Good news. Calzaghe has at least hinted that he'll have more than one fight, now that he's at a level where other ppl are calling him out. Don't like all the talk that he was being ducked forever and now tey're all getting brave. But now that ppl are calling Calzaghe out, let's see how he reacts.
Don't know about anyone else but wouldn't it be good if he defended both super middle and light heavy Ring titles. He has the pick of anyone he wants.
I would look out for Edison Miranda if he beats Arthur Abraham in Florida this June. Or Kelly Pavlik. For super middleweight. Joe definitely needs a really convincing win over a top 10 sort up at light heavyweight, if he was to be a convincing light heavy champ.
If he has a couple more bouts, what weight, and against whom, will they be? It would be really bad if he just went for RJJ and out, now that everyone wants to fight him.
Joe Calzaghe returned to Britain on Tuesday and hinted he may prolong his career beyond one last 'super-fight'.
The Welsh super-middleweight king, 36, defeated Bernard Hopkins on his light-heavyweight debut after a split decision in Las Vegas last weekend.
Roy Jones Jr could be the next big bout but it may not be Calzaghe's last.
"You never know," he said. "To be honest it's probably one more fight. They are the famous last words of many fighters, we'll have to wait and see."
Calzaghe has emphasised how important his unbeaten record is - he has 45 wins from 45 - and has also previously spoken about looking ahead to life outside the ring.
But, when asked if he could go beyond one more fight, he gave a glimmer of hope to fans who want to see more.
Calzaghe's immediate plans are to "chill out" on holiday before assessing his options.
Antonio Tarver, the IBF light-heavyweight world champion, is one of those who have publicly sounded out Calzaghe, along with former four-weight world champion Jones.
"It's amazing. For so many years I was avoided and all of a sudden everyone wants to fight me," Calzaghe said.
"It's a great position to be in, I'm going to enjoy this win and go on holiday.
"At the start of the year I said I wanted two big fights and I've got one out of the way. Roy Jones Jr is a possibility.
"I'll weigh it up but the next fight is going to have to be a super-fight."
The Newbridge boxer also has to review the footage of his split-decision victory against Hopkins as he has not watched a recording yet.
He will get a chance on Sunday as the BBC have announced they are screening the entire fight at midday.
As light-heavyweight world number one - to add to the undisputed super-middleweight crown he still owns - Calzaghe will then have his pick of who to face next.
"Where can we go? The world has absolutely opened up for Joe," explained Enzo Calzaghe, his father and trainer.
"There are a lot of choices to make when we come back from holiday.
"We have choices after that performance - America, Manchester, Cardiff. There is huge variety. The big fights are there now.
"His legacy has been achieved now, there is nothing more to achieve. He's the main man and they're all after him, they are all coming out."
Calzaghe will also reflect on what he achieved in the Nevada desert, coming back against Hopkins after getting knocked down in the opening round.
"That's what champions do - find a way out to win," Calzaghe added. "It wasn't [Mikkel] Kessler or [Jeff] Lacy but I knew it wouldn't be.
"It's very hard to perform against someone with a very negative outlook, he came into the fight to spoil and pose."
Does Calzaghe seriously think that we all would believe that he was going to quit this year, after one more fight or so?
Joe may have been a 'champion' (I use that word through gritted teeth) for years, but he's never really made the kind of money his talent deserved because he forgot to apply for a passport in the 1990's.
He's now lining up all the battles he should have had 8 - 9 years ago & getting paid handsomely for it.
He is not going to quit whilst he can get paid for beating up old SMW dinosaurs from the 1990's.
He will still be fighting in 2 years +, mark my words, especially as top fighters fight so infrequently these days.
i cant seejoe struggling to SM again,i can perhaps see him fighting pavlik at catchweight. he may even opt for RJJ then tarver.....shame clinton lost, he could have had a piece of the pie...
joes taken his whole career to get here, and now that hes arrived at the pinnacle, why would he bow out after one more fight? unless he starts showing serious signs of deterioration, now is the time to be doing great things. he can pick and choose his opponents and theres plenty to choose from, and joe would probably start favorite over anyone right now
rhino222 wrote:i cant seejoe struggling to SM again,i can perhaps see him fighting pavlik at catchweight. he may even opt for RJJ then tarver.....shame clinton lost, he could have had a piece of the pie...
Don't know about catchweight. It would have to be for the super middle title if it was Pavlik. Pavlik doesn't like catchweights - as with the Taylor fight - as you're fighting for less.
Here's my idea. Have the big super middle fight first - hopefully Pavlik but let's see what the world thinks of Miranda IF he smashes up Abraham in June, in America. Millennium Stadium isn't available to have a big US fight again.
Then have the light heavy cash in at home. Bound to be Jones or Tarver.
Rematch Kessler in the US or Europe (Kessler probably still is the only one that people really believe has the potential to beat Joe)
Fight Mundine (this is very unlikely to happen, but Mundine is a younger and curently better version of RJJ - and if Joe doesn't fight him there could be the argument that Joe has never met this superfast type of fighter - and if he takes RJJ instead (which is likely) then people will just say he wa old (which he is).
Fight Tarver (Tarver is boring and annoying, but he does have a couple of belts and has beaten RJJ and Johnson, so by beating him Joe can say he has beat the man who beat the men.. Most people know Tarver isn't all that, but afterall he beat Woods last time out)
Fight RJJ (Roy is old - he is older than Hopkins Well - in boxing terms.. But, it would almost be a missing name if Joe didn't fight him. Of course poeople will say he was old, but I would probably do it anyway if I was Joe ... and I think h will).
Fight one of the Cruisers (now this is a bold proposition, but I actually think Joe could beat any of them and if he attempted that and won it would be impressive and would cement an ATG status. And I actually think he would get a lot of publicity and he would really get poeople behind him because everyone would love the story and would love to see if he could do it. It is good Haye is gone because that would be too dangerous, but there are opportunities. It may be risky, but that is what makes it VERY interesting.)
Calzaghe vs Haye would be something.... cannot see it happen, think Calzaghe will have too much sense - but my word it would be a massive fight, our very own DLH vs Mayweather, or Hopkins vs Mayweather.
These are the fights I would like to see Joe take on - in this order
Hopkins
Pavlik
Froch
Kessler Rematch
Jones Jnr
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Can absolutely forget the rest. Tarver lost EMPHATICALLY to Hopkins, Mundine hasn't exactly been the best of champions, lost clearly to Kessler.
Any other cruiser - who are they... unless maybe he can get James Toney back at the weight.
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My reasons for these fights.
Hopkins - Unfinished business, a fair few thought Joe lost
Pavlik - Not that proven, is in pole position to take over the mandle for the next generation
Froch - A British thing, Froch beats Inkin and gets a belt then I think he should call out Joe - just as the public want Hatton vs Witter
Kessler II - Did experience ultimately cost Kessler... it did look like he had the tools to beat Joe.... similar situation to why people wanted to see Hamed vs Ingle II
Jones Jnr - Money and he might have the style to cause trouble.
Calzaghe could be in danger of going on too long. He is definitely showing signs of being in decline and slowing down a step. If we wants to keep this unbeaten record of his he needs to know when to pack it in. He doesn't want to be another Roy Jones.
nickd wrote:Calzaghe could be in danger of going on too long. He is definitely showing signs of being in decline and slowing down a step. If we wants to keep this unbeaten record of his he needs to know when to pack it in. He doesn't want to be another Roy Jones.
$$$ though mate, especially as his divorce cost him quite a large amount didn't it? I'm wondering if he will still be shelling half of what he earns even now?
I`d said many times before - he has always been more influenced by the money more than his legacy.
He won`t retire undefeated now - there is too much money on the table.
The whole claim he said he`d quit undefeated was because he didn`t want to lose for £350,000 .. he won`t mind losing for £3.5million though
He can generate multi-million dollar/pound purses now, so it will be very hard to turn down 3-5million quid wouldn`t it.
Roy Jones jr.
Hopkins return.
Kelly Pavlik
Tarver maybe??
Joe is talented, but has shown he can be dropped and by guys that are not renowned for being big punchers...Haye is a massive puncher, and also has genuine skill. If he was a lumbering oaf who Joe could dance around without any worry of getting tagged then yeah I understand, but imagine Haye landing a bomb on Joe's chin?
Calzaghe fans would NOT like the outcome of that at all.
A fight that could feasibly end within 3 rounds, with Joe out cold...NOT a great way to end your career.
Haye is too big for him.
Take Pavlik and then either rematch Kessler or my personal favourite, take on Froch in a Battle Of Britain to end your career.
Super middle - Miranda (provided he beats Abraham in spectacular fashion on HBO) or Pavlik. Both are pretty big punchers with styles that suit Joe.
Light heavy - Johnson or Tarver. Johnson if you want to see a fight, Tarver if you want one of those biog events where you turn up to see the gobby bloke lose.
One defence of each title, at least, I'd like.
Forget Kessler - Joe has already beaten a prime Kessler. Forget RJJ, when Johnson and Tarver are still going strong (relatively). Forget Haye - Joe's lack of power could land him in bother at 175-pounds, never mind vs a natural heavyweight!
I preferred Joe-Hopkins to Taylor-Hopkins. Joe was more assertive than Taylor and a bit more accurate vs a stronger-looking (as in moved up to light heavyweight) Hopkins.
yiddo14 wrote:Calzaghe v Haye is pretty ludicrous.
Joe is talented, but has shown he can be dropped and by guys that are not renowned for being big punchers...Haye is a massive puncher, and also has genuine skill. If he was a lumbering oaf who Joe could dance around without any worry of getting tagged then yeah I understand, but imagine Haye landing a bomb on Joe's chin?
Calzaghe fans would NOT like the outcome of that at all.
A fight that could feasibly end within 3 rounds, with Joe out cold...NOT a great way to end your career.
Haye is too big for him.
Take Pavlik and then either rematch Kessler or my personal favourite, take on Froch in a Battle Of Britain to end your career.
Oh yeah... it is rediculous - but could you imagine the coverage. I believe that if it got on terrestial TV it would be on the cover of the TV times... something I don't think has happend since Hagler vs Leonard.
Forgot to mention Bute - his style would cause alot of trouble and he for me is the second best Super Middleweight out there (especially whilst Kessler regroups).
