It has long been my opinion that the Pavlik camp did not really want a Calzaghe fight in the immediate future. It is easy to say that you want a fight that cannot be made, because your 'opponent' has chosen someone else. A Calzaghe fight simply does not make sense in either financially or in terms of Kelly's career. First up, he would almost certainly lose to Calzaghe, despite what his fans would like to believe, and its a bit early in Kelly's career to be losing his 0 and a good portion of his reputation. If you think this can't happen, simply consider Jeff Lacy. Secondly, there are lots of lucrative, less dangerous fights against fighters better known than Calzaghe is in America. These include guys like Mora and Winky, but we also have curveballs like Williams and Hopkins. It makes sense that Kelly build his name by fighting these guys to maximise his star power and provide the risk/ reward for later, tougher fights, hopefully with Joe.
Pav does not need Calzaghe. He can create his own legend by staying at 160. All this talk about ducking is about as false as it gets. Nobody is ducking nobody. Boxing needs Pav at 160. Boxing doesn't need Pav's health at risk moving up and down in weight.
It has long been my opinion that the Pavlik camp did not really want a Calzaghe fight in the immediate future. It is easy to say that you want a fight that cannot be made, because your 'opponent' has chosen someone else.
This fight had a very good chance of being made,just check out the interview with Warren and Arum after the Lockett fight.Both of them state there is a very good chance this fight could take place and the final decision is up to Calzaghe.The same Calzaghe who said after the Taylor fight "I would come down in weight to fight Pavlik"
A Calzaghe fight simply does not make sense in either financially or in terms of Kelly's career. First up, he would almost certainly lose to Calzaghe, despite what his fans would like to believe, and its a bit early in Kelly's career to be losing his 0 and a good portion of his reputation.
A loss to Calzaghe would not hurt his legacy as he would have a title to go back to unlike Lacy.Pavlik has a similar style to Kessler who sets his right hand up with a jab and he has a better workrate than Kessler so his chances of winning should not be based on the Lacy fight as Jeff is nothing like Kelly.
If you think this can't happen, simply consider Jeff Lacy. Secondly, there are lots of lucrative, less dangerous fights against fighters better known than Calzaghe is in America. These include guys like Mora and Winky, but we also have curveballs like Williams and Hopkins. It makes sense that Kelly build his name by fighting these guys to maximise his star power and provide the risk/ reward for later, tougher fights, hopefully with Joe.
I like how you dismiss the fact that Arum was in negotiations with Warren for this fight to take place and instead Joe chose Jones,who will do little for his legacy and just provide a name for Joe's resume.Calzaghe would of been the biggest risk out of all the fights you named and if he won{which isn't such an afterthought as you make it out to be}it would solidify his name at the age of 26..
Last edited by ALT-Assassin; 07-21-2008, 09:26 AM.
I like how you dismiss the fact that Arum was in negotiations with Warren for this fight to take place and instead Joe chose Jones,who will do little for his legacy and just provide a name for Joe's resume.Calzaghe would of been the biggest risk out of all the fights you named and if he won{which isn't such an afterthought as you make it out to be}it would solidify his name at the age of 26..
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You got me on that old post, I did used to think it would happen more quickly, but not for a while, and if you want to prove it go ahead and dig up some more old posts of mine.
I'm not sure what you are trying to say. Its easy to be "in negotiation" if you have no intention of making the fight at the time being negotiated, it all adds to the hype machine. The same is true of the Calzaghe camp, who preferred Jones but didn't mind talking up a Pavlik fight too. I'm just pointing out that it really does not make sense for Kelly to fight Joe at this point, and lo and behold it isn't happening and both Kelly and Joe have other fights. I'm pretty sure that the promoters and HBO do have a long term plan.
As for the eventual winner, you know what I think, so I don't need to say.
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