My take on Calzaghe....

[Toddy]

Last night's fight brought several thoughts to mind.First Calzaghe said in the pre-fight segment that he wanted to show that he is not just another "protected European fighter".

I would have then asked...so why fight a game show loser?
Who's next?...the loser of 'American Idol' or 'the Price is Right'...

Then,Calzaghe throws a sustained flurry against his over-matched opponent...of which TWO land,and the ref stops the fight????

And here's a couple of things that struck me.They must really love Calzaghe there...there were no boos when the stoppage came.I mean in America,we know a farce when we see one.
But those folks there just applauded like Calzaghe had really done something.

Which as they said before hand,there are not many sports heros in Wales...so I guess thats why you can get 35,000 to actually pay to see this farce,which became a joke.

A joke that is,on the average boxing fan...

And its funny,the very thing Calzaghe said he wanted to disprove...is the very thing he looked like,'a protected European fighter'.

I believe that Calzghe is a very good fighter.How good I don't believe any of us truly know yet.But in order to be considered great,you must risk something.I learned on the show that he has never fought outside his comfort zone...and only twice outside Britain.

So to the average American fight fan,he apppears much closer to Brian Nielsen than a true all-time great.He appears to be a 'protected European fighter'...who can actually fight.

And speaking of European fighters,Hatton unlike Calzaghe is at least trying to conquer the world.I have knocked his opponents,but at least he is fighting in the USA and out of his comfort zone.

Calzaghe must fight Taylor,Hopkins or Kessler in his next outing...or he will be just another PEF in my eyes.Great for him,his bank account and fans...bad for real boxing fans.

you must have taken a bad blow to the head at this point mate. once the fight was stopped there were a good few boos. the crowd even thought the fight was stopped a bit to early. but in all honesty can you blame the ref? Manfredo wasnt hittin back he barely kept his hands up.

[El Jesus]

I think that Mayweather and Roy Jones seem to have fought less outside thir comfort zones........... Bet they don't even have passports.


Just another couple of protected Fat Yank fighters (PFYT).

I'll give it to Winky Wright though, he actually came to Europe to prove himself. His opposition might not have been the best, but at least he had the balls to come over here and fight.

Winky did that because after his loss to fernando vargas no american promoters wanted to give him a chance, if he was getting the fights hes getting now he would have never done that. Mayweather fought jose luis castillo in LA, fought Gatti in Atlantic City and countless other times has had the crowd totally against him. Mayweather could fight anywhere outside of vegas or michigan and basically be out of his comfort zone, our country doesnt wholly embrace one fighter like they do in the UK. Which is why fighting here isnt like fighting over there.

[Brother Blues]

Those guys over there don't understand that...they are just rah,rah Joe and fat Yank this and that.

We over here don't just hop on some guys bandwagon just because he is American.

They have there heads so far up Calzaghe's ass their ears are covered.
I actually said Calzaghe is a good fighter,in fact I believe he beats Taylor,much like Lacy...he also beats an aged Hopkins.

So why are they yelling at me...must I kiss his arse also?

[White Hope]

i think calzaghe is a *****. and I'd tell it to him in his ***in ugly face if I ever saw him

[Njord777]

I think it's very important to keep in mind that the angle showed to you in an HBO pre-fight build up is not necessarily 100% correct. The network has a history of, for the benefit of their pockets, to skew the facts about fighters to make their story more interesting, or riveting- to make you want to see the fight. They'll play Mayweather as the villain and De la Hoya as the boxing prince. They'll portray Valuev as the gentle giant- who always wanted to fit in, but instead had to learn to stand out. They'll show Joe Calzaghe only fighting in Europe - "a big fish in a small pond" to build up to his American expeditions more. To make you say, "Oh my...here comes the pride of Wales finally fighting in America. Let's watch."

The fact is Joe has fought some tailor made, hand picked opponents. No doubt. Almost every boxer has. He has also disposed of most European challengers to his title- and it's an ignorant American view point to believe only America has dangerous boxers. Sure, we want to see him fight here...but let's not belittle what he has done. 20 title defenses. He's skilled.

HBO has made people believe other European boxers aren't as sheltered through their pre-fight stories. Ricky Hatton for one. They played his coming to the USA as a coming out party. That Ricky had always wanted to be here and finally made it. They didn't focus on the majority of his fights and career being solely in Europe.

It can also be said that American fighters refuse to travel around the world. Sugar Ray Robinson was famous for taking a world-wide media voyage and popping over to Europe to tackle some of their champions. Ali fought in Africa. The mega stars- of any nationality- have to be willing to fight on a world stage. That means Hopkins in Moscow and Mayweather in Tokoyo. That makes boxing a world-wide event. American fighters can fight in their backyards, though, and for them it's alright??

Joe is not as sheltered as we are lead to believe. Sure, his fighting locales have been limited but its the same with many American fighters. The question is will Calzaghe- and the other big names- Kessler, Hopkins, Mayweather, etc. fight on a world-wide stage. Let's push for all of them to. Why should two Americans fight in Europe you say? Well, if there's large interest in a fight you need to consider many venues for its hosting. The biggest, with the most exposure should win. In many cases Europe is more interested in boxing than us Americans.

In short- all boxers should fight around the world- not just the Europeans.

[squealpiggy]

I think it's very important to keep in mind that the angle showed to you in an HBO pre-fight build up is not necessarily 100% correct. The network has a history of, for the benefit of their pockets, to skew the facts about fighters to make their story more interesting, or riveting- to make you want to see the fight. They'll play Mayweather as the villain and De la Hoya as the boxing prince. They'll portray Valuev as the gentle giant- who always wanted to fit in, but instead had to learn to stand out. They'll show Joe Calzaghe only fighting in Europe - "a big fish in a small pond" to build up to his American expeditions more. To make you say, "Oh my...here comes the pride of Wales finally fighting in America. Let's watch."

The fact is Joe has fought some tailor made, hand picked opponents. No doubt. Almost every boxer has. He has also disposed of most European challengers to his title- and it's an ignorant American view point to believe only America has dangerous boxers. Sure, we want to see him fight here...but let's not belittle what he has done. 20 title defenses. He's skilled.

HBO has made people believe other European boxers aren't as sheltered through their pre-fight stories. Ricky Hatton for one. They played his coming to the USA as a coming out party. That Ricky had always wanted to be here and finally made it. They didn't focus on the majority of his fights and career being solely in Europe.

It can also be said that American fighters refuse to travel around the world. Sugar Ray Robinson was famous for taking a world-wide media voyage and popping over to Europe to tackle some of their champions. Ali fought in Africa. The mega stars- of any nationality- have to be willing to fight on a world stage. That means Hopkins in Moscow and Mayweather in Tokoyo. That makes boxing a world-wide event. American fighters can fight in their backyards, though, and for them it's alright??

Joe is not as sheltered as we are lead to believe. Sure, his fighting locales have been limited but its the same with many American fighters. The question is will Calzaghe- and the other big names- Kessler, Hopkins, Mayweather, etc. fight on a world-wide stage. Let's push for all of them to. Why should two Americans fight in Europe you say? Well, if there's large interest in a fight you need to consider many venues for its hosting. The biggest, with the most exposure should win. In many cases Europe is more interested in boxing than us Americans.

In short- all boxers should fight around the world- not just the Europeans.

This is absolutely brilliant, and completely spot on, a very intelligent and well worded post.

[satori555]

why would anyone fight anywhere but the united states after seeing that piece of garbage stoppage, they wont and they shouldnt. Leave the ******s to fight each other over in europe to decide whos the best sven ottke out of them all. my vote goes to calzaghe

[squealpiggy]

Are you suggesting it was a robbery? That Manfredo had something up his sleeve? Maybe he was hoping that Calzaghe would slip and **** his head on his stool between rounds.

[Super_Lightweight]

You Europeans will never understand the nature of U.S. boxing and why it is irrational for you to clamor about U.S. fighters leaving the U.S.

I'm weary of explaining it to you.

[squealpiggy]

You Europeans will never understand the nature of U.S. boxing and why it is irrational for you to clamor about U.S. fighters leaving the U.S.

I'm weary of explaining it to you.

You know I agree that certain venues of the United States form the zenith of modern boxing, such as Madison Square Gardens and much of Las Vegas. But while I acknowledge that fighting in the US at least a few times should be the ambition of all top fighters from around the world, it isn't everything, and I do grow a little weary of the constant accusations of cowardice leveled at European fighters for preferring to fight in, for example, Manchester, instead of going elsewhere for what amounts to less money for most fighters. You can't have it both ways. If, say British fighters are cowards for not leaving Europe then Americans are cowards for not leaving the States. Or we can be sensible about things and agree that the more important thing is how a fighter fights, not where.