Warren: If Calzaghe Beats Manfredo, Then Kessler Is Next

[hugh grant]

If Kessler waits 'till he's beaten a couple more quality opposition, Joe is likely well into retirement. But it seems to me that is actually what some Calzaghe-fans are hoping for, even if the would never admit it up front.
Also if Kessler were to beat two names of suffícient fame, to actually convince the Calzaghe-fans, that Kessler is now "worthy", I think Kessler would be well beyond caring about Calzaghe. If he did that he'd, already had far outdone Joe's lifetime accomplishments in the eyes of anyone not british. So Calzaghe wouldn't matter anymore.

I wont disagree with your opinion. Its just that i believe Kessler has more to gain from beating Joe. Potentially if Kessler beats Joe, Kessler will get top ten p4p status. If Joe beats Kesser, Joe aint going to exactly jump ahead of PBF in the ratings because of a win over Kessler.

To highlight my point where exactly is Kessler in the p4p rankings. Not anywhere i would imagine which just goes to show Kessler until recently is an unkown and you dont get too much credit for beating unknown guys. Joe wouldnt get too much credit for beating Kessler and would be favourite against Kessler, whereas if im right Joe was underdog against Lacy in many peoples minds. Kessler should box and fight people and beat boxers impressively, that make people think he would be favourite against Joe.

Im not under the illusion that it wouldnt be a pickem fight though, but that aint the point.

[MickyHatton]

I'd still be surprised if Calzaghe fought Kessler this year, because recent history seems to be full of British fighters being talked up for the big one, only to end up fighting no-hopers,like Warren said after Calzaghe fought Bika,next fight will be a mega-fight and it end up with Manfredo

Do you have many examples?

Calzaghe v Lacy - up until Calzaghe outclassed Lacy that was the biggest fight at Super Middle in fact Calzaghe was the so called underdog against Lacy, lots on here called the fight months before yet Calzaghe absolutely took him apart.

Hatton v Tszyu - Hatton was talked up for this one and ended up fighting and winning, he is due to fight Castillo next is he not?

Witter v Corley - That fight happened? Witter also fought Judah.

Clinton Woods v Johnson? He also fought RJJ

Eastman v Hopkins?

Every fight cannot be a superfight, most fighters only have one or two a career so...I could go on but for some reason you hate British fighters, is it because we have some many good ones for a such a small country???

I am a boxing fan and like Kessler because he is a good fighter, I do not like say Audley Harrison because he is overrated, thats were my prejudice ends founded i.e. boxing ability not nationality!

[.Mik.]

Alot of Calzaghe fans act like Kessler has fought no one, I will like to know who has Calzaghe fought??? Come on now you guys are acting like Calzaghe has beaten many great fighters, an old Eubank and an overhyped Lacy is his 2 best wins in his career!

Also I don't believe anything that comes out of Warren's mouth, he's the Bob Arum of UK!

Here is the point though. The one that you seem to keep missing. Those two victories and those two alone are LEAGUES better than ANY victory Kessler currently has on his resume. What would you even say is his best victory? I dont know of any that cant be quite easily discredited, just as everyone discredit's Calzaghe's wins for his opponents being 'over the hill' or 'overhyped'.

In fact, try it. Name me Kessler's best victory and watch how easily I make it discredited and make it seem like nothing special. Its such a simple art.

Actually I thought Reid won the fight!

Then I can only assume that you havent seen the fight or have a bad memory. The only reason Reid came closer than a 2 round deficit is because of one biased home-town judge who went with the crowd favourite. Even Reid himself said that he had been outclassed. Who are you to disagree with the opponent of the victor?


In all honest, I'm starting to hope that Calzaghe does fight Kessler next. Because if he beats Kessler, Hopkins will still be there and his age isnt going to be any more credible. Taylor is still going to be an easier style match up for Calzaghe, regardless of his age and Winky is still going to be over-powered. Whereas if he fights them and then Kessler, its possible that he might be that little bit too old for such a decent opponent. However, its the majority of Kessler fans on here who are actually fans of anyone who poses a serious threat to Calzaghe's dominance and legacy that are putting me off the guys. Well...those and that moron jangeorg who could not possibly be more blind.

[squealpiggy]

You danes are rude arent you and dont listen.

And they don't queue and they always put their towels on the sun loungers in the morning!

Just kidding...

The crux of it is that yes Kessler has more to gain than Joe from a fight between the two of them. And Kessler is benefitting from his status as a rival of Calzaghe. His profile is being raised by people who hate Joe more than people who like Mikkel.

[dumdane]

And they don't queue and they always put their towels on the sun loungers in the morning!

Just kidding...

The crux of it is that yes Kessler has more to gain than Joe from a fight between the two of them. And Kessler is benefitting from his status as a rival of Calzaghe. His profile is being raised by people who hate Joe more than people who like Mikkel.

Calzaghe needs Kessler, if his claims of being the best SMW are to be believed. That claim is right now his only claim to fame in a career that is soon over.
Kessler has (potentially) a long career ahead. He has broken into the american marked far younger than Calzaghe did. If he keeps up pace he can easily overtake Calzaghe's achievements in every aspect except perhaps longevity (he's surpricingly close allready). Kessler can forget about Calzaghe and still have a great career.
But what kind of reputation will Calzaghe be left with, if he continues to avoid Kessler?

Again - the real issue is not so much how much respect and recognition Calzaghe would gain by fighting Kessler, but how much respect and recognition he'd lose if he does not. - especially of course, if Kessler moves on to do better.

[uppercut_84]

Kessler has good jab and has power in his punches. Calzaghe throws more punches and has faster hands.

[squealpiggy]

Calzaghe needs Kessler, if his claims of being the best SMW are to be believed.

But the same thing can be said of Jeff Lacy a few months ago. And the same thing will be said of Carl Froch if Calzaghe fights and beats Kessler. Who Joe really needs is Bernard Hopkins. Even then he won't be accepted by the American market.

And breaking into America is not necessarily the be-all and end-all of boxing. Calzaghe has established himself at the top of the British scene and is accepted among those in the know as being on top of the 168 pound division. The only reason that anyone would think that Joe needs Mikkel more than Mikkel needs Joe is that they don't want to accept that Joe has the throne at Super Middle.

Put it another way: If there was no Joe Calzaghe, what would the American fans think of Mikkel Kessler? He'd be another protected Euro-Champ who never fought anyone and was afraid to leave his "home town" (which to many US fight fans means "the entire continent of Europe").

[.Mik.]

And breaking into America is not necessarily the be-all and end-all of boxing.

Nope. But it more than ANYTHING else is the major factor in having your legacy remembered for a long time. Thats why I think that him fighting Hopkins and some big American fighters is more important than him fighting Kessler. Though I am of the thinking now that he can still do that AFTER he fights Kessler.

[dumdane]

But the same thing can be said of Jeff Lacy a few months ago. And the same thing will be said of Carl Froch if Calzaghe fights and beats Kessler.

None of them to the same extend. Froch has achieved NOTHING yet. Even if he gets to the top before Calzaghe retires, he won't be a reigning champ for 3-4 years alongside Joe. Lacy never unified and in fact never even beat a champ to become one. At the time of Lacy-Calzaghe, Lacy's and Kessler's level of opposition were about equal. But Kessler has moved on from there and continues to fight top-5 ranked oppositin. Don't think Lacy ever had a single top 5 win if you go by the ring ratings. In the case of Lacy, so much relied on perception that wasn't really based in reality. Lacy might still achieve great things. But he has a lot to prove compared to Kessler.
But to an extend you're right. It's not enough for a true champ to just beat 1 or 2 real top contenders over a 10-year span. He has to defeat the obvious challenges with regular intervals if he wants to maintain his position. Particularly should he dream of being concidered "undisputed".

Who Joe really needs is Bernard Hopkins. Even then he won't be accepted by the American market.

You say it yourself. Beating B-Hop wouldn't really prove much. He's a 40-something yo who's only ever had one fight above middleweight. Excuses and explanations are queing up allready.
Beating B-Hop would not make Kessler go away.

Calzaghe has established himself at the top of the British scene and is accepted among those in the know as being on top of the 168 pound division. The only reason that anyone would think that Joe needs Mikkel more than Mikkel needs Joe is that they don't want to accept that Joe has the throne at Super Middle.

Those in the know you say. I assume you're refering to yourself and the adoring british crowds. It's not like Calzaghe ever beat "the man" to become "the man". If Calzaghe was ever the man, he's become so by default - not through great achievements.
The amount of ppl who doesn't accept that Calzaghe should automaticly be considered the ruler of SMW, without having to prove it, is rising fast. Calzaghe can still achieve that status. But he has to act.

Put it another way: If there was no Joe Calzaghe, what would the American fans think of Mikkel Kessler? He'd be another protected Euro-Champ who never fought anyone and was afraid to leave his "home town" (which to many US fight fans means "the entire continent of Europe").

Agree Kessler should travel more. But he has fought outside Europe twice (US and Australia) He is far more inclined to continue his career overseas, now that he's been noticed, than Calzaghe ever were.
Kessler has the potential to have a far more noteworthy career than Calzaghe will ever achieve - despite Joe's obvious talents.
Sure you can argue that Kessler is benefiting from Calzaghe. But no more so than Joe benefitted from Lacy.
Thanks anyway Joe.

[The Noose]

If he comes through that then we’re looking to do a unification with [Mikkel] Kessler..

Is that it?

A tiny statement like that means next to nothing in this business.