Warren: Taylor's management refused Calzaghe

[Abe Attell]

I really don't understand how it would make any difference. He'd still be on the same TV channel, what does it matter where the fight takes place?

obviously you don't live in the States...let me fill you in, Joe's fights haven't been shown here in some time because Showtime felt his fights were not worthy...one of the last few fights I saw him in he went the distance against a non-elite fighter, while not looking good in the process.


Not saying he is a bad fighter because he is not, but he should of displayed his full potential years ago...even if Ricky didn't do so well in his American "elite" debut, he at least tried while still in his youth

[GEOFFHAYES]

obviously you don't live in the States...let me fill you in, Joe's fights haven't been shown here in some time because Showtime felt his fights were not worthy

And why would they of suddenly been worthy if they were held in the States?

BTW I've seen the Showtime banners on most Calzaghe fights I can remember.

[DiegoFuego]

Why, may I ask?

Because boxing is here. This is boxing. Not there or there or there but right here in the U.S.

[GEOFFHAYES]

Because boxing is here. This is boxing. Not there or there or there but right here in the U.S.

I do not believe that Calzaghe's fights would of been more worthy if they were held in the States, it doesn't make sense. He's still fighting the same opponent on the same TV channel over there, right? Lol.

[Abe Attell]

And why would they of suddenly been worthy if they were held in the States?

BTW I've seen the Showtime banners on most Calzaghe fights I can remember.

Maybe people in the States are a bit fickle, but people forget fast here since "We" expect new and better things all the time...sad, but have to admit it is true.
Can't think of how long it has been since his last fight was shown before the Lacy fight, but it was long enough for people not to care, especially since Joe wasn't even that big of a name among the moderate fan; no name recognition at all amongst the common folk.

Fact is, "TALENT" shouldn't be wasted, and it seems Joe may have wasted some years staying cemented in Europe.
Joe could of easily captured the American audience

[DiegoFuego]

I do not believe that Calzaghe's fights would of been more worthy if they were held in the States, it doesn't make sense. He's still fighting the same opponent on the same TV channel over there, right? Lol.

Not at all. If he comes here, HBO picks him up almost guaranteed. HBO can make you a star overnight as long as you perform. Look at Paul Williams for example.

[Abe Attell]

Not at all. If he comes here, HBO picks him up almost guaranteed. HBO can make you a star overnight as long as you perform. Look at Paul Williams for example.

exactly, he could of been a "Star" if he came to the States years ago...he still can, but there is little time left in his career,

It has nothing to do with my being from the States, but I know that the big fights, and big money have been here for the past 100 years...when it changes and moves somewhere else, then I will say fighters should fight there

[GEOFFHAYES]

Not at all. If he comes here, HBO picks him up almost guaranteed. HBO can make you a star overnight as long as you perform. Look at Paul Williams for example.

HBO did try to sign him after the Eubank fight, but he turned down the chance to fight at Madison Square Garden in Dec '97 because he was still bashed up from the Eubank fight and they lost interest, they were about to sign him up again in '99 and work him towards a Jones Jr fight but lost interest again after the Reid fight (where Joe broke his hand in the fourth and fought **** for the rest of the fight), he then appeared on Showtime for the first time against Starie on the Tyson undercard.

Why would HBO of signed him up if he fought the same opponents on the same TV channel but in the States? What difference would it make?

[jangeorg]

I have never had an Alt. And that's pretty rich coming from Cpt. Alt, don't you think?

You can say whatever you want. He was a homer with a **** resume calling out eliter fighters to come and fight him in his back yard.

That's the same thing as not wanting the fights.

If he wanted those kind of fights, he would have done what Hatton's doing now and flew over to the US to start building a name in bigger fights.

He didn't do that because he had no interest.

Now, at 34, his career defining fight was agaisnt a green fighter, and he's yet to share the ring with an elite fighter in their prime.

When it's all said and done you'll have nothing but these "what if's".

I don't think it is a matter of "nobody is ever happy". Joe is imo. a great fighter but let's be honest here... his opposition hasn't been as godo as it could have been for the longest reigning champion in boxing.

Instead of Pucker, Ashira, Bika etc. etc. he could have taken real fighters from the top 10. Instead of Bika (who is not even ranked in top 15 neither MW or SMW) it is very possible to find a real fight. Inkin would be interesting, Bute would too, Woods, RJJ (Joe would win, but would still get some credit for the name), Mendy (not very known yet, but real fans would probably recognize that he is ranked for a reason where Bika is not), Markussen. Adamek, Johnson, Erdei, Branco are others if Joe really wants to fight at LH, like he has been saying for the last severa lyears. These and a few others would do more for Joe's resume.

Had Joe been a contender Bika could be accepted, but he is the longest reigning champ in the game.

And the funny thing is that the one that looses the most from taking Bika instead of a real top 15 fighter is Joe himself. I think he would beat almost all the names above as easilly as Bika, but at least they would help his resume. Bika just attracts a lot of criticism and I really don't get it. Warren apparently thinks more about money than Joe's legacy - which is a pity for Joe. Look at Hatton's fight since he got the first belt! And he is even a young champ that could be excused more. Perhaps Joe needs to ditch Warren as well.

[uppercut_84]

Actually I think the problem is with Frank Warren. He feeds his boxers bums for years, until he gets them a meaningful fight.

I mean, Ricky Hatton had to fight 39 fighters, before he fought Kostya for the world title. Joe Calzaghe could be have gone to USA 5 years ago and possibly been a bigger star.

In my opinion, a better promoter in the UK is Frank Maloney, who was also Lennox Lewis promoter. Frank Maloney is the promoter of David Hayes, who won the silver medal at the 2001 World Amateur Championships. His the type of promoter that can get the big fighs early on and get exposure for the fighter. David Haye is now set to fight Cruiserweight Champion O'Neil Bell.