JOE CALZAGHE SAYS: I’m giving up WBO belt

[GazMan85]

No more JC at SMW. Have a look at his column in the South Wales Argus.


http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/ ... _WBO_belt/

[hitman_hatton1]

2 weeks shy of 11 yrs.

bit gutted he's gonna retire after jones.

ideally i'd like to see him stick around for another year.

fight pavlik and that tarver-dawson winner.

maybe slip a summer fight against glen johnson in there.

job done.

[mark thompson]

Best champion fighter we've had in years !!!

[DavidPayne]

Great fighter.

Mediocre resume.


Catley, Beyer, Ottke, Mundine, Lucas, Reid II, Froch, Eastman, Pavlik, Woods, Johnson, Echols, Vanderpool were all at one time or another were more credible, interesting or valuable fights than the ones he took at the corresponding times.

I hope he retires with his record in tact, he's worked hard to get to where he is, nobody coudl question his dedication as a fighter but he's bypassed the bigger, prime fights in exchange for longevity of his unbeaten record which could well have gone against Jones Jnr. Michelsweski, Ottke, Reid II.

He fought Brewer and Mitchell once Ottke had beaten them. As WBO champ he'd have been allowed to go up to 175 for fights with the big boys without losing his belt....he didn't do it. Instead tried to get the likes of Telesco to come down to 168 on short-notice.

Jimenez, Pudwil, Thornberry, Manfredo, Bika......

He's the most frustrating fighter of his generation. I admire him and resent him in equal measure.

[jammidodger]

i bet he cries when he gives it up!!!

*holds up his lighter for calzaghe and the wbo*

[Chambers2]

bit gutted he's gonna retire after jones.

I wouldn't take that as gospel, you know what these boxer types are like! It'll just cost his paymasters an extra couple of £M to get him out of retirement

[deadpan]

A very perceptive overview from Mr Payne.

And he's been in some real stenchers during his reign-

Thornberry, Starie, Jimenez, Salem, Ashira, Bika

and some tawdry mismatches -

Pudwill, Manfredo, McIntyre, Mkrchian.

He didn't look anywhere near dominant enough against a few fading forces -

Reid, Woodhall, Brewer, Hopkins

So in 11 years his notable wins have been against Lacy (who looks worse each fight), Eubank (on the slide and at very late notice), Sheika (only ever fringe world class) and Kessler (solid but not spectacular).

[stujones]

Good post, David.... I agree. Personally, I believe that there is a reason for his mediocore resume, a reason why he didn't fight Toney at all, Echols at all (and several others), and Hopkins and Jones in 2008. Same reason why Hamed never fought Marquez and Khan avoided a puncher untill Prescott.

We will nerver find out... although I my frustration against this legacy tends to get put into a "anti Calzaghe personal bias" by my mates in the pub when discussing Joe. Which it is not, I think his defensive weaknesses would have got exposed by Toney, Hopkins, Jones and maybe a good few others (I certainly wouldn't have written off Harry Simon, Tito, Ottke, and a fair few others).

We will never know how good Joe really was at the end of the day.... pretty damn good obviously, but does his resume warrant him to be mentioned among the elites of the all timers (even in his generation?) - does he deserve to be remembered alongside the likes of Jones Jnr, Hopkins, Lopez, Lewis, Holyfield, Oscar, Mosley, Mayweather Jnr? - not so sure. He might have had the ability, he might have been able to show the adaption he did vs Kessler against the likes of Jones Jnr and Hopkins - but we will never know. Even if all above had shorter careers - they fought and beat true all timers, closer to their prime than what Joe faced. With the exception of Lopez - but then I do believe Alvarez would have been considered an all timer if it wasn't for Lopez.

[Chambers2]

Great fighter. Mediocre resume.

He's the most frustrating fighter of his generation. I admire him and resent him in equal measure.

that sums it up for me, although he has had a late hurrah in his career. Pavlik or Froch would have made for alot better climax though (if indeed he does retire)

[Asterix]

Also in the article:

I received my promoter’s license this week, Calzaghe Promotions is up and running and I feel like I am entering a new phase, not just in my career, but in my life.

[Chambers2]

Also in the article:

I received my promoter’s license this week, Calzaghe Promotions is up and running and I feel like I am entering a new phase, not just in my career, but in my life.

Wonder if Enzo, Pryce, Lockett etc. will be joining Calzaghe promotions??? It's another kick in the Nads for Frankybabes if so.

Has Enzo got a fight lined up with Frank and Sports Network??
Anything in the pipeline for Sweet Sugar with Frank and Sports Network??

hmmm

[hitman_hatton1]

Wonder if Enzo, Pryce, Lockett etc. will be joining Calzaghe promotions??? It's another kick in the Nads for Frankybabes if so.

Has Enzo got a fight lined up with Frank and Sports Network??
Anything in the pipeline for Sweet Sugar with Frank and Sports Network??

hmmm

surely it's only a matter of time.

pryce's career is moving so slowly.

enzo's fight with banks is taking an age to get scheduled.

cleverley will go as well.

warren better start offering degale more money.

[mark thompson]

Great fighter. Mediocre resume.

He's the most frustrating fighter of his generation. I admire him and resent him in equal measure.

that sums it up for me, although he has had a late hurrah in his career. Pavlik or Froch would have made for alot better climax though (if indeed he does retire)

With all due respect adding Froch to the end of his career would have done nothing to his resume !!!!

[REAL_DEAL]

I wonder how much Joe got paid to give it up in time for saturday show.

[The_Don1]

I wonder how much Joe got paid to give it up in time for saturday show.

exactly what I was thinking, what a coincidence he vacates it on Friday, whilst a fight for the interim title is due to take place on Saturday.

[Dioufy]

The worst part of this is that Inkin will be fighting for a full title now - it's total bollocks.

[banjo]

Giving the title up?

The WBO must have named a mandatory then