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December 8th, 2007. For British boxing fans, that date has a lot of significance. But for more reasons than one might assume. It's not just the day that the TRUE junior welterweight champion faces the TRUE welterweight champion. Though, that doesn't hurt. It's also COULD be the last day that British fans have a fighter that they could really hang their hat on.
You see, the tail-end of 2007 is a rough one for British fighters, to say the least. The upcoming schedule for the remainer of 2007 is as followsl; Joe Calzaghe/Mikkell Kessler on 11-03, David Haye/Jean-Marc Mormeck on 11-10, Amir Khan/Graham Earl on 12-08 and the aforementioned Hatton/Mayweather showdown on 11-06, respectively. Nothing wrong with having an active year of boxing for British fans. The problem COULD be that all of the fighters of the British persuasion have a chance at losing their bouts.
Joe Calzaghe/Mikkel Kessler
When & Where: November 3, 2007 - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
Importance: The second most important fight for fans (though I'm should some British fans would disagree.) Two undefeated champions. This fight has a lot on the line, including The Ring Super-Middleweight championship. The TRUE championship at 168. It also will say a lot about Joe Calzaghe's legacy, as well as Kesslers. Both fighters are eager to prove something and it's very difficult to say who wants to prove what, more. Kessler would love to prove his arrival, and Calzaghe would love to prove his arrival a few years ago against Jeff Lacy wasn't a fluke.
Predicted Outcome: I have Joe Calzaghe winning this one. I just see him as the more all-around better fighter. I think it'll be a tough fight for either, but I see Calzaghe most likely winning it in the later rounds, or on the cards in a fair decision.
But What If: Kessler were to beat Calzaghe and do it in a very impressive fashion. It would mean a huge blow is dealt to Calzaghe's legacy. Haters would automatically claim he was a fraud all along and that he never deserved the attention he's gotten, (which is untrue.) Fans of Joe would really have a alot to think about, in terms of if he waited to long to prove himself on a world-level. Kessler, would be a VERY hot spot.
David Haye/Jean-Marc Mormeck
When & Where: November 10, 2007 - Palais des Sport Marcel Carden, Levallois-Perrett, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
Importance: This could mean quite a bit to you, especially if you're a (British) fan of the HEAVYWEIGHT division. Ironic when you consider the fight is for the TRUE Cruiserweight championship. Haye was an unbeaten prospect until he stepped up and got chin-checked by Carl Thompson. His only loss was a KO loss to a guy in the cruiserweight division, who isn't even in the top 10 at this moment. Haye's upside is that he's a young, charismatic fighter who is a skilled, hard-hitting fighter. He still has a good chance to rebound, and it's in this fight with a very durable champion.
Predicted Outcome: In all honesty, I can't say. I don't know enough about Haye to say what he can or can't do against a worthy opponent in Mormeck.
But What If: Haye were to win. He'd be a hot prospect in a lack-luster heavyweight division. A division in need of a star. He's got the looks, talent and backing to go a long way if he can make a splash in the division after winning the The Ring Championship in the biggest fight of his career. If he loses, it wont make a huge dent in the British fight game, but it wouldn't help.
Amir Khan/Graham Earl
When & Where: December 8, 2007 - Bolton Arena, Bolton Lancashire, United Kingdom.
Importance: For the future of British boxing, it has pretty big ramifications. A lot of the fans in the U.K. are putting their faith in a fighter who has yet to crack 20 professional fights. In a lot of ways, he's comparable to Oscar De La Hoya, for the British fans. He's got a silver medal, a spotless record (with a bit of a scare in a recent bout) and the backing of the Don King to the United Kingdom, in Frank Warren.This fight, however is a pretty big step up from his previous competition and is for a commonwealth lightweight trinket.
Predicted Outcome: I happen to like Amir Khan, and from what I've seen of him; he's fast, can get off the ground to send you to the same position and has a very good set of fundamental skills. He's also not fighting that big of a fighter and he's motivated by all the talk that this fight has had. I'd pick Khan to win a good, competitive fight. Though, it's a tough fight to call.
But What If: Khan were to lose, and do so in a undisputed fashion. It would have more of an efect than a David Haye loss would, to tell you the truth. He's a very likeable kid and has a huge up-side. If he steps up and happens to lose in that first step-up fight, he'd have proven all of his detractors wrong. If he wins, he progresses as a young fighter should.
Ricky Hatton/Floyd Mayweather
When & Where: December 8, 2007 - MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
Importance: HUGELY IMPORTANT. A lot rides on this fight and not just for British fans. This fight shakes up the sport, in terms of fights to be made, fighters to be re-analyzed, so on and so forth. The TRUE welterweight champion taking on the TRUE junior welterweight champion, in the biggest fight of the year. Right before the new year begins. It means a lot for both mens legacies, regardless of what either of them say and will, in a lot of ways, determine how each man is looked back upon. p4p ramifications are also in the air. The money generated will be incredible, and it has the chance to be one of the magical moments in boxing that you recall years later, regardless of who wins. Oh yeah, and they're both undefeated.
Predicted Outcome: I'm going with Mayweather. It's hard not to. Both are undefeated champions and great ones at that. But when you look at it, stylistically, I happen to favor Floyd. Though, I wouldn't be surpised if Hatton pulled off the upset in this one. Could be the start of a great trilogy, either way.
But What If: Hatton were to unseat the p4p champion, in the biggest fight of the year. (By biggest, I mean in terms of importance, not in terms of revenue) I only have one thing to say to that possibility. DE LA HOYA/HATTON infront of an U.K. audience. JUST THINK OF THE RECORDS THAT WOULD BE SHATTERED.
This post is not to hate on British boxing. I'm actually pretty big fan of Khans and I'm very supportive of Joe Calzaghe, even before the Jeff Lacy bout. I just thought it was an interesting topic of disscussion. Just think, an entire countries perception of boxing could change in a matter of a few months. If all fighters were to win, or if all fighters were to lose. It's mind-blowing to wonder about the WORLDLY ramifications of either scenerio panning out. Both are long-shots, but it's still an interesting though. It's also interesting to note that, between the four of them, they have only one loss. Let's see if that changes by December 9th. That's all.
OVERALL WIN-LOSS RECORD: 119 (92, KO) - 1 (1 by KO) - 0
OVERALL OPPONENTS RECORD: 135 (87, KO) - 5 (2 by KO) - 0
You see, the tail-end of 2007 is a rough one for British fighters, to say the least. The upcoming schedule for the remainer of 2007 is as followsl; Joe Calzaghe/Mikkell Kessler on 11-03, David Haye/Jean-Marc Mormeck on 11-10, Amir Khan/Graham Earl on 12-08 and the aforementioned Hatton/Mayweather showdown on 11-06, respectively. Nothing wrong with having an active year of boxing for British fans. The problem COULD be that all of the fighters of the British persuasion have a chance at losing their bouts.
Joe Calzaghe/Mikkel Kessler
When & Where: November 3, 2007 - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
Importance: The second most important fight for fans (though I'm should some British fans would disagree.) Two undefeated champions. This fight has a lot on the line, including The Ring Super-Middleweight championship. The TRUE championship at 168. It also will say a lot about Joe Calzaghe's legacy, as well as Kesslers. Both fighters are eager to prove something and it's very difficult to say who wants to prove what, more. Kessler would love to prove his arrival, and Calzaghe would love to prove his arrival a few years ago against Jeff Lacy wasn't a fluke.
Predicted Outcome: I have Joe Calzaghe winning this one. I just see him as the more all-around better fighter. I think it'll be a tough fight for either, but I see Calzaghe most likely winning it in the later rounds, or on the cards in a fair decision.
But What If: Kessler were to beat Calzaghe and do it in a very impressive fashion. It would mean a huge blow is dealt to Calzaghe's legacy. Haters would automatically claim he was a fraud all along and that he never deserved the attention he's gotten, (which is untrue.) Fans of Joe would really have a alot to think about, in terms of if he waited to long to prove himself on a world-level. Kessler, would be a VERY hot spot.
David Haye/Jean-Marc Mormeck
When & Where: November 10, 2007 - Palais des Sport Marcel Carden, Levallois-Perrett, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
Importance: This could mean quite a bit to you, especially if you're a (British) fan of the HEAVYWEIGHT division. Ironic when you consider the fight is for the TRUE Cruiserweight championship. Haye was an unbeaten prospect until he stepped up and got chin-checked by Carl Thompson. His only loss was a KO loss to a guy in the cruiserweight division, who isn't even in the top 10 at this moment. Haye's upside is that he's a young, charismatic fighter who is a skilled, hard-hitting fighter. He still has a good chance to rebound, and it's in this fight with a very durable champion.
Predicted Outcome: In all honesty, I can't say. I don't know enough about Haye to say what he can or can't do against a worthy opponent in Mormeck.
But What If: Haye were to win. He'd be a hot prospect in a lack-luster heavyweight division. A division in need of a star. He's got the looks, talent and backing to go a long way if he can make a splash in the division after winning the The Ring Championship in the biggest fight of his career. If he loses, it wont make a huge dent in the British fight game, but it wouldn't help.
Amir Khan/Graham Earl
When & Where: December 8, 2007 - Bolton Arena, Bolton Lancashire, United Kingdom.
Importance: For the future of British boxing, it has pretty big ramifications. A lot of the fans in the U.K. are putting their faith in a fighter who has yet to crack 20 professional fights. In a lot of ways, he's comparable to Oscar De La Hoya, for the British fans. He's got a silver medal, a spotless record (with a bit of a scare in a recent bout) and the backing of the Don King to the United Kingdom, in Frank Warren.This fight, however is a pretty big step up from his previous competition and is for a commonwealth lightweight trinket.
Predicted Outcome: I happen to like Amir Khan, and from what I've seen of him; he's fast, can get off the ground to send you to the same position and has a very good set of fundamental skills. He's also not fighting that big of a fighter and he's motivated by all the talk that this fight has had. I'd pick Khan to win a good, competitive fight. Though, it's a tough fight to call.
But What If: Khan were to lose, and do so in a undisputed fashion. It would have more of an efect than a David Haye loss would, to tell you the truth. He's a very likeable kid and has a huge up-side. If he steps up and happens to lose in that first step-up fight, he'd have proven all of his detractors wrong. If he wins, he progresses as a young fighter should.
Ricky Hatton/Floyd Mayweather
When & Where: December 8, 2007 - MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
Importance: HUGELY IMPORTANT. A lot rides on this fight and not just for British fans. This fight shakes up the sport, in terms of fights to be made, fighters to be re-analyzed, so on and so forth. The TRUE welterweight champion taking on the TRUE junior welterweight champion, in the biggest fight of the year. Right before the new year begins. It means a lot for both mens legacies, regardless of what either of them say and will, in a lot of ways, determine how each man is looked back upon. p4p ramifications are also in the air. The money generated will be incredible, and it has the chance to be one of the magical moments in boxing that you recall years later, regardless of who wins. Oh yeah, and they're both undefeated.
Predicted Outcome: I'm going with Mayweather. It's hard not to. Both are undefeated champions and great ones at that. But when you look at it, stylistically, I happen to favor Floyd. Though, I wouldn't be surpised if Hatton pulled off the upset in this one. Could be the start of a great trilogy, either way.
But What If: Hatton were to unseat the p4p champion, in the biggest fight of the year. (By biggest, I mean in terms of importance, not in terms of revenue) I only have one thing to say to that possibility. DE LA HOYA/HATTON infront of an U.K. audience. JUST THINK OF THE RECORDS THAT WOULD BE SHATTERED.
This post is not to hate on British boxing. I'm actually pretty big fan of Khans and I'm very supportive of Joe Calzaghe, even before the Jeff Lacy bout. I just thought it was an interesting topic of disscussion. Just think, an entire countries perception of boxing could change in a matter of a few months. If all fighters were to win, or if all fighters were to lose. It's mind-blowing to wonder about the WORLDLY ramifications of either scenerio panning out. Both are long-shots, but it's still an interesting though. It's also interesting to note that, between the four of them, they have only one loss. Let's see if that changes by December 9th. That's all.
OVERALL WIN-LOSS RECORD: 119 (92, KO) - 1 (1 by KO) - 0
OVERALL OPPONENTS RECORD: 135 (87, KO) - 5 (2 by KO) - 0
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