Super-Fight Planned For Calzaghe

Boxing Boxing Talk
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/5083628.stm

Promoter Frank Warren says Joe Calzaghe’s likely ring return in September will be a “huge fight”.
The WBO/IBF super middleweight champion pulled out of a 8 July show at the Millennium Stadium with a hand injury.

In his newspaper column Warren appeared to criticise the Welshman for the decision that cost him a lot of money, but he back-tracked in a BBC interview.

“When Joe fights in the autumn he’ll show again why he’s the best fighter I’ve ever been involved with,” he said.

"Of course I was disappointed when he pulled out of the Cardiff show, but you make the best of it - I’m glad he injured his hand before the fight rather than during it.

"Stupid people say silly things about Joe feigning injury, but he’s leaving a legacy and I want to see him in a couple more big fights where he can cement a position as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

Everyone will be pleased when they hear who Calzaghe will be facing, especially if our top target comes through

Frank Warren

"We have a couple of ideas about who he will meet but we’re keeping them quiet until the contract is signed.

"As soon as a name gets out the money they want goes up, but it will be a huge fight.

“Everyone will be pleased when they hear the name, especially if our top target comes through.”

The most likely dates for a Calzaghe return are 9 or 16 September, but rival super middleweight champions Markus Beyer (WBC) and Mikkel Kessler (WBA) are likely to be out of the running.

They have agreed in principle to meet each other in Denmark in October.

Roy Jones Jr has been vocal in calling for a fight with Calzaghe ahead of his fight with Prince Badi Ajamu next month, but he priced himself out of a potential 8 July meeting with the Welshman.

Glen Johnson, who was lined up for the Millennium Stadium show before Calzaghe’s withdrawal, is expected to face Clinton Woods - another potential Calzaghe target.

Bernard Hopkins would be a fascinating match following his recent win over Antonio Tarver, but ‘the Executioner’ insists that was his last fight.

That could leave the winner of this Saturday’s WBO/WBC middleweight clash between Jermain Taylor and Ronald ‘Winky’ Wright as Calzaghe’s number one target.

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Are we meant to beleive this.

He says this every damn week, then its put off for four weeks, then they name some fringe fighter, then its cancelled.

Lets say this is the truth…

Who will it be?

I most likely think it will be Bernard Hopkins.

Massive Pay Day for him, the chance to retire on the very top, all makes sense.

But where will it take place, as we know Joe doesnt like travelling, and I cant see it Bernard going to Wales or England…

Oh my head hurts… ;D

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Calzaghe against the winner of Taylor/Wright…that would be something. Hope Joe gets over his injuries and this fight which is the pick of the bunch happens. Fingers crossed as this would be a real chance for Joe to build on his last win and show everyone what he can do.

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I think even if he beat Winky or Jermaine he would still have his haters…

But your right, good post, cool click

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As much as I’d like to see Hopkins vs Calzaghe I reckon Bernard may be wise to avoid this one, Calzaghe’s work rate is incredibly high and it would be difficult to see how B Hop could do enough to win.

Winky would be too small to move up to 168 so we would have to hope Taylor beats him. Taylor Calzaghe could be a great fight.

I doubt anybody wants to see him in with Tarver now, Jones is a possibility if he beats the Prince, maybe the winner of Woods and Johnsonn.

Ultimately though I think the most likely opponent for Joe is Carl Froch. He wants the fight, he’s been calling Joe out for years and with his win over Magee he is now rated high enough with the major belts to warrant a title shot. I actually think that would be a great fight.

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Cool Click in 24 hours!

You summed it up really, and the promotion into a Battle of Britain, Master against Apprentice and all that would make a massive fight, wouldnt appeal majorly to the USA, but as we all know Joe doesnt care about that, and Froch just wants Joe, anywhere any time any place, it wouldnt be as easy i dont think for Joe, not in the early rounds beauce Frochs going to be very hungry, but i reckon joe takes him on a Unanimous Decision

Despite, Joe v Froch not being a major fight outside of UK, in UK it would be classed as a Super-Fight, and Warren knows this.

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hopkins v calzaghe would be an incredible fight!

i agree calzaghe’s work rate is high, the reason it was high in the lacy fight was cos lacy was coming foreword nonstop,

However, against hopkins, the fight will be more of a chess match, hopkins is too clever to take a beating like lacy, and we cant question his chin!

Hopkins could beat calzaghe, i think this one is very close though!

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Cool Click

I agree, Calzaghe has to raise his level again for Hopkins

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hopkins has done his work…

could possibly end up being calzaghe: jones jr, providing jones can win his next outing…

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I think Calzaghe will stop froch,Froch is to open he gets hit to much.I carnt see him talking Joe’s power for 12 rounds.

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Joes only real option would be taylor/wright but i don’t see it happening. I don’t think either would move up that quick after winning the undisputed title. He better hope taylor wins cause winky ain’t goin overseas no more and i don’t blame him.

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winky or taylor is just not an option… taylor is looking to cement himself in the division and wright is never gonna go to super middleweight…

its gonna be jones…i dont want it to happen but i can just envision it all now…

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calzaghe was open to fight Kelly pavlik but only offered like 20-30,000 euro or somthin ridiculus

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i do understand why u get the impression Jc doesn’t travel.. but he has never made out he wont travel. He just never wanted to go to the usa as some undercard fighter, when back at home his is the main event. Until your a fan fav it is very hard to think about going to the usa, fighting a very well known, liked, loved usa fighter there 'coz unless u knock them out you never know what way the judges will ‘see’ it…

Apart form lacy, who else of the people he has beaten would of been worth going to the usa to fight.. it would be some undercard in some half empty place, gaining 'lil attention (maybe his first round stoppage of mario veint purly on the basis of how he stopped the number 1 rank in the first round, but who was to know that would happen?)

He beat Eubank in england (thats like an american beating a canadian in canada)
he beat Will McIntyre in denmark and also veit in Germany.

So in fairness its not as if he has only ever fought in Wales (or england after he become a very big name in the UK) and the impression i got was after the lacy fight the plan was to real make a name for him self so he could go to the USA and top bills there…

but i do see where u and alot of others do get that impression from though

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im a huge calzaghe fan but even i know there is more to life than simply being a home favourite. i would like calzaghe to jump overseas and do his thing…

why should borders define where you fight? its nonsense really…a real champ earns the right to fight on the highest bill anywhere…

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A super fight ?

You gotta be kidding right ?

No One except us and his family know or care who sh*tty Froch is, its gonna be Bernard or Taylor Wright winner and itll be later than September

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I have no desire to see Calzaghe face anyone other than the winner of Kessler vs Beyer.

Wright nor Taylor need to fwock with moving up.

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I’m not sure if someone has mentioned it but Kessler Beyer is not yet a done deal as both have respective mandatories(Mundine for Kessler and someone for Byer)so,they need to sort that first.I think JC can beat them bith but whether the super fight alluded to is with the winner or RJJ remains to be seen.I don’t see JT or Winky leaving their division,I mean there are alot of great fights to be made there involving Sturm,Abraham etc etc

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Agreed The winner of Taylor and Wright or Hopkins are the only super fights out there.

Wait what about Kessler?

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The man that is being discussed is most definitely Winky Wright. Jermain ain’t leaving middleweight if he wins. If he wins, he begins defending the title, I don’t think he will move up. For what? The guy can probably make 3-5 mil a defense of HBO from now on if he wins. Plus, the guy is really young, there’s no way that he’s moving up. Winky doesn’t have a lot of big fights left from 154+, there’s a possible ODLH match and that’s it. Winky wants the fame and most importantly the big money that he has become accustomed to now. The fight is most definitely Winky Wright vs Joe Calzaghe.

BTW, I know it’s early, but if Winky beats Taylor and then beats Calzaghe, and ODLH beats Floyd, how much does anyone wanna bet that ODLH will hold off retirement one more time for a fight with Winky @ 160.