Roy Jones vs. Mikkel Kessler in November?

[PunchDrunk]

Thats a very one-sided view that does take into account what we were confirmed from Palle himself.

Kessler was offered $3m plus gate receipts to fight the most credible champion he could possibly fight at the moment in the biggest fight of his career, at a suitable enough date. Why did he not bite Warren's hand off and accept that offer?

Well, your view isn't much better. Calzaghe was offered 5$ mill. to fight the most credible champion HE could possibly fight. They turned that down. Palle then said "match the offer, we'll fight in Britain."

Kessler was then offered 5$ mill. IN PUBLIC to fight Calzaghe, but when they go to the table, the offer falls to 3. Assuming this is correct (if you're saying it's not, that's a whole different discussion ), I think it's pretty clear that it's Warren playing games, because he doesn't really want the fight.

[riza]

kessler isnt even worth 3 mill so franks offer is fair. jt deserves more as hes the bigger name and beat better fighters than andrade and beyer. kesslers only beat 1 decent fighter in mundine. hes crazy if he thinks hes geting 5 mill.

[.Mik.]

Because Kessler is worth more. Simple as that.

Why did'nt he get Taylor to fight in the UK? - also because he's worth more than the 4mill offered.

Calzaghe talks about big fights, but if Warren doesn't want to give a fair share, thats all you'll get - Hot air.

If Kessler is worth more than $3m (and lets not forget, its not $3m, he'll probably get another million or two from the deal that involves ticket sales) then why does he not usually get so much?

Well, your view isn't much better. Calzaghe was offered 5$ mill. to fight the most credible champion HE could possibly fight. They turned that down. Palle then said "match the offer, we'll fight in Britain."

Kessler was then offered 5$ mill. IN PUBLIC to fight Calzaghe, but when they go to the table, the offer falls to 3. Assuming this is correct (if you're saying it's not, that's a whole different discussion ), I think it's pretty clear that it's Warren playing games, because he doesn't really want the fight.

Think about this logically. Calzaghe was offered $5m to fight in Denmark. Kessler was offered a deal that was a minimum of $3m to fight in England, then would go up to around $5m according to Warren when he got his share of ticket sales. In Warren's deal there is absolutely NO WAY that Calzaghe would be earning LESS than that, so Calzaghe would be going home with a MINIMUM of $5m if not considerably more. So why would Calzaghe consider fighting in Denmark when HE is the bigger name fighter, HE is the Ring Champion, HE is the more credible fighter, HE is the P4P fighter and HE is the one who holds the longest title reign.

I sincerely doubt that Kessler has made close to $5m in any single fight in his career. I also sincerely doubt that he's made $3m in his career before either. I even sincerely doubt that he'd make as much fighting anyone else but Calzaghe (because he isnt likely to get Taylor, or Hopkins, or Wright and RJJ is not a big money fight at the moment). So again I ask the question...why didnt Palle and Kessler bite off Warren's hand for that $3-$5m depending upon gate receipts?

[PunchDrunk]

Think about this logically. Calzaghe was offered $5m to fight in Denmark. Kessler was offered a deal that was a minimum of $3m to fight in England, then would go up to around $5m according to Warren when he got his share of ticket sales. In Warren's deal there is absolutely NO WAY that Calzaghe would be earning LESS than that, so Calzaghe would be going home with a MINIMUM of $5m if not considerably more. So why would Calzaghe consider fighting in Denmark when HE is the bigger name fighter, HE is the Ring Champion, HE is the more credible fighter, HE is the P4P fighter and HE is the one who holds the longest title reign.

I sincerely doubt that Kessler has made close to $5m in any single fight in his career. I also sincerely doubt that he's made $3m in his career before either. I even sincerely doubt that he'd make as much fighting anyone else but Calzaghe (because he isnt likely to get Taylor, or Hopkins, or Wright and RJJ is not a big money fight at the moment). So again I ask the question...why didnt Palle and Kessler bite off Warren's hand for that $3-$5m depending upon gate receipts?

Easy. It's just about the biggest fight you can make in boxing right now. Therefore the fight is worth more than 3$ million.
Kessler might not make as much fighing anyone else, but the difference between Kessler and Calzaghe is that Kessler can wait for his big payday, Calzaghe can't wait for his career defining fight. He needs it NOW, so why beat around the bush, making offers they know will be refused? You yourself claim the fight will be worth much more, why not give Kessler the 5$ million net, that you say he'll get anyway?

You're right, Kessler probably won't get Taylor, Hopkins or Wright next, but again, he can wait for those fights, Calzaghe can't, and evidently HE can't get those fights either. HE can't even get RJJ, which it seems Kessler can. I think we can agree that an RJJ fight is a MUCH better way to introduce yourself to the American public, than fighting Manfredo? If Kessler beats RJJ in convincing fashion, the pressure on Calzaghe to fight him will be even greater. Doesn't it make sense for Kessler to take that fight then? To get better leverage in negotiations? I think so. Taking the fight now for 3$ million would be ******, when the fight is worth so much more than that.

Regarding whether Calzaghe is the bigger name fighter... Namewise, not by much (except in England perhaps), and I think he's definitely got the bigger legitimacy issues. It's perfectly okay for Kessler not to be proven, he's the young gun. Calzaghe is infamous for NOT fighting the right opponents, and lowbidding everybody (Taylor, Kessler, RJJ by my count) will just tarnish his legacy, when he retires having beaten an old Eubank and an untested overrated Lacy as his only accomplishments.

Make the 5$ million offer, it's obviously economically feasible, and we'll see the fight that makes the most sense (Taylor needs to get back to winning convincingly in his own division before stepping up, IMO).

[Peder]

If Kessler is worth more than $3m (and lets not forget, its not $3m, he'll probably get another million or two from the deal that involves ticket sales) then why does he not usually get so much?



Think about this logically. Calzaghe was offered $5m to fight in Denmark. Kessler was offered a deal that was a minimum of $3m to fight in England, then would go up to around $5m according to Warren when he got his share of ticket sales. In Warren's deal there is absolutely NO WAY that Calzaghe would be earning LESS than that, so Calzaghe would be going home with a MINIMUM of $5m if not considerably more. So why would Calzaghe consider fighting in Denmark when HE is the bigger name fighter, HE is the Ring Champion, HE is the more credible fighter, HE is the P4P fighter and HE is the one who holds the longest title reign.

I sincerely doubt that Kessler has made close to $5m in any single fight in his career. I also sincerely doubt that he's made $3m in his career before either. I even sincerely doubt that he'd make as much fighting anyone else but Calzaghe (because he isnt likely to get Taylor, or Hopkins, or Wright and RJJ is not a big money fight at the moment). So again I ask the question...why didnt Palle and Kessler bite off Warren's hand for that $3-$5m depending upon gate receipts?

The 5 mill $ offer: http://www.frankwarren.tv/drill/News...r-the-way.html
It was also written in a fax to team Palle.

If the new offer is close to 5 mill $ in reality, why withdraw the old one?

I would like cash payment as well, if I ever did business with a guy like Warren.

Wonder if he will ever be able to make a deal with Hopkins.

[Peder]

kessler isnt even worth 3 mill so franks offer is fair. jt deserves more as hes the bigger name and beat better fighters than andrade and beyer. kesslers only beat 1 decent fighter in mundine. hes crazy if he thinks hes geting 5 mill.

You really hate Kessler don't you?

Could you, out of Calzaghe's titledefenses, list the top 10 as you rate them?
And where would an unbeaten two belt champ in his prime be put on that list?

[!!! Beowulf !!!]

I get the feeling that Palle is at least as much to blame for this as Warren.

[.Mik.]

Easy. It's just about the biggest fight you can make in boxing right now. Therefore the fight is worth more than 3$ million.
Kessler might not make as much fighing anyone else, but the difference between Kessler and Calzaghe is that Kessler can wait for his big payday, Calzaghe can't wait for his career defining fight. He needs it NOW, so why beat around the bush, making offers they know will be refused? You yourself claim the fight will be worth much more, why not give Kessler the 5$ million net, that you say he'll get anyway?

You're right, Kessler probably won't get Taylor, Hopkins or Wright next, but again, he can wait for those fights, Calzaghe can't, and evidently HE can't get those fights either. HE can't even get RJJ, which it seems Kessler can. I think we can agree that an RJJ fight is a MUCH better way to introduce yourself to the American public, than fighting Manfredo? If Kessler beats RJJ in convincing fashion, the pressure on Calzaghe to fight him will be even greater. Doesn't it make sense for Kessler to take that fight then? To get better leverage in negotiations? I think so. Taking the fight now for 3$ million would be ******, when the fight is worth so much more than that.

Regarding whether Calzaghe is the bigger name fighter... Namewise, not by much (except in England perhaps), and I think he's definitely got the bigger legitimacy issues. It's perfectly okay for Kessler not to be proven, he's the young gun. Calzaghe is infamous for NOT fighting the right opponents, and lowbidding everybody (Taylor, Kessler, RJJ by my count) will just tarnish his legacy, when he retires having beaten an old Eubank and an untested overrated Lacy as his only accomplishments.

Make the 5$ million offer, it's obviously economically feasible, and we'll see the fight that makes the most sense (Taylor needs to get back to winning convincingly in his own division before stepping up, IMO).

Thats a fair enough post with your points justified pretty well.

I just cant agree with many of them. Kessler claims that he wants the Calzaghe fight more than any other. I'm not entirely sure exactly how much money is in the fight (in the UK we tend not to fleece our fans with ridiculous ticket prices and I have no idea how well it'd sell as a PPV), but to me between $3-$5m and the opportunity to put himself on the map by beating the sport's longest-reigning champion is more than perfectly acceptable terms. If you want the bout as bad as you say that you do, then you'd accept that. Especially when you are unaccustomed to making that much money, ESPECIALLY when winning the fight could lead you to many many bigger pay-days in your career (and make no doubt about it, the person who takes Calzaghe's undefeated streak and title will get more recognition from it that Calzaghe would get from defeating any of his potential opponents). Alternatively, if you dont want the fight all that much, then admit it.

I dont buy that he doesnt need the Calzaghe fight. You take the big fights when they come, if there is a fair enough offer for it (fair enough being bigger than you usually get). So unless Kessler is not very confident of victory, I just cant understand why $3m-$5m is enough. He wont get purse parity against Calzaghe and he does not deserve it. He wont get purse parity against any of the truly big-guns who are likely to earn you as much money and get you as much respect. He wont get homefield advantage against them either until he has beat a big-name. RJJ is not currently a big name. If he faces him and loses, his career is virtually over. If he faces him and knocks him out early, its just another example of RJJ's painful decline. If he faces him and takes it to a comfortable decision he'll be criticised for not getting him out of their sooner.

If Kessler and his people are worried that Calzaghe may well take him to bits, then thats fair enough. But dont go around claiming that you're not taking the fight because $3m is a ridiculously low offer for the fight...cos it isnt.

The 5 mill $ offer: http://www.frankwarren.tv/drill/News...r-the-way.html
It was also written in a fax to team Palle.

If the new offer is close to 5 mill $ in reality, why withdraw the old one?

I would like cash payment as well, if I ever did business with a guy like Warren.

Wonder if he will ever be able to make a deal with Hopkins.

Kessler will not seriously be worth more than $3-$5m until he has beat a big name/top P4Per. He has to face a big name unless he accepts that he wont get purse parity, he will have to sacrifice location and he'll have to make some compromises. Anywhere between $3m and $5m is a very strong reward for someone who is not a P4P fighter yet. Calzaghe has rarely earned as much himself and he IS a top P4P fighter.

[riza]

You really hate Kessler don't you?

Could you, out of Calzaghe's titledefenses, list the top 10 as you rate them?
And where would an unbeaten two belt champ in his prime be put on that list?

i dont hate him lol but he isnt worth what they think he is, and hes way overated. he strugled with mundine who is the best fighter hes fought but is only decent.

i keep sayin a unbeaten 2 belt robot does not mean anything. to me it appears that everyone has gotten hyped up after seeing his performance against andrade. this guy could not even punch straight. andrade was jus tough, he had absolutely no boxing skills at all. of course kessler is going to beat the **** out him in impressive fassion.

joe beating woodhall, reid, and even eubank was still a very good fighter, all of these guys at the time were more impressive wins than andrade and beyer. yeah calzaghe's oposition hasnt been great but he still has the better wins.

[Peder]

Kessler will not seriously be worth more than $3-$5m until he has beat a big name/top P4Per. He has to face a big name unless he accepts that he wont get purse parity, he will have to sacrifice location and he'll have to make some compromises. Anywhere between $3m and $5m is a very strong reward for someone who is not a P4P fighter yet. Calzaghe has rarely earned as much himself and he IS a top P4P fighter.

And that is why ending up fighting RJJ isn't that silly..
Kessler would probably gain more exposure from fighting Roy in Las Vegas, than fighting Joe in the UK.
If you left Joe out of it, I actually find it hard to come up with a better available choice of opponent. Kessler fought the best avalible at his title defenses, I'm fine with him putting on a show to impress the us audience.

It's Calzaghe who's under pressure, if he wants to make big fights before he stops - Right?