Calzaghe relinquishes world title (WBC @ 168)

[Chambers2]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7489353.stm

Joe Calzaghe has vacated his WBC super-middleweight title to free him up for a potential fight with Roy Jones Jr at light-heavyweight later in the year.

He has given up the title rather than take the mandatory defence against fellow British fighter Carl Froch.

Calzaghe still holds his WBA and WBO belts. Froch will face Jermain Taylor for the title later this year.

Veteran American legend Jones claims he and Welsh two-weight world champion Calzaghe will clash on 20 September.

Calzaghe is unbeaten in 45 contests and a fight with Jones, possibly in Las Vegas, would be the Welshman's career swansong.

The Newbridge-based Calzaghe is currently big box office in the United States following his points win - and debut at light-heavyweight - over Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas in April.

At the end of June, Calzaghe split with long-term promoter allegedly saying he would now manage himself.

Announcing the split with Warren in his newspaper column, Calzaghe said: "My intention is to fight Roy Jones Jr, a four-weight world champion fighter.

"That would be a special event for me against a legend of the sport."

[Poncey]

Isn't 20/09 abit short notice for both now? Only gives them 11 weeks.

[Captain Hook]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7489353.stm

Joe Calzaghe has vacated his WBC super-middleweight title to free him up for a potential fight with Roy Jones Jr at light-heavyweight later in the year.

He has given up the title rather than take the mandatory defence against fellow British fighter Carl Froch.

Calzaghe still holds his WBA and WBO belts. Froch will face Jermain Taylor for the title later this year.

Veteran American legend Jones claims he and Welsh two-weight world champion Calzaghe will clash on 20 September.

Calzaghe is unbeaten in 45 contests and a fight with Jones, possibly in Las Vegas, would be the Welshman's career swansong.

The Newbridge-based Calzaghe is currently big box office in the United States following his points win - and debut at light-heavyweight - over Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas in April.

At the end of June, Calzaghe split with long-term promoter allegedly allegedly saying he would now manage himself.

Announcing the split with Warren in his newspaper column, Calzaghe said: "My intention is to fight Roy Jones Jr, a four-weight world champion fighter.

"That would be a special event for me against a legend of the sport."

There are getting to be fewer and fewer surprises in this sport....

[1southpaw]

looks like calzaghe has pooed it from froch???
it's the same as when he wanted to fight collins and collins said he wanted a big money fight with jones

[stujones]

No, I don't believe Joe has poo'ed it from Froch. Kelly Pavlik though, thats a different matter.

[Max Molyneux]

No, I don't believe Joe has poo'ed it from Froch. Kelly Pavlik though, thats a different matter.

He wouldn't poo It from either, he'd easily outbox both.

Pavlik's only just come onto the world scene, Calzaghe wouldn't get downed by Taylor and then struggle In the rematch which should of been a draw at most.

[Autobarn]

The thing with Joe is, he had mandatories queueing up to fight him. Joe has never fought an opponent he didn't choose to fight (IMO). Having all those belts, if he wanted to keep 'em, would have taken the opposition he was fighting out of his control. WBO belt, fight who the heck you want, Ring mag belt, fight whoever you want, but the other belts would have made him fight someone.

[stujones]

Enzo's two statements on Kelly Pavlik last month did not exactly do Joe alot of favours with critics or the PR.

If Joe is going to go into promoting, he's got to sort out his PR.

First KELLY was scared, despite Kelly calling out Calzaghe BEFORE Enzo made the PR... then its he's not worthy... but then a guy ranked about #5 at Light Heavy without a win against a top ten opponent since like 2003? is worthy.

[THEBUTCH]

Calzaghe's come full circle. Collins ducked out on Joe all those years ago and now Calzaghe has shamed himself by ducking out of Froch. What a joke! Sums up the vast majority of "championship" career.

Taylor couldn't "down" Calzaghe ? Don't make me laugh, if Mitchell, Hopkins and that obscure Egyption guy can do it, you bet your last pound Jermain Taylor could do it. Taylor's much better than Jeff Lacy and would represent arguably Calzaghe's best opponent in his whole career.

It speaks volumes for Froch that he wants to BEGIN his career against such a dangers fighter.

[Autobarn]

Calzaghe wanted Taylor last year, but Taylor held out for millions and millions and Joe did what we all were asking and fought Kessler.

It's the Pavlik fight that is such a shame. All those times Joe said he wanted the big fights, that the big boys were ducking out of fighting him, then choosing a washed up Jones over Pavlik.


Re dropping the belt: the key to Joe's success has been having a good level of control over whom the challengers are. That has helped his longevity, along with his fitness and his considerable talent. Basically he's never been forced to fight an up and coming contender, and this is the big gap on his record. Most of his career he fought fringe contenders, not world class contenders. Sure he beat Lacy, Kessler and Hopkins and that makes him a deserving top 10 p4p fighter, but there is a big question mark how he goes down in history because of the challengers, many of whom should not have been approved by the WBO and the Board of Control (IMO).

[Flav1]

Calzaghe's come full circle. Collins ducked out on Joe all those years ago and now Calzaghe has shamed himself by ducking out of Froch. What a joke! Sums up the vast majority of "championship" career.

Taylor couldn't "down" Calzaghe ? Don't make me laugh, if Mitchell, Hopkins and that obscure Egyption guy can do it, you bet your last pound Jermain Taylor could do it. Taylor's much better than Jeff Lacy and would represent arguably Calzaghe's best opponent in his whole career.

It speaks volumes for Froch that he wants to BEGIN his career against such a dangers fighter.

bit harsh. Calzaghe is at the end of his career. You know boxing isn't about a match up between the champ and the most deserving. Froch, unfortunately, isn't a draw on the world stage, Jones Jr is a fight that Joe can market until the cows come home. Even if Froch proves to be world class, he'll be way way behind Pavlik in rights to a shot at joe. Froch should forget about fighting calzaghe and concentrate on building his own legacy for after Joe leaves the sport. If he gets his fight against Taylor it;ll do wonders for his pull and he'll be the enviable position of being able to pick his opponents, should he win It's very very easy to say 'I'm being ducked' when you're chasing the big fight.

[Autobarn]

The bitterly disappointing thing is that Calzaghe has the chance to be the p4p, #1. Joe is commonly ranked 2 behind #1 Pac. Pac got massive credit for beating a bigger man, albeit a very poor world champion in David Diaz.

Calzaghe could have used his experience vs massive hitter, middleweight champ & Ring mag #7 p4p Kelly Pavlik. But has opted to fight a guy he already dimissed as not being any good any more, Jones Jr.

[Max Molyneux]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... 383441.ece

Well Frank hasn't wrote anything bad about Joe for leaving him In that article anyway.

[Flav1]

I know Amir Khan watched the Diaz fight and he now appreciates the standard he has to match if he is to become world No 1.

I still believe in 12 months’ time, he’ll have improved so much he’ll be ready for the likes of the Pac Man.'

[Autobarn]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... 383441.ece

Well Frank hasn't wrote anything bad about Joe for leaving him In that article anyway.

Maybe they've signed confidentiality agreements, to prevent a lot of sniping after the split up.

Or maybe they parted on fairly good terms (considering Warren's disappointment).

[DIRT SUGAR]

It's Jones for Calzaghe next, then he'll retire. 100 per cent certain of it.

[Flav1]

He's said as much. Would be a shame for him to bow out without beating Pavlik though (and he would beat him).