So who did Joe Calzaghe duck?

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Technically speaking its hard to apply the word "duck" in its truest sense to any of the top fighters today. Its simply because a lack of commision oversight and one legitimate set of rankings. That's why these guys go for the biggest purse, you can hardly blame them. B-Hop pulled out of the fight in 2002, that's true, but why wouldn't he? Then he wants to fight Calzaghe in a rematch later on? Simply because he knew it would pay more at that point than a Dawson fight would. It wasn't like Calzaghe was a household name in the states at that time in 2002. Same for Calzaghe fighting Jones later on instead of Pavlik, more money. Same things Pac and May do or anyone for that matter. These cats feel like they have proved themselves and they want to get paid.

Its pretty rare you see a legitimate fight with guys in their primes anymore, they basically have to have no where to go. Kahn has had that problem recently so he's forced into the tough fights for good money but not great money.A reasonably big name but not in demand in the states like Del la Hoya or Trinidad were. That's why Bradley backed out with a fight with Khan. HBO doesn't talk about how they guaranteed him a second fight on their network for a million if he agreed to fight Alexander which he did. HBO turns around ans says ok now your fighting Kahn , Bradley says no I'll fight someone else that your contractually obligated to pay me for and go to Top Rank. worked out for him didn't it? The "Duck" is a myth.

A duck is choosing to take the path of least resistance when a harder one is presented.

In both cases, the two fighters took the path of least resistance to reach their goal. In the case of Hopkins, his goal was Oscar and he didnt want to risk that fight so he fought bums. In Bradley's case it was Pacquiao, he didn't want to risk losing to Khan so he fought Casamayor.

When its certain fighters, they get called ducks, but with the likes of these two, of course, its "smart business".

Propaganda at its finest.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Well if you're short-sighted, yes. You missed the part about long-term. By keeping himself out of a contract deal with a network, he was able to secure a career-high payday and his second PPV against William Joppy. And that third fight of the deal that would've come against Calzaghe (on Showtime) would've netted him far less than the two fight (both pay-per-view) deal he signed with GBP immediately after Joppy. So, you're right if you look at it with short-sighted eyes.

So in other words he fought lesser fighters rather than challenging fights to protect his Oscar fight. Yeah that's a duck. Or at least it used to be until certain fighters started doing it.

Hopkins also ducked Roy Jones and James Toney. I believe the Toney fight was actually signed as well!

[IMDAZED]

So in other words he fought lesser fighters rather than challenging fights to protect his Oscar fight. Yeah that's a duck. Or at least it used to be until certain fighters started doing it.

Not really when you consider who he fought instead. When you turn down your highest purse to fight lesser fighters, its a duck.

Which is it now?

[HughJass]

ooh and then he went after the guy that was to give pavlik a real spanking in hopkins
pavlik was and is w*nk, calzaghe woulda made him look even worse than hopkins managed

agree with that ten fold he would of schooled him, calzaghe had the best stamina and work rate ive seen his punch output in a fight was pretty ****ing impressive too all 12 rounds super joe

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Which is it now?

Which is it? Both. He was guaranteed $3m to fight Calzaghe. Was he guaranteed the more to fight Carl Daniels or Hakkar or Joppy or whichever other tomato can he fought instead?

[IMDAZED]

Which is it? Both. He was guaranteed $3m to fight Calzaghe. Was he guaranteed the more to fight Carl Daniels or Hakkar or Joppy or whichever other tomato can he fought instead?

He got close to 15mil in a two fight deal with GBP. " Kinda dampens your original statement of "When you turn down your highest purse to fight lesser fighters, its a duck. "

[slick23]

A duck is choosing to take the path of least resistance when a harder one is presented.

In both cases, the two fighters took the path of least resistance to reach their goal. In the case of Hopkins, his goal was Oscar and he didnt want to risk that fight so he fought bums. In Bradley's case it was Pacquiao, he didn't want to risk losing to Khan so he fought Casamayor.

When its certain fighters, they get called ducks, but with the likes of these two, of course, its "smart business".

Propaganda at its finest.

I'm not saying I like it, but hell what would you do if you got punched in the face for a living? There is no oversight in the sport, which allows this type of stuff to perpetuate.

I'm taking a page out of Teddy Atlas' book and clamoring for a commission. I know its wishful thinking but this is the reason why the sport is hurting at least in the states.
No legitimate ranking system. Too many hands in the pot, from the sanctioning bodies on down. When the sport is as crooked as it is this is the type of stuff your going to get. I think everybody wants to see these guys in the best matchups as possible , especially in their primes. Clean up the sport and you will see the good fights when there supposed to happen. Until then I'll always side with a guy like Floyd over someone like Bob Arum. Plenty of the people in the business are slime balls man. Now that the boxers are working the game to their benefit we point the finger and say "ducker" at every chance?

[Dirk Diggler UK]

He got close to 15mil in a two fight deal with GBP. " Kinda dampens your original statement of "When you turn down your highest purse to fight lesser fighters, its a duck. "

Sorry who did he get 15mil to fight? Carl Daniels and Morrade Haakar? Joppy? Which two of these fighters did he make 15mil fighting?

[Dirk Diggler UK]

I'm not saying I like it, but hell what would you do if you got punched in the face for a living? There is no oversight in the sport, which allows this type of stuff to perpetuate.

I'm taking a page out of Teddy Atlas' book and clamoring for a commission. I know its wishful thinking but this is the reason why the sport is hurting at least in the states.
No legitimate ranking system. Too many hands in the pot, from the sanctioning bodies on down. When the sport is as crooked as it is this is the type of stuff your going to get. I think everybody wants to see these guys in the best matchups as possible , especially in their primes. Clean up the sport and you will see the good fights when there supposed to happen. Until then I'll always side with a guy like Floyd over someone like Bob Arum. Plenty of the people in the business are slime balls man. Now that the boxers are working the game to their benefit we point the finger and say "ducker" at every chance?

Not saying it isn't "smart" but its smart in a pussified way. Its still a duck.

It doesn't not become a duck just because it may be advantageous to avoid hard fights.

[IMDAZED]

Sorry who did he get 15mil to fight? Carl Daniels and Morrade Haakar? Joppy? Which two of these fighters did he make 15mil fighting?

The three fight deal with Showtime extended his contract with King for one more fight, the last being the "big" payday against Calzaghe. Instead, when Hopkins wasn't able to secure the money he wanted for the new deal, he opted to let his contract play out (fighting yes, lower level fighters in Hakkar and Joppy) and immediately signed a two-fight deal with GBP that included a co-feature on an Oscar headliner (Robert Allen) and then Oscar himself.