Calzaghe a hypocrite ?

[whiskey]

I've been reading a lot about Joe and a couple of facts spring to mind.

For the last few years i've read nothing but 'All the big American's refused to fight me, they were offered good money to come to Cardiff' and that peed me off a bit, because why the heck should the guys with the big HBO deals, packing out Vegas come to Cardiff to fight a bloke with a WBO bauble ?

'I've been champion for 10 years' Zzzz. 'I want the big fights, the American champions and pound for pound stars from now' ....

And now i read that Joe's wishes have finally came true. That Kelly Pavlik, arguably the biggest name in American boxing at the moment has stepped and publicly said he will fight Calzaghe, not only that he will come to Cardiff to make it happen. Also we read about Antonio Tarver, saying his preference is Calzaghe next and he's willing to go to Cardiff too.

So, you'd think that his Christmas's all came at once wouldn't you ? So why am i now reading that Calzgaghe wants the washed-up , faded 1990's star Roy Jones ?

I believe that he's a hypocrite of the highest order - and now he has all the big guns bashing his door down to fight him, he has chosen a man who is 40 years old and will have almost a year of rust to shake off when he steps into the ring to fight.

A guy who has lost 3 of his last 6 fights and was knocked out BADLY in 2 of those defeats.

But the biggest thing that gets me going is what he wrote about Jones (apparently) in his 'Ordinary Joe' biography :-

''Although he is still active, I would never want to fight now. He's not the same fighter and I'd nothing to gain by beating a shadow of what he once was. Jones was a great fighter in his day and a great name, but he's been knocked out twice, knocked out cold. What would I have to gain knocking him out for a third time.'' Joe in his autobiography last year 2007.

And now this month, the tune suddenly changes to this :-

"Talks are ongoing about me facing Roy Jones, a genuine legend of boxing and a previous four-weight world champion. That is a fight that I think can be made. I think Jones is the right fight for me at the moment." Joe in June 08

Thoughts ?

[whiskey]

And Jones is not much better...

The guy was ringside for Marcus Beyer's 'return' to the ring.

'Marcus Beyer is a wonderful fighter. It would be a pleasure to fight in Germany against their champion' he said as he whored himself for another payday.

[Eraserhead]

Joe's confusing. I love the Calzaghe who took the Lacy and Kessler fights - young, ambitious fighters with lots of hype and interest. But I dislike the Calzaghe who is looking to cash in and ride off with fights like Hopkins and Jones. Hey, everyone's entitled to make some dough but, being so close to creating a real legacy in his latter-30s, I'd have expected Joe to continue seeking challenges. Especially as Pavlik is ready and waiting. A win over Jones means absolutely nothing. At least Hopkins was still winning and consensus number one at 175 when he fought (and beat) Calzaghe. Jones is on the senior's tour.

[Asterix]

He's not a hypocrite for choosing Jones Jr as his last fight. Maybe he's a hypocrite for decisions prior, but not for his last fight.

[Poncey]

He's not a hypocrite for choosing Jones Jr as his last fight. Maybe he's a hypocrite for decisions prior, but not for his last fight.

I love Joe, but he is mate, I'm sad to say. In his book he states that a fight with RJJ would be pointless as he's finished. The book was written 2 years ago so I fail to see how he's got better since then. That irked me a little.

[thaibox uk]

He was quick enough to slag woods off when there was talk of him fighting old man jones
in a rematch and that was 18 months or more ago.

[Asterix]

He's not a hypocrite for choosing Jones Jr as his last fight. Maybe he's a hypocrite for decisions prior, but not for his last fight.

I love Joe, but he is mate, I'm sad to say. In his book he states that a fight with RJJ would be pointless as he's finished. The book was written 2 years ago so I fail to see how he's got better since then. That irked me a little.

I didn't know he had said that.

[whiskey]

Lets not forget :-

Little old Clinton travelled to Oregon and fought the pound for pound no1 Roy Jones 6 years ago.

Yet Joe reckons he couldn't get the fight with Jones back then? my arse.

[Gray-Fox]

Joe Calzone is a twat.

[Autobarn]

Good thread, Gomez. It's interesting to hear these conflicting and contradictory statements.

I think Jones has given ppl the illusion that he is all the way back by beating Tito in one of those seniors tour, I-can-no-longer-make-the-weight, catchweight jokes of a fight. That will be it, that Jones "beat a legend" & is now ready for the top level. Which is total nonsense, of course.

[Chambers2]

Pavlik was the most meaningful fight he could have took IMO. RJJ is the safer and the more financially lucrative option, Pavlik was the fight where he'd gain the most respect though IMO. The RJJ fight is happening at least 5 years too late

[observer1]

Joe Cazalghe is my favorite British fighter, but come on, the guy is just a waste of talent and has wasted his career. What he is doing now just for money, i will be the first to say he has no right to been in the same sentence as the world Legend.

Instead of fighting Hopkins, Tito, Tarver and RJJ etc. when they were all in their Primes, he decided to fight average fighters.

If he wants to avoid Pavlik and go for RJJ for the financial route, so be it, i would do the same thing, but just don't claim to be the true champion and legend killer, because it's just dumb.

[whiskey]

He got his arse kicked and his nose broke in Vegas and thought hang about, if this 43 year old can beat the daylights out of me... then what about the man, who beat the man, who beat the man ?

Thats why Pavlik is out and Jones is in.

[Dioufy]

Nose broke, please provide proof on that?

[Coco]

His nose weren't broke

[Asterix]

If his nose was broken we would have at least seen signs of it in the post fight press conference, but Joe was fine.

[Ezzard]

Anyone remember Ben Johnson reclaiming his speed miraculously overnight?

[Captain Hook]

He got his arse kicked and his nose broke in Vegas and thought hang about, if this 43 year old can beat the daylights out of me... then what about the man, who beat the man, who beat the man ?

Thats why Pavlik is out and Jones is in.

What a bullshit and ignorant post. He's the best we've got, show a bit more respect.

I agree about the Jones points but nobody can argue with his last two wins.

[observer1]

He got his arse kicked and his nose broke in Vegas and thought hang about, if this 43 year old can beat the daylights out of me... then what about the man, who beat the man, who beat the man ?

Thats why Pavlik is out and Jones is in.

What a bullshit and ignorant post. He's the best we've got, show a bit more respect.

I agree about the Jones points but nobody can argue with his last two wins.

He is the Best we have got, but that does not mean we must back him up in whatever he claims.

OK, so he is not as bad as Hatton, but still, you must say, as Britain's "Best", he should have at least fought the best when he AND his opponents were in their prime.

Im sorry, im not going to be a lemming like so many British fans are. Calzaghe has wasted his career, if you cannot see that, you're either blind or naive.

[black panther]

Yeah I was gutted when he declared he would not fight Pavlik. Surely there is tons of cash with that fight as well? I suppose Joe sees it as more reward less risk for a fight with Jones Jr. But the thing is I think Calzaghe is on the decline too and I'd give Jones Jr a chance to beat him. Wouldn't it be funny if after taking the so called "easier" option he got beat!

[stujones]

What a bullshit and ignorant post. He's the best we've got, show a bit more respect.

I agree about the Jones points but nobody can argue with his last two wins.

Thats if you think he actually won these fights.

[Captain Hook]

He got his arse kicked and his nose broke in Vegas and thought hang about, if this 43 year old can beat the daylights out of me... then what about the man, who beat the man, who beat the man ?

Thats why Pavlik is out and Jones is in.

What a bullshit and ignorant post. He's the best we've got, show a bit more respect.

I agree about the Jones points but nobody can argue with his last two wins.

He is the Best we have got, but that does not mean we must back him up in whatever he claims.

OK, so he is not as bad as Hatton, but still, you must say, as Britain's "Best", he should have at least fought the best when he AND his opponents were in their prime.

Im sorry, im not going to be a lemming like so many British fans are. Calzaghe has wasted his career, if you cannot see that, you're either blind or naive.

Excuse me pal I just said I agreed about the Jones points, but he is the best fighter we have at this moment and is AGAIN getting too much stick.

He didn't have his nose broken and wasn't beaten up......he's never been "beaten-up" in his career.

He has just beaten Lacy, Kessler and Hopkins - a lot of people on here had him down to lose to all three - and you're still moaning? So who should he have fought besides a prime Roy Jones?

Marcus Beyer? Possibly Sven Ottke, but we all know he's have beaten them both - easily.

I'm not blind or naive, and I'm also not a joyless and negative cretin....

[Captain Hook]

What a bullshit and ignorant post. He's the best we've got, show a bit more respect.

I agree about the Jones points but nobody can argue with his last two wins.

Thats if you think he actually won these fights.

Which one did he lose? You've been quite argumentative this week Stu, so I'll bet you say the Lacy fight!

[Wales]

I think Stu is talking about Jones' last two fights, although he beat Tito and Hanshaw pretty handily.

[Captain Hook]

I think Stu is talking about Jones' last two fights, although he beat Tito and Hanshaw pretty handily.

Yeah there was no disputing who won them, I think Stu had Hopkins beating JC last time out didn't you Stu? Which is far enough, though I had JC by 2 rounds, despite the knockdown.