Calzaghe already looking to duck Lacy

[Thunder54]

By Paul Upham: It appears that the Joe Calzaghe-Jeff Lacy super middleweight showdown on November 5 in the UK could be in trouble after comments made by the WBO champion to the BBC. 32 year-old Calzaghe was quoted in a story at the BBC website regarding the likelihood of the fight with IBF/IBO champion Lacy going ahead, even though he is meant to be fighting an as yet unnamed opponent on September 10 in Cardiff.

"Lots of things can also happen between now and then, not least among them injuries," he said. "I have had problems with my hand and back on and off over the years, which is hardly surprising when you have been fighting since the age of nine like I have."

SecondsOut brought Calzaghe's statements to the attention of Lacy's promoter Gary Shaw on Friday and the American was far from impressed.
"Twenty minutes ago, I would have definitely told you that it is on, as far as I'm concerned, it is done," Shaw told SecondsOut. "I'm wondering now if Calzaghe is trying to get out of the fight? If you have injuries after a fight, why would you be taking a September 10 fight?

"This is the defining fight of Calzaghe's career. He wanted the big fight. Well, here it is, with the big 168lbs American world champion holding two belts. You have a chance to unify and have three belts. You have a chance to knock off the star of Showtime television and the USA Olympian. You can tell everybody once and for all that Joe Calzaghe is the greatest."

After Lacy's impressive stoppage win over Robin Reid last weekend in the USA, Shaw suspects that maybe Calzaghe is having second thoughts about taking the fight.

"Why would he start talking about injuries?" he asked. "Probably because he watched Jeff Lacy in action last Saturday night. Joe has got to say once and for all, 'I want the Lacy fight, no excuses. I'll be there on November 5, wherever it is' as Lacy has said. Let's not start the excuses now. If he is going to pull out, then he should pull out now and say he is not fighting Lacy. Then let the British press and the fans do what they want with him. Don't take a warm up fight and then say the excuse is, 'I hurt my hand'. I respect Joe, but if he doesn't want the fight, he needs to be man enough to say, 'I saw Lacy and I don't want the fight'. Anyone who has a fight of this magnitude on November 5 with everything on the line doesn't take a fight on September 10."

Shaw says that Lacy 20- (16) wants the fight with Calzaghe 39-0 (31) so he can prove to the fans who is the true super middleweight champion of the world. "When we spoke about Joe, we said he was No.1," he said. "We said he was the gate keeper to 168lbs and that everything would be on the line in this fight. We were willing to come to England, not asking Joe to come here to the USA."

While Calzaghe told the BBC he wants the fight, he suggested the issue of how much money he would be paid was not resolved and could interfere with the fight going ahead. "Don't get me wrong, the Lacy fight will go ahead," he was quoted. "He wants it and I want it and the prospect really excites me, but I haven't even talked money yet so nothing is cut and dried."

Since reading Calzaghe's quotes, Shaw, who thought he had a deal in place with promoter Frank Warren, has been trying to contact the head of the Sports Network in England.

"I have called and sent three emails," he said. "Jay Larkin (Showtime Vice-President) said he has been trying to reach Frank Warren today. Everybody wants to know what's happening. Is the fight on or is it off?"

28 year-old Lacy went to Manchester in June with Shaw to meet the British press with Calzaghe to publicise the fight. While some people told Shaw that the unbeaten southpaw had a history of pulling out of fights, the American promoter was never concerned the unification clash would not go ahead after hearing the Welshman say he wanted the fight in person.

"I stuck up for him," said Shaw. "I said Joe is a great champion. We went to Manchester to pay him the respect and he said at a luncheon with Lacy sitting there, 'I want the fight'. So I'm going to give him the respect and I'm going to give Frank Warren the respect. Then hopefully, we are going to get the fight done. But if he doesn't and he pulls out on us, he'll never fight Jeff Lacy again. Forever he will be known as the guy who ducked the big fight."

Wow this doesn't look good calzaghe already ducked out on glen jhonson twice and never fought ottke.

I really hope joe gets it together cancels this sept fight and focus's on Lacy

[elveiel]

Wow this doesn't look good calzaghe already ducked out on glen jhonson twice and never fought ottke.

I really hope joe gets it together cancels this sept fight and focus's on Lacy

Be serious, Calzaghe couldnt fight Johnson because he hurt his back, even if that wasnt true, Johnson broke the agreement by fighting Jones. Calzaghe only put the fight on hold like the contract said he could.

Ottke, ducked Calzaghe for years, he hardly going to duck someone a **** as him!!

All Calzaghe has said is that Nov 5 might not be possible because Cardiff Arena is hosting Wales vs New Zealand already on that date. And that the fight isnt a done deal because they havent agreed money.

Thats not ducking, i dont understand this bull****, trying to make a big story out of nothing!!

[Super_Lightweight]

hmm

Like i said, i like Lacy but he's protected and overhyped, until he faces someone he's shouldnt even be considered as the best fighter. Its just another bull**** double standards situation!!

Just plain wrong again. Lacy is not protected. He is moving at a good pace, the man only has 20 fights. If Lacy is "protected" then i want to hear what Joe is considering his recent opposition. There is no double standard, stop crying justbecause some people feel that Lacy is better than Joe. That's LIFE.

Be serious, Calzaghe couldnt fight Johnson because he hurt his back, even if that wasnt true, Johnson broke the agreement by fighting Jones. Calzaghe only put the fight on hold like the contract said he could.

Joe backed out of fights with Glen long before Glen fought Roy. Glen fought Roy because Joe backed out of a fight with him. So, YOU be serious.

Ottke, ducked Calzaghe for years, he hardly going to duck someone a **** as him!!

All Calzaghe has said is that Nov 5 might not be possible because Cardiff Arena is hosting Wales vs New Zealand already on that date. And that the fight isnt a done deal because they havent agreed money.

Thats not ducking, i dont understand this bull****, trying to make a big story out of nothing!!

Finally got something right. Ottke is a ***** and Joe would have owned him. No one runs from that ***** German Ottke.

No, Joe and Warren indicated the fight was on if Lacy holds up his end by beating Reid. Lacy stops Reid and now Joe is talking about "Well, maybe the fight will happen." Stop your bull**** defending of Joe. If he doesn't take this fight like he said he would, versus a legit threat in his weight-class, he's scared. Your panicky reactions suggest you also feel unconfident in Joe.

[sanjayint]

it really pisssess me off when fighters say that. i personally think joe will retire by a KO by lacy,

[MrUnstoppable]

You really can't refer to someone as protected and over-hyped when comparing them to Joe Calzaghe.

[riz]

calzaghe isn't ducking him in anyway. all he said was lots of stuff can happen
and **** man hes fighitng less than 2 months after, lacy has MUCh more time than him

[JUYJUY]

Gary Shaw is an idiot, Joe was scheduled to fight on September 10 long before the Lacy-Reid fight. Joe didn't know anything about this November 5 date, it suddenly came from America after the Lacy-Reid fight and was abit random. Also, why would Calzaghe-Lacy happen in England?? What is this guy Shaw talking about? I thought the fight was going to take place in Wales, not England.

[EXIGE]

Gary Shaw is an idiot, Joe was scheduled to fight on September 10 long before the Lacy-Reid fight. Joe didn't know anything about this November 5 date, it suddenly came from America after the Lacy-Reid fight and was abit random. Also, why would Calzaghe-Lacy happen in England?? What is this guy Shaw talking about? I thought the fight was going to take place in Wales, not England.

You just reminded me of the Ali G line:

"Ah cant we just bomb somewhere ****ty like Wales" (when talking to the prime minister)

LOLOLOLOL.

[elveiel]

Just plain wrong again. Lacy is not protected. He is moving at a good pace, the man only has 20 fights. If Lacy is "protected" then i want to hear what Joe is considering his recent opposition. There is no double standard, stop crying justbecause some people feel that Lacy is better than Joe. That's LIFE.

Joe backed out of fights with Glen long before Glen fought Roy. Glen fought Roy because Joe backed out of a fight with him. So, YOU be serious.

Finally got something right. Ottke is a ***** and Joe would have owned him. No one runs from that ***** German Ottke.

No, Joe and Warren indicated the fight was on if Lacy holds up his end by beating Reid. Lacy stops Reid and now Joe is talking about "Well, maybe the fight will happen." Stop your bull**** defending of Joe. If he doesn't take this fight like he said he would, versus a legit threat in his weight-class, he's scared. Your panicky reactions suggest you also feel unconfident in Joe.

Stop crying, ha ha, thats pretty funny for you!!

Lacy is moving at a decent pace but he holds a genuine world title, he's not facing the type of fighters that warrant being a genuine world champion so he IS PROTECTED!! Joe Calzaghe is fighting poor opponents too(last couple of years), i'm not saying otherwise, its time for them both to step up.

Joe Calzaghe asked for the fight to be put off for one month, because of his reported back injury and break up with wife. Even if Joe wasnt injured and should have fought he was still allowed to do this because of the contract with Johnson. But Johnson decided to fight Jones instead, cant blame him but because Jones is the bigger name.

Would you fight if you didnt know how much you would get paid?? all he's saying is that he wants to talk money first, its not an excuse unless he pulls out of the fight when its a decent money offer. I'm not defending Calzaghe, i just dont see whats wrong with wanting the right money for a job!! if my employer didnt tell me my wage i'm not going to work, just because its a sport it doesnt means its less important than a regular job. Calzaghe has a divorce to handle and needs as much as he can get!!

Let the talks happen before anyone starts speaking **** about ducking!! your a sucker for believing that ****, its just a clever way of making you think that Calzaghe is likely to duck Lacy, so if talks break down then you will think its his fault. When i hear **** like this i know Lacys team are going to **** Calzaghe about with money and then blame it all on him, why else would they start rumours before talks start?!?!? Its always the same ****, your greedy promoter ruin good match ups because they want more money!!

[Sliquestylez]

ahhh all you British idiots especially that nitwit elviel zip your halitosis mouth you piece of shiet. Stop making excuses for that ********he ***ging his way out. That biatch has fought almost twice as Lacy and he has not fought nobody unless you want to count that piece of shiet Reid. If he's scared he can't help it to be skeptical. If he's skeptical I can't help to call him pussey. And if he's pussey, LAcy will phuked him up.