Calzaghe's next opponent revealed

[tntkid]

Joe Calzaghe will defend his WBO super middleweight title against Cameroon's Sakio Bika on 14 October at the MEN Arena in Manchester.

It will be the Welshman's first fight since beating America's Jeff Lacy in sensational fashion in March.

The 27-year-old Bika, who is based in Australia, has been defeated just once in 23 professional encounters.

Calzaghe has been promised a "mega fight" next February by promoter Frank Warren if he comes through unscathed.

From here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4786899.stm

[Xcel]

Of all the big names out there, this is the best Joe could come up with? He is at a point in his career that he should only fight names guys. Joe lost here folks.

[PATO 1]

this is pathetic he aint even a natural super-middleweight

[!!! Beowulf !!!]

Bika is actually a very decent fighter. He was starting to get the better of Beyer before the fight was called off. He probably deserves another title shot, so its a good fight for both parties.

[jangeorg]

That a *****

So much for Markussens chance... It'll never happen for this guy
Rudy Markussen has been the rightful mandatory for Calzaghe for over one year now

Many fighters have found themselves waiting years and years as mandatory, and WBO did nothing. That is another reason why WBO is a joke organisation and in the pockets of their champs

[moochi]

even though i'm an aussie, i'd much more see joe c fight markussen, as markussen is a natural smw and is a hard fighter!!

[jangeorg]

I remember a Calzaghe fan saying "Kessler and Taylor are not interesting for Calzaghe now. He is moving to LH to fight Hopkins or RJJ. Only mega fights from now on. Others said: "No, Kessler will not sell enough tickets - HBO is deciding and they want only mega names".

if this wasn't so sad, it would actually be funny...

[cupcrazy01]

In fairness to Calzaghe, who is available for this date for him? He had Glen Johnson on the docket, but of course that didn't come off, then Johnson took the Woods fight and Calzaghe was left twisting.

Obviously Kessler and Beyer are unavailable. Roy Jones wants a billion dollars and people would rip Calzaghe for fighting Jones anyway. Allan Green would be more acceptable than this (which, don't get me wrong, is VERY disappointing), but if he wasn't dropped by his sparring partner he would have the fight. Hopkins isn't coming out of retirement...yet. Taylor isn't moving up...yet. Winky? That is the one fight that could have been made and would be a megafight PPV, and I wish that would have happened, but that's boxing. All in all, it's a sad fight, but it's not like Calzaghe is turning down A list fighters left and right to fight a bum...there are/were very limited options with this fight.

[jangeorg]

In fairness to Calzaghe, who is available for this date for him? He had Glen Johnson on the docket, but of course that didn't come off, then Johnson took the Woods fight and Calzaghe was left twisting.

Obviously Kessler and Beyer are unavailable. Roy Jones wants a billion dollars and people would rip Calzaghe for fighting Jones anyway. Allan Green would be more acceptable than this (which, don't get me wrong, is VERY disappointing), but if he wasn't dropped by his sparring partner he would have the fight. Hopkins isn't coming out of retirement...yet. Taylor isn't moving up...yet. Winky? That is the one fight that could have been made and would be a megafight PPV, and I wish that would have happened, but that's boxing. All in all, it's a sad fight, but it's not like Calzaghe is turning down A list fighters left and right to fight a bum...there are/were very limited options with this fight.

Markussen (still rated at 168. #1 by the WBO)
Inkin
Froch
Mundine
Andrade

[Xcel]

In fairness to Calzaghe, who is available for this date for him? He had Glen Johnson on the docket, but of course that didn't come off, then Johnson took the Woods fight and Calzaghe was left twisting.

Obviously Kessler and Beyer are unavailable. Roy Jones wants a billion dollars and people would rip Calzaghe for fighting Jones anyway. Allan Green would be more acceptable than this (which, don't get me wrong, is VERY disappointing), but if he wasn't dropped by his sparring partner he would have the fight. Hopkins isn't coming out of retirement...yet. Taylor isn't moving up...yet. Winky? That is the one fight that could have been made and would be a megafight PPV, and I wish that would have happened, but that's boxing. All in all, it's a sad fight, but it's not like Calzaghe is turning down A list fighters left and right to fight a bum...there are/were very limited options with this fight.

I lost respect for him when he got "injured" and called off a fight he had with Johnson. A fight that he himself was trying to take on short notice not to allow Johnson time to train.