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It was only a matter of time before the boxing public became aware of what boxing insiders knew all along. Joe Calzaghe is for real. Pretenders to the throne were praying he would get old before the secret was revealed. He hasn't and he rules.
This exposes certain boxers, that I call "pretenders" to the harsh spotlight of truth. Roy Jones, Jr., Bernard Hopkins, and various sacred cows and their supporters have implied and in some cases blatantly misled the public as to the nature of the situation. The fact is that these aforementioned boxers simply didn't want Calzaghe's action. Calzaghe detractors have always criticized Joe C for his refusal to fight outside his home turf of Britain. This of course is a cop out. We now know that Joe C offered to defend his crown, but Jones, Hopkins, and others were always quick to demand a deal breaking amount of money. So those fights never happened. But, the "superstars" continued along their merry way while the greatest Super Middleweight of all time languished. From HBO Boxing:
"JOE CALZAGHE
updated November 03, 2007
Elite fighter Joe Calzaghe will defend his WBO World Super Middleweight title for a record-tying 21st consecutive time on November 3 against his WBA/WBC counterpart Mikkel Kessler.
The super-fight will take place at the magnificent Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, in front of an estimated 60,000 gate. The world record indoor attendance for a fight - 63,500 - is under threat in the biggest show to be held in the UK for decades.
...
With his lightening fast hand-speed and power punching, plus his awkward southpaw stance, it is easy to understand why the so called elite American fighters are reluctant to face Calzaghe.
Americans like Roy Jones Jr, Antonio Tarver, Jermain Taylor and Hopkins have made unrealistic financial demands when offered fights, while Clinton Woods has also turned down more-than generous offers."
....
Of course this goes straight to the heart of this thread. I'm talking about the "businessman first mentality" that has plagued the sport for 20 years. Mike Tyson ushered in a new era when he discovered that he could make millions by fighting tomato cans, ie...the Peter McNeelys of the world, instead of fighting true competitive competition. We all fell victim to its excess. During this time the media created boxing "superstars" and the system well protected and accomodated their cynical money grabbing ways. Roy Jones, Jr. quickly adopted this "businessman first mentality" after establishing himself as a superstar on the win against James Toney. Roy primarily fought tomato cans for nine years after that fight because he could get rich doing it. Now Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has adopted his own brand of the "businessman first mentality." One does not have to consider his famous quote, "If it makes money, it makes sense," to understand his motivations for those have been clear ever since he was accorded "superstar" status by the American media. Why risk superstar status on somebody as formidable as the iron fisted Kostya Tszyu, when you can beat the tomato can next door for a different belt? Why fight the truly talented Casamayor when you can move up 5 pounds and beat a tomato can for yet another belt? After all, as long as you hold a belt, superstar status is maintained and the gravy train continues. Does "Joe 6 pack" know the difference? Hell no. There are so many belts and juniors and supers now that frankly speaking, you almost have to be a boxing insider to know just who is champion of what these days.
But, the good news is that after a period of time, the boxing public grows wise to this cynical con job. They will applaud any young boxer that shows that he is here to fight for the right to be called #1. Kelly Pavlik has taken big steps in this direction by showing he will fight the best with alarming aggression. With Roy on his way out, Bernard on his way out, and Tyson just plain out, we are on the verge of a new era in boxing. Ricky Hatton has an opportunity to finally turn this sorry page by taking out the elusive businessman, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. I am sure that boxing fans from both sides of the Atlantic are more than ready for a changing of the guard and a move back to a time when boxers came first.
This exposes certain boxers, that I call "pretenders" to the harsh spotlight of truth. Roy Jones, Jr., Bernard Hopkins, and various sacred cows and their supporters have implied and in some cases blatantly misled the public as to the nature of the situation. The fact is that these aforementioned boxers simply didn't want Calzaghe's action. Calzaghe detractors have always criticized Joe C for his refusal to fight outside his home turf of Britain. This of course is a cop out. We now know that Joe C offered to defend his crown, but Jones, Hopkins, and others were always quick to demand a deal breaking amount of money. So those fights never happened. But, the "superstars" continued along their merry way while the greatest Super Middleweight of all time languished. From HBO Boxing:
"JOE CALZAGHE
updated November 03, 2007
Elite fighter Joe Calzaghe will defend his WBO World Super Middleweight title for a record-tying 21st consecutive time on November 3 against his WBA/WBC counterpart Mikkel Kessler.
The super-fight will take place at the magnificent Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, in front of an estimated 60,000 gate. The world record indoor attendance for a fight - 63,500 - is under threat in the biggest show to be held in the UK for decades.
...
With his lightening fast hand-speed and power punching, plus his awkward southpaw stance, it is easy to understand why the so called elite American fighters are reluctant to face Calzaghe.
Americans like Roy Jones Jr, Antonio Tarver, Jermain Taylor and Hopkins have made unrealistic financial demands when offered fights, while Clinton Woods has also turned down more-than generous offers."
....
Of course this goes straight to the heart of this thread. I'm talking about the "businessman first mentality" that has plagued the sport for 20 years. Mike Tyson ushered in a new era when he discovered that he could make millions by fighting tomato cans, ie...the Peter McNeelys of the world, instead of fighting true competitive competition. We all fell victim to its excess. During this time the media created boxing "superstars" and the system well protected and accomodated their cynical money grabbing ways. Roy Jones, Jr. quickly adopted this "businessman first mentality" after establishing himself as a superstar on the win against James Toney. Roy primarily fought tomato cans for nine years after that fight because he could get rich doing it. Now Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has adopted his own brand of the "businessman first mentality." One does not have to consider his famous quote, "If it makes money, it makes sense," to understand his motivations for those have been clear ever since he was accorded "superstar" status by the American media. Why risk superstar status on somebody as formidable as the iron fisted Kostya Tszyu, when you can beat the tomato can next door for a different belt? Why fight the truly talented Casamayor when you can move up 5 pounds and beat a tomato can for yet another belt? After all, as long as you hold a belt, superstar status is maintained and the gravy train continues. Does "Joe 6 pack" know the difference? Hell no. There are so many belts and juniors and supers now that frankly speaking, you almost have to be a boxing insider to know just who is champion of what these days.
But, the good news is that after a period of time, the boxing public grows wise to this cynical con job. They will applaud any young boxer that shows that he is here to fight for the right to be called #1. Kelly Pavlik has taken big steps in this direction by showing he will fight the best with alarming aggression. With Roy on his way out, Bernard on his way out, and Tyson just plain out, we are on the verge of a new era in boxing. Ricky Hatton has an opportunity to finally turn this sorry page by taking out the elusive businessman, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. I am sure that boxing fans from both sides of the Atlantic are more than ready for a changing of the guard and a move back to a time when boxers came first.
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