Calzaghe Set on Clash with Hopkins

[Cletus Funk]

WOW

You have no credibility. The drivel that you were spouting this time last year about Calzaghe applies 10 fold to Kessler yet you're all over his sack. Go away.

[SHB]

You're just another blind fan who makes the others look bad. You're outright deluded.

You're writing off Beyer, Lucas, Mundine and telling me Bika's better than anyone Kessler's fought?

You're Talking about how poor Kessler's last fights have been when I just pointed out Joe's latest fights include Ashira Viet and Saleem?

Nice play on dropping that "Omar Sheika" card.

The point is Kessler has earned his ranking by beating who's out there in his last 4 and 5 fights. That's a solid list for what's available at Supper Middle, and no matter how much you want to spin Beyer as shot, Kessler destroyed him.

I'm not saying Kessler deseves a higher ranking than Joe, or that his resume is better overall. He's 28.

The point I'm making is that he's put himself in a position where he's far and away the #1 contender for Joe's top spot, and that it's a very attractive match up at Supper Middle and for the entire sport.

There's no reason Joe should be brushing him off looking at faded fighters like Jones and Hopkins.

He said flat out last week he wants to break the defense record at 168. That should include the top Supper Middles available, and Kessler is far and away the biggest challenge now.

And you're an idiot. But never mind.

Kessler is the #1 challenger in terms of SMW, no doubt. I hope it happens.

[Bozo_no no]

You have no credibility. The drivel that you were spouting this time last year about Calzaghe applies 10 fold to Kessler yet you're all over his sack. Go away.

All over his sack by wanting to see the titles at 168 unified?

I have no credibility coming from a guy who just called Kessler slow?

Well played.

[SHB]

Bika's been pretty competitive in both his title attempts and he may well have gone on to beat Beyer so he's definitely got something. I don't think many fighters could look good against him.

Kessler is pretty strong and even though he hasn't fought any world class opponents it's still fairly clear to see that Joe at his best would work him to a comfortable UD. Kessler's fairly slow getting his punches off and Calzaghe would just pepper him and be gone, time after time. They're different levels of fighter really.

Agreed. Although Bika would never have won a point decision over Beyer in Germany.

Calzaghe of the Lacy fight beats Kessler. Calzaghe of the Salem/Ashira fights struggles. You have to predict the former though as he's proved that he gets up for the big fights.

[Cletus Funk]

All over his sack by wanting to see the titles at 168 unified?

I have no credibility coming from a guy who just called Kessler slow?

Well played.

I didn't say he was slow, I said he was slow to get his punches off. He isn't particularly quick though.

We all want to see unifications but legacy fights are still appealing and the Hopkins fight isn't going to get any easier to make by fighting Kessler first. We could have already seen JC v Kessler had he accepted Warren's £1.5m offer.

[FeelTheA-Force]

Kessler's last 5 opponents: Beyer, Lucas, Mundine Siaca Thyesse

Thyesse - brian magee beat him, and hes lost his last 3 recent fights in a row.

Siaca - Byron Mitchell TKO'd his ass and beat him on points 2nd time round.

Mundine - KO'd by Sven Ottke ENOUGH SAID !!!!

Lucas - fair play, hes been beat by good opposition.

Beyer - bum who gets gift wins, Richie Woodhall said calzaghe hit him harder!!

Kessler is the big fight at Super Middle.

You can say whatever you want, but it's the biggest fight out there in his division, a shot at having all 4 titles, and one of the most interesting match ups in the sport.

I'm not denying that's the case, nor was I directly referring to your posts... just the other scores of "Joe is scared" posts made in this thread.

I agree the prospect of a wholly unified SM is the most enticing match-up... but to see posters talk about Joe "fearing" Kessler is the sort of thing that should remain in the kindergarten IMO.

[Cletus Funk]

Agreed. Although Bika would never have won a point decision over Beyer in Germany.

Calzaghe of the Lacy fight beats Kessler. Calzaghe of the Salem/Ashira fights struggles. You have to predict the former though as he's proved that he gets up for the big fights.

He does make me worry sometimes though. That's 3 of his last 4 fights that he's been below par (I wasn't impressed with the 2nd Veit fight either). He always seems to find enough to win though.

[jangeorg]

Bika's been pretty competitive in both his title attempts and he may well have gone on to beat Beyer so he's definitely got something. I don't think many fighters could look good against him.

Kessler is pretty strong and even though he hasn't fought any world class opponents it's still fairly clear to see that Joe at his best would work him to a comfortable UD. Kessler's fairly slow getting his punches off and Calzaghe would just pepper him and be gone, time after time. They're different levels of fighter really.

"Kessler is WBC and WBA champ? I will have to fight him? Ohhh.... me cannot... me sick... me old..."

Riiiigth...

Fact is that Calzaghe has often looked like he did vs Bika. Bika was not exactly taylormade for calzaghe in terms of style, Lacy was. Bika was taylormade in the sense that he was a middleweight though.. but he still gave Joe a few problems.

Just like he would look VERY human against someone that can fight like Bika, Reid.. imagine Kessler... Ouch!!!!!

[Shanus]

Agreed. Although Bika would never have won a point decision over Beyer in Germany.

Calzaghe of the Lacy fight beats Kessler. Calzaghe of the Salem/Ashira fights struggles. You have to predict the former though as he's proved that he gets up for the big fights.

But look at the Salem/Ashira fight, he broke his hand fighting Ashira, and beat him with one hand just as easily as he did Lacy, same applies for his fight against Salem, he won every round except for 2 on my card, which was the knockdown and point deduction.

There are much worse fights to mention, but none to date.

And to say Kesslers opposition is equal to/better than Calzaghe's is ******, Kessler has two good names on his record, just two.

Calzaghe has a hand full.

Don't take the word 'good' out of proportion, I'm not saying he fought competition anywhere near the likes of what Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins did, (sarcasm, well done) but you get my point.