and strength and ability to easily make a higher weight...but Lacy had the exact same situation.

I think that you are being very unfair to Lacy by using false-hindsight to claim that he was untested or wasnt very good. The fact was that he was a highly rated title holder who faced his first really big test and got defeated soundly. Who are you to say that the same wouldnt happen to Kessler? What evidence do you have that he has EVER stepped up his level of competition to someone as high as Calzaghe? Joe has stepped up to a high level of competition a couple of times (against Eubank...who was better than anyone Kessler or Lacy faced, even at that point in his career) and again against Lacy and he shone. Kessler, whether you like it or not, is still untested on the big stage.



Froch hasnt fought anyone credible enough to get a shot at Kessler YET. Kessler hasnt fought anyone credible enough to get a shot at Calzaghe YET. Can you not see how that is fair logic? He needs a big fight against a legitimate threat on his title (just like Lacy was to Calzaghe) before all of his shouting and calling out Calzaghe will be substantiated and legitimised.

Simple question - How would you compare Lacy/Kessler? and explain?

I certainly see a totally different kind of fighter, and yes I think Kessler has proved himself. I get that from watching both guys fight, not from hype. Lacy isn't a bad fighter, but Kessler is a level above.

I know Kessler hasn't earned the spot as Calzaghe's "most wanted", but Calzaghe can't fight anybody but Kessler, if he doesn't get his big US fight.. That's the spot he's in.
I hope Calzaghe is done with his warm-up bull**** after Manfredo..

I know Calzaghe is a good fighter, he should only make good fights - right?

Calzaghe has Eubank on his record list, but you have to prove yourself over and over again, and that was a long time ago..

You worry he wouldn't get anymore reconition fighting Kessler, than he did Lacy, but why should that matter to Joe? He picked Bika and Manfredo.

[Scottie2Hottie]

Simple question - How would you compare Lacy/Kessler? and explain?

I certainly see a totally different kind of fighter, and yes I think Kessler has proved himself. I get that from watching both guys fight, not from hype. Lacy isn't a bad fighter, but Kessler is a level above.

I know Kessler hasn't earned the spot as Calzaghe's "most wanted", but Calzaghe can't fight anybody but Kessler, if he doesn't get his big US fight.. That's the spot he's in.
I hope Calzaghe is done with his warm-up bull**** after Manfredo..

I know Calzaghe is a good fighter, he should only make good fights - right?

Calzaghe has Eubank on his record list, but you have to prove yourself over and over again, and that was a long time ago..

You worry he wouldn't get anymore reconition fighting Kessler, than he did Lacy, but why should that matter to Joe? He picked Bika and Manfredo.

simple answer, he compared them as far as size and strength goes.