Joe Calzaghe Will Return To 168 After Roy Jones Jr.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

I'll make this short and sweet.

Joe is keeping his WBO title looming "in case" he looses to Roy Jones. They are fighting @ 175 and he will still be recognized as the SMW champ if he claims that he will defend the title. If he loses to Roy, he can just go set the record for SMW+title defenses and get his career and legacy back on track. Anyone disagree? Fail-safe move for Joe. It's pretty smart acually.

He'll still be recognised as the Super Middleweight Champion without the WBO belt. He probably just wants to keep it because it will continue the record number of defences if he decides to go down.

[abadger]

This is excellent news for boxing. It doesn't make me certain that Joe will fight on, because boxers say and do a lot of things but it definitely means the possibility is there. Realistically it is not at all unlikely that Calzaghe's retirement talk is just that, talk, designed to ensure maximum possible remuneration for any subsequent fights, he isn't an angel after all, I'm sure. I do tend to think that it would be hard for any boxer to simply retire at a time when they have a realistic claim to being genuinely the best at their weight(s), especially in Joe's situation where the big fight (Pavlik) on the horizon is one that on paper they should win quite easily. We will have to wait and see though.

If he does fight on though, I think it will be interesting. I don't think the assumption that it will definitely be Pavlik is all that safe. I've heard Taylor's name out of Calzaghe's mouth quite a few times, and a UK only showdown with Froch would not surprise me in the least, remember US fans, Joe is from the UK, though I'd hope he will now prefer to take on the US opponents that would make his name over there even more.

If, and it is an if, he does continue after Jones though, it is wonderful news for boxing fans. Its always good to see great boxers fight, whether we like them or not.

[Sir_Joe]

Calzaghe will never fight Froch and I don't blame him, even if he wins (which he would) he would take a lot of massive punches against someone who isn't recognised as a great fighter.

Froch is a bad style match up for Joe.

[alexsilver90]

hope so anyway i can c calzaghe outboxing pavlik, calzaghe wud be 2 fast 4 him

[alexsilver90]

Calzaghe will never fight Froch and I don't blame him, even if he wins (which he would) he would take a lot of massive punches against someone who isn't recognised as a great fighter.

Froch is a bad style match up for Joe.

i agree wit wat ur sayin but i think froch is being underrated a little ppl jus assume jus cuz it "calzaghe" he wud win which he prb wud but he wud be a hard fight 4 him

[Dan...]

Let's not forget that if we are talking fights after Roy for Joe he will have aged even further. It won't be long before Joe's speed and stamina - two of his key attributes - starts to fail him. It could make the Pavlik matchup tougher than it would be say right now.

[Kris Silver]

Let's not forget that if we are talking fights after Roy for Joe he will have aged even further. It won't be long before Joe's speed and stamina - two of his key attributes - starts to fail him. It could make the Pavlik matchup tougher than it would be say right now.

Definitely, it's risky. Especially going back down to SMW, I mean your talking about him having to turn back a couple of years by that point, and weight changes are only going to not help his body.

I'm not sure if it's the order I'd prefer either. There's more risk this way round. Although if he wins both of these (if the latter happens) he's beaten a slightly younger Roy Jones, and a slightly more tested, matured Pavlik. Much better than the other way round.

[fightnews55]

That is Slaptastic news.....

[Dan...]

Definitely, it's risky. Especially going back down to SMW, I mean your talking about him having to turn back a couple of years by that point, and weight changes are only going to not help his body.

I'm not sure if it's the order I'd prefer either. There's more risk this way round. Although if he wins both of these (if the latter happens) he's beaten a slightly younger Roy Jones, and a slightly more tested, matured Pavlik. Much better than the other way round.

Yeah it would be tough no doubt. I think he should do it though. I actually think it would improve his legacy by fighting Pavlik in 2009, whether he wins or loses. People place far too much stock in being undefeated I think.

[Allucard]

Joe Calzaghe has informed WBO President Paco Valcarcel that he will not vacate his WBO super middleweight title, and after his September 20th bout with Roy Jones Jr, he plans to move back down to super middleweight to continue defending the belt. [details]

Oh, poor baby. H wants more "mandatories". That's basically a message to WBO. which i'm sure will promptly arrange for a contender bout which will almost surely feature 2 ****ING WEAK fighters of which Joe fights one. And the **** cycle continues