Had Calzaghe not ducked America

[IMDAZED]

Dirk Diggler UK,



Hi mate, I've seen that interview. It was recorded for Grandstand. But in my opinion, he was just telling the reporters what he thought they wanted to hear.

If you go and watch Roy's post fight interview with Merchant, after beating Woods, he makes his intentions clear. His options were either Ruiz or Tarver. At the time, he was waiting for Murad Muhammad to give him the green light from the Ruiz camp. Joe was never mentioned. Roy told Larry "The only thing that would stop the Tarver fight from taking place, is a John Ruiz fight. But it'll be Ruiz or Tarver next."

Realistically, he was never going to give up his 175 titles, and drop down in weight to fight Joe in Britain.

Joe should have made much more of an effort to try and secure that fight. He never fought in Roy's country or his weight class. He could have tried to have fought in America to get recognition, and he could have moved up to 175, to move up the rankings. Roy represented three organisations at 175. Joe could have become a mandatory like Woods.

Joe always had the attitude of - 'If a huge fight comes along, I'll take it.'

But the truth is, the opportunity was never going to present itself while he fought in Britain, defending the WBO belt at 168.

When Jones was in his prime, Calzaghe said on multiple occasions that he didn't want to fight him. Then when Jones started getting beat, Calzaghe wrote that he was washed up and not worth fighting.

[robertzimmerman]

Ya'll love to bring up the fact Hopkins and Roy were past prime...but so was Joe...And Roy was not 40 he was 39 and Guess what Joe was 37...so lets not act like Joe was in his prime and young...im mean just keep it real

Joe was 36, and Roy was 9 weeks away from his 40th birthday.

Roy had a lot more miles on the clock.

[robertzimmerman]

The location thing is funny too. The fact is the place where Joe Calzaghe could make the most money was Wales/The UK. It's the same with guys like Burns and Frampton now. Fighters don't leave their country often because that's where the money is. DUH.

If Calzaghe was offered more money to come to the US to fight, he would have. He accepted a fight with Hopkins in 2002 only for Bernard to double his demands and price himself out at the 11th hour.

You're right about the fact that Joe made more money in Britain. He was in a dilemma and I've always respected that.

There was obviously no guarantee that he could have fought Roy, had he left Britain and given up his belts.

However, unless he'd have done that, there was literally no chance whatsoever of fighting Roy back then. That's the truth.

Joe was asked in a documentary that's on YouTube - "would you fight in America for less money, but for more exposure?"

Joe's answer - "Not for less money. That doesn't make sense."

He couldn't see the bigger picture.

[robertzimmerman]

Well then he should not have taken the fight,he chose the fight and was not forced,why does Joe have to be the bad guy here??? he was freaking 37 with fragile hands fighting a 39 year old lets not act like it was a 25 year old fighting a 39 year old

Joe's the bad guy, because in 2007 he said that fighting Roy would be pointless.

Then just prior to his fight with Hopkins, he was interviewed on Setanta Sports. He was asked about the possibility of fighting Roy if he beat Bernard. Joe laughed that Roy was past his best, and also said that he'd be disappointed if Roy was to be his last fight.

Then just a few months later, he personally phoned up Roy to make the fight, even accepting a 50/50 deal to make it happen.

Joe was a scavenger in my opinion.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Dirk Diggler UK,



Hi mate, I've seen that interview. It was recorded for Grandstand. But in my opinion, he was just telling the reporters what he thought they wanted to hear.

If you go and watch Roy's post fight interview with Merchant, after beating Woods, he makes his intentions clear. His options were either Ruiz or Tarver. At the time, he was waiting for Murad Muhammad to give him the green light from the Ruiz camp. Joe was never mentioned. Roy told Larry "The only thing that would stop the Tarver fight from taking place, is a John Ruiz fight. But it'll be Ruiz or Tarver next."

Realistically, he was never going to give up his 175 titles, and drop down in weight to fight Joe in Britain.

Joe should have made much more of an effort to try and secure that fight. He never fought in Roy's country or his weight class. He could have tried to have fought in America to get recognition, and he could have moved up to 175, to move up the rankings. Roy represented three organisations at 175. Joe could have become a mandatory like Woods.

Joe always had the attitude of - 'If a huge fight comes along, I'll take it.'

But the truth is, the opportunity was never going to present itself while he fought in Britain, defending the WBO belt at 168.

Roy Jones also mentioned Calzaghe in a magazine interview as a possible opponent at 168. It wasn't just on the BBC in the UK.

I don't blame Calzaghe for having that attitude. He was making the most money he could fighting at home.

Your idea that he should just drop his title, go to America and fight to become a mandatory for Jones is not realistic on so many levels. He needed a big fight in order to become a name before he went to America - that didn't come until the Lacy fight, by which time Roy was already on the slide.

[Pacquiao'd]

Lennox Lewis fought almost all of his championship fights in America. Who let the spastics out tonight?

When they were far past prime though

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Joe's the bad guy, because in 2007 he said that fighting Roy would be pointless.

Then just prior to his fight with Hopkins, he was interviewed on Setanta Sports. He was asked about the possibility of fighting Roy if he beat Bernard. Joe laughed that Roy was past his best, and also said that he'd be disappointed if Roy was to be his last fight.

Then just a few months later, he personally phoned up Roy to make the fight, even accepting a 50/50 deal to make it happen.

Joe was a scavenger in my opinion.

Yeah he changed his mind when he saw his cheque for 10 million

[Juof]

ownage.

As for the thread in question, Joe needed to come to america, america didnt need to come to joe.

You make your name in america because everybody goes to america to seek fame and fortune when it comes to boxing.

Roberto Duran came to america.
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. came to america
Manny Pacquiao came to america
Lennox Lewis came to america
hell even the k brothers went to america.

Joe only came to america when the two guys in question were in their 40s. Those two 40 year olds subsequently dropped this overrated slap master.

Imagine what would have happened if they fought in their primes?

Audley didn't need to come to America to gain his fame and fortune

[Dirk Diggler UK]

When they were far past prime though

Lennox Lewis spent almost all of his prime years fighting in America. What the hell are you talking about?

Stick to Pacquaio/Mayweather threads because you're obviously completely lost on any other subject.

[titan m]

Hopkins did not "duck" Joe. B-Hop was a level above Joe in terms of high-profile fights and stats. And if joe showed the same lack of enthusiasm for that fight as he did for RJJ in that interview, then we know whose fault it was for the fight not happening.


Oh look: Roy Jones called me out for a fight at 168, hmm I guess I will defend my WBO Title against the P4P best if he chooses to come down to my weight (NOT). Way to be persistent in nailing down the biggest fight of your career. Oh well, at least he got to retire on a RJJ win getting sloppy seconds and tasting the canvas.

Its funny that you guys still cry about Calzaghe because he beat your hero, it was years ago, move on. Hopkins embarrassed himself, he couldn't deal with Calzaghe so he pretended to be hurt to get some breaks in the middle of the fight by rolling around in the ring and he even did it against the old Roy Jones you keep bringing up, then again against Dawson, its just old school tricks though right? Your hero is half boxer half actor/clown and got his ass beat by Calzaghe, its a fact so youll have to learn to live with it.