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Joe Calzaghe can announce retirement today and know he’s beaten everyone of note, during his era of supremacy. From his first world title against WBO Champion Chris Eubank to unifying against the young, hungry, and undefeated IBF Champion, Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy, he has been superb. He has followed up with a unification win over the then WBC/WBA Champion Mikkel Kessler, and followed up with a win over the overmatched, Peter Manfredo, JR.
In his last outing at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, he faced a man that defended his Middleweight title a record breaking 20 times within a 10 year span. A man that is the longest reigning Middleweight Champion in history, and after losing by a disputed decision to Jermain Taylor, followed by another equally disputed decision loss to the same Taylor, he move up two weight classes and defeated recognized Light Heavyweight Champion Antonio “The Magic Man” Tarver.
This man is the former WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, RMC (Ring Magazine Champion) Middleweight Champion; Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins, and he is the most significant fighter on his resume. Fortunately for boxing fans, Calzaghe is open to the suggestion of one last mega-bout, and given how huge his last victory was, one is left pondering if there are any fights worthy of him returning to the ring.
Here are a few of the most lucrative bouts that he should strongly consider: If he wants to fight the best available opponent then the Middleweight Champion that has fought at the super middleweight limit, Kelly Pavlik is available. After Kelly’s 3rd round TKO destruction of Enzo Calzaghe’s (father/trainer of Joe Calzaghe) pupil Gary Lockett, a fight would make for a good storyline, given that Jack Loew (Kelly Pavlik’s trainer) and Enzo have had there share of verbal jabs thrown each others way.
Fellas, we may not get Floyd Mayweather, SR., across the ring from Roger Mayweather this year, but Jack Loew versus Enzo Calzaghe is not that bad of a consolation prize. Kelly Pavlik’s Promoter, Bob Arum, and Joe Calzaghe’s Promoter, Frank Warren, are in discussion for this fight and if materialized, it would land as soon as this Fall. Still there nothing is set in stone, and there are many obstacle’s that need to be worked out such as what weight division and the location of the bout.
It’s clear that Kelly’s effective weight at the moment is 160 pounds, the middleweight division, whereas Joe Calzaghe fought for most of his entire career at 168 pounds, the super middleweight division, but in his last bout he weight in at 173 pounds, for the Light Heavyweight Title. A catch weight would certainly have to be agreed upon.
Another intriguing match up could be against former WBC/WBA Light Heavyweight Champion and current IBF belt holder, Antonio Tarver. This fight seems far-fetched given that it benefits Tarver more than it would benefit Calzaghe. Tarver would likely jump at the opportunity to gain back the title Bernard Hopkins wrestled from him. Would he be willing to travel to Calzaghe's hometown in Wales to get his shot is yet to be seen, but he may just have to do that if he wants his shot at Calzaghe.
One fighter who claims he is willing to do so, is former Pound for Pound King, former Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion, Roy Jones, JR. This fight would be huge in Europe and would draw about 50,000 plus fans into a soccer stadium. From a business standpoint, it makes sense.
Let’s face it, this fight doesn’t do much for Calzaghe’s legacy as it would have done 5 to 7 years ago, but Roy remains the last great fighter of Calzaghe’s era that’s missing from his roll call of fallen victims. In Roy’s last outing, he out-pointed a semi-retired Felix Trinidad at Madison Square Garden, New York.
Although it was a good turn out, Trinidad is clearly not the hot commodity he once was when he unified the WBC and IBF Welterweight Titles and move up, to unify the WBA and IBF Junior Middleweight Titles. In Wales, Joe Calzaghe is boiling hot and Roy Jones, JR., is likely the most recognizable name across the pond. So If Roy is willing to pack his suitcase and head east then it will be up to Joe to take care of business.
If Calzaghe wants to follow the latest trend in boxing this year, then a homecoming fight would be appealing only against an undefeated prospect, and why not one who holds a belt. That man would be Romania's IBF belt holder, Lucian Bute.
Bute who’s relatively unknown in the states can make a name for himself with a solid performance, even in a losing effort and would make himself a welcome edition to the Light Heavyweight division. As a fan of welcoming new faces to the sport, it would be great to see this happen.
Last but certainly not least, there’s one thing that Calzaghe is missing in his career. It’s a thing that I believe every Hall of fame great should have in his illustrious career and that’s an edge of your seat type of fight. It’s a fight that will make them reach deep within their spirits and search for something more than skill and trade. Or as former Lightweight, Welterweight, and Junior Middleweight Champion, Shane Mosley, once described it as a “soul searching” fight. The man to give him that kind of a firefight would be Glengoffe “the Road warrior” Johnson.
Johnson is a veteran of the sport with a spotty but not unimpressive record of, 47-12-2, 32 KO’s. In his last bout he lost his bid for the WBC Light Heavyweight Title against the young and talented Chad Dawson. “Bad Chad” is the more logical choice of opponent between the two since he now holds the green belt, but sometimes you have to give these tough battle tested warriors there due. “The Road Warrior” Glen Johnson has fallen short in hometown decisions more than once and twice as many believe he could have easily gotten the nod in his latest attempt. So if Calzaghe wants that one fight for the time capsule then Glen is the best man to grant his wish.
Other fights that cannot be ruled out would be rematches with Bernard Hopkins and Mikkel Kessler although Kessler still needs a significant victory to deserve the return bout. Who ever Joe Calzaghe decides to fight next, he’s earned our attention.
In his last outing at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, he faced a man that defended his Middleweight title a record breaking 20 times within a 10 year span. A man that is the longest reigning Middleweight Champion in history, and after losing by a disputed decision to Jermain Taylor, followed by another equally disputed decision loss to the same Taylor, he move up two weight classes and defeated recognized Light Heavyweight Champion Antonio “The Magic Man” Tarver.
This man is the former WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, RMC (Ring Magazine Champion) Middleweight Champion; Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins, and he is the most significant fighter on his resume. Fortunately for boxing fans, Calzaghe is open to the suggestion of one last mega-bout, and given how huge his last victory was, one is left pondering if there are any fights worthy of him returning to the ring.
Here are a few of the most lucrative bouts that he should strongly consider: If he wants to fight the best available opponent then the Middleweight Champion that has fought at the super middleweight limit, Kelly Pavlik is available. After Kelly’s 3rd round TKO destruction of Enzo Calzaghe’s (father/trainer of Joe Calzaghe) pupil Gary Lockett, a fight would make for a good storyline, given that Jack Loew (Kelly Pavlik’s trainer) and Enzo have had there share of verbal jabs thrown each others way.
Fellas, we may not get Floyd Mayweather, SR., across the ring from Roger Mayweather this year, but Jack Loew versus Enzo Calzaghe is not that bad of a consolation prize. Kelly Pavlik’s Promoter, Bob Arum, and Joe Calzaghe’s Promoter, Frank Warren, are in discussion for this fight and if materialized, it would land as soon as this Fall. Still there nothing is set in stone, and there are many obstacle’s that need to be worked out such as what weight division and the location of the bout.
It’s clear that Kelly’s effective weight at the moment is 160 pounds, the middleweight division, whereas Joe Calzaghe fought for most of his entire career at 168 pounds, the super middleweight division, but in his last bout he weight in at 173 pounds, for the Light Heavyweight Title. A catch weight would certainly have to be agreed upon.
Another intriguing match up could be against former WBC/WBA Light Heavyweight Champion and current IBF belt holder, Antonio Tarver. This fight seems far-fetched given that it benefits Tarver more than it would benefit Calzaghe. Tarver would likely jump at the opportunity to gain back the title Bernard Hopkins wrestled from him. Would he be willing to travel to Calzaghe's hometown in Wales to get his shot is yet to be seen, but he may just have to do that if he wants his shot at Calzaghe.
One fighter who claims he is willing to do so, is former Pound for Pound King, former Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion, Roy Jones, JR. This fight would be huge in Europe and would draw about 50,000 plus fans into a soccer stadium. From a business standpoint, it makes sense.
Let’s face it, this fight doesn’t do much for Calzaghe’s legacy as it would have done 5 to 7 years ago, but Roy remains the last great fighter of Calzaghe’s era that’s missing from his roll call of fallen victims. In Roy’s last outing, he out-pointed a semi-retired Felix Trinidad at Madison Square Garden, New York.
Although it was a good turn out, Trinidad is clearly not the hot commodity he once was when he unified the WBC and IBF Welterweight Titles and move up, to unify the WBA and IBF Junior Middleweight Titles. In Wales, Joe Calzaghe is boiling hot and Roy Jones, JR., is likely the most recognizable name across the pond. So If Roy is willing to pack his suitcase and head east then it will be up to Joe to take care of business.
If Calzaghe wants to follow the latest trend in boxing this year, then a homecoming fight would be appealing only against an undefeated prospect, and why not one who holds a belt. That man would be Romania's IBF belt holder, Lucian Bute.
Bute who’s relatively unknown in the states can make a name for himself with a solid performance, even in a losing effort and would make himself a welcome edition to the Light Heavyweight division. As a fan of welcoming new faces to the sport, it would be great to see this happen.
Last but certainly not least, there’s one thing that Calzaghe is missing in his career. It’s a thing that I believe every Hall of fame great should have in his illustrious career and that’s an edge of your seat type of fight. It’s a fight that will make them reach deep within their spirits and search for something more than skill and trade. Or as former Lightweight, Welterweight, and Junior Middleweight Champion, Shane Mosley, once described it as a “soul searching” fight. The man to give him that kind of a firefight would be Glengoffe “the Road warrior” Johnson.
Johnson is a veteran of the sport with a spotty but not unimpressive record of, 47-12-2, 32 KO’s. In his last bout he lost his bid for the WBC Light Heavyweight Title against the young and talented Chad Dawson. “Bad Chad” is the more logical choice of opponent between the two since he now holds the green belt, but sometimes you have to give these tough battle tested warriors there due. “The Road Warrior” Glen Johnson has fallen short in hometown decisions more than once and twice as many believe he could have easily gotten the nod in his latest attempt. So if Calzaghe wants that one fight for the time capsule then Glen is the best man to grant his wish.
Other fights that cannot be ruled out would be rematches with Bernard Hopkins and Mikkel Kessler although Kessler still needs a significant victory to deserve the return bout. Who ever Joe Calzaghe decides to fight next, he’s earned our attention.
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