Why didn't Joe Calzaghe & Sven Ottke ever fight?

[artfuL_]

After reading over the thread regarding Dariusz and Roy not ever fighting, it got me thinking of another all time great fight that would have broken all types of records (:P) not being made.

I speak of two of the most controversial undefeated Super-Middleweights of all-time.

Ottke held his IBF title from 98-04
Calzaghe held his titles from 97-07

Any reasons why they never fought? Were they ever close?

[teddycanyon]

Sven Ottke fought every single fight in his career in Germany. Repeat: EVERY SINGLE FIGHT in Germany. You get a fighter like that who's winning controversial decisions it's tough to convince anyone who already has a belt to come over to fight him.

[Rpgboxen]

Because Sven didn't wanna leave Deutschland.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Ottke had a string of robberies in Germany. In fact, most of them were against guys Calzaghe beat - Brewer, Mitchell and Robin Reid were all given bad decisions against them.

[SlySlickSmooth]

Ottke didn't want to get TKOd after evading 2 slaps.
Calzaghe didn't want to win to lose.

[artfuL_]

I understand Ottke fought at home and all times and received preferential treatment. But at anytime in their careers were they close to arranging a deal to fight at all.

Edit: Managed to find two arcticles from Calzaghe explaining he was chasing fights with Ottke in the past. Years of the article are dated 2003 and 2007.

http://www.boxingscene.com/calzaghe-...-record--11006
http://www.eastsideboxing.com/weblog/news.php?p=339&more=1

[bopbopbbe]

Would of been a good fight. They are about the same level of fighter.

[SN!PER]

Ottke's brutal destruction of Mundine struck fear into the Welsh Dragon's heart.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Ottke's brutal destruction of Mundine struck fear into the Welsh Dragon's heart.

I think you mean that Calzaghe's brutal destruction of Manfredo scared Sven into retirement.

[aldo5408]

Who would have won?