Calzaghe : Froch fight may happen

[WildWaylon]

If Calzaghe decides to carry on boxing after RJJ then all his fights will be against the big names over there .. Calzaghe is well and truly in the big time now .. Froch is very much on the outside looking in.

The money is Stateside, I agree, but where is the big challenge comming from, right here in the UK. Can Joe ignore Froch if he wins the WBC belt in style. Joe is apparently interested, and is obviously awaiting the outcome of his fight with Jones and Frochs fight with Pascal. He is talking about fighting in Feb/March if he beats RJJ and decides to fight one more time. I think he may want to prove a point with Froch and the Yanks will buy the fight so it should make good money. The rumour has originated from Joe and Froch has replied saying he is more than willing to fight him, or words to that affect. Its quite a positive thing Joe talking about fighting Froch, he has never done that before. First things first both men have big challenges to get through, then lets see if Joe is still interested.

[WildWaylon]

If Calzaghe were a woman what Calzaghe is doing would be equivalent to a c*cktease. So I think he is being a boxtease, flashing a little thigh to get Froch excited before covering up and moving on

FIGHT.WILL.NOT.HAPPEN!!

I actully think Froch would have a more than decent chance of winning but he should just concentrate on taking out Pscal, fighting the Lacy/Taylor winner and just moving on with his career.

Damn Hennessey if he allows Froch' career to be defined by one guy he couldnt get to fight, as it looks like thats how Witter will be remembered

I cant see it myself. Joe has always laughed at challenges from Carl Froch in the past. Why would he tease him now. Froch with the WBC belt, another fighter his weight in the UK with a legitimate World title and then the great Joe quits, that would not be good for his reputation. Hatton told Witter to win a title and then he might fight him, so Witter did and still Hatton refused. Hatton had a lot of shit thrown at him for refusing to fight Witter and making excuses, then Bradley ended all that when he beat Witter. Joe is no Hatton, he is willing to take risks, and I dont think he would want to put himself in the same position as Hatton was in. I believe if both he and Carl win well, the fight is on.

[Maelstrom]

That is one of the most spurious articles I have ever read - and I am usually a Hickman fan.

Calzaghe and has been so vague - but the journalist has jumped on it and turned it into a headline. I bet those two quotes compromised about 1% of their entire conversation.

The worse thing is loads of you guys have fallen the journos attempt to find an angle!

[Spud]

That is one of the most spurious articles I have ever read - and I am usually a Hickman fan.

Calzaghe and has been so vague - but the journalist has jumped on it and turned it into a headline. I bet those two quotes compromised about 1% of their entire conversation.

The worse thing is loads of you guys have fallen the journos attempt to find an angle!

To a point I agree with you - but if we as boxing fans want the fight to happen - then surely headlines like Hickmans may heap a little pressure on the promoters and TV company to splash the cash to make sure it does.

Without the media making the headlines whether they are bullsh*t or not the fight has no chance of happening - as already stated I don't think it will anyhow but the more pressure applied on boxing websites and more importantly the national press - then there maybe a slim chance that people may change their minds!!!

[lefthook82]

Joe is about building for his pension

If he does fight again GoldenBoy will drop some heavy money as an incentive to take on Hopkins again

Why fight Froch for the WBC belt. what would be the point winning it gain juSt to drop it afterWards, which is what he would do. Joe aint seeing 168lbs again IMO so unless Froch wants to head up north of super middleweight this isn't going to fly. And if he does that there will be no title on the line thus making it harder to sell

All this preupposes that they win their fights and I think I will have a sneaky fiver on Jones to take it home

[WildWaylon]

Two points, even if the journo has polished up his peice, Joe has stated he may fight again and that he may fight Froch. Had he stuck to his previous stement, that RJJ is his last fight, thats what would have been written. Talking about Froch rather than dismissing him as he always has in the past, is a big change as far as I am concerned.

[WildWaylon]

Joe is about building for his pension

If he does fight again GoldenBoy will drop some heavy money as an incentive to take on Hopkins again

Why fight Froch for the WBC belt. what would be the point winning it gain juSt to drop it afterWards, which is what he would do. Joe aint seeing 168lbs again IMO so unless Froch wants to head up north of super middleweight this isn't going to fly. And if he does that there will be no title on the line thus making it harder to sell

All this preupposes that they win their fights and I think I will have a sneaky fiver on Jones to take it home

Winning the belt twice and beating Froch would give him loads of cred and respect especially from the British fans. Pretty sure Joe can still make 168 at a push. Promoting the fight himself and American TV buying the event, plus ticket sales, would surely make the night very lucrative for Joe. Cant see Joe back tracking to fight Hopkins again, given Hopkins form against Pavlik and the close decision he got in their last fight. No, if he fights on, it has to be Froch IMO.

[frankwarrenfan]

one minute he's definitely retiring the next he's changed his mind

a few years ago rjj isn't worth fighting and now it's a terrific match up

joe saying he may fight froch really means nothing at this stage

[TheGoods]

Froch on Calzaghe - Jones and a possible all-British showdown in 2009.

http://www.itv.com/Sport/boxing/feature ... 81231.html

[sharpei_louis]

Would enjoy it if the fight did happen, but to call it the 'Benn Eubank of our generation'....?????

Calzaghe won a world title 12 years ago, and Froch hasn't even fought for one yet, they're not even in the same generation themselves!!

[Autobarn]

Let's see how Joe feels after his fight with Jones. He certainly won't feel the same way as he felt when he made those comments.

I mean, if he dazzles Jones, will he want one more fight, or will he be so happy he retires?

If he struggles, will he want to get out of boxing, or will he want another fight, to leave a better impression?

Will he just not be arsed with Froch, or (if Froch ends up beating Pascal) will he see some potential of adding to the retirement fund?

Will he not be able to resist the money the money the money (provided Froch becomes a marketable WBC champ), or will he do anything he can to leave boxing unbeaten and just retire before that can happen?

[Wrists]

Jesus Christ - there is no pleasing people it seems!

Listen if Joe beats Roy Jones and then Froch then no-one can argue that he has ducked challenges, resume would read something like this

Big Wins
Hopkins
Jones
Kessler
Lacy
Eubank
Froch

Good victories
Sheika
Woodhall
Brewer
Mitchell


What more do people want - Froch would be a better fight than Pavlik, yet some people on here still slag Joe off because he won't fight a man who was exposed against a man he has already beaten on a bad night

Dear me people - get a life

[jamesmcdonnell]

If Calzaghe fights Froch, then MASSIVE respect to him; Froch hasn't truly earnt the right to a fight, after all, who has he really beaten to do so?

However, he's certainly a live challenger, and arguably poses the biggest threat to Calzaghe at 168, given his pretty phenomenal punching power, great chin, and fitness.

I'd love to see this fight, and if Calzaghe were to beat Froch at this late stage, it's hard to argue against him being the best 168 lb fighter of all time.

[Wrists]

Good post James - although Jones probably will go down as the best 12 stoner of all time.

Froch - too easy to hit for me, but has the power to stop Joe, does he hit harder than Kessler though??

Doubtful

[WildWaylon]

If Calzaghe fights Froch, then MASSIVE respect to him; Froch hasn't truly earnt the right to a fight, after all, who has he really beaten to do so?

However, he's certainly a live challenger, and arguably poses the biggest threat to Calzaghe at 168, given his pretty phenomenal punching power, great chin, and fitness.

I'd love to see this fight, and if Calzaghe were to beat Froch at this late stage, it's hard to argue against him being the best 168 lb fighter of all time.

Absolutely agree, but if Froch beats Pascal and beats him well, then I believe he has done enough to get the opportunity of fighting Joe. It would be sad and not good for Joe to quit with Froch as the WBC beltholder.

[stujones]

How come Froch would be considered a "big win" and the likes of Woodhall be classed as a "good win" - umm - Froch hasn't fought in world class yet and will only win 1 version of the title assuming he wins.

I've been Joe harshest critic, but this is simply not a big fight yet - now if Froch beats any of the 3 SM champions - now we have a big one.

Chad Dawson is the biggest fight for Joe currently.

[Max Molyneux]

How come Froch would be considered a "big win" and the likes of Woodhall be classed as a "good win" - umm - Froch hasn't fought in world class yet and will only win 1 version of the title assuming he wins.

I've been Joe harshest critic, but this is simply not a big fight yet - now if Froch beats any of the 3 SM champions - now we have a big one.

Chad Dawson is the biggest fight for Joe currently.

Because Froch gets overrated for his mouth and KO's over domestic level fighters. Dunno why though as he will get exposed at world class, If Pascal has a chin his better handspeed could outbox Froch.

Dawson Is a bigger fight but Tarver's not that good and Chad does have a shaky chin.

[WildWaylon]

How come Froch would be considered a "big win" and the likes of Woodhall be classed as a "good win" - umm - Froch hasn't fought in world class yet and will only win 1 version of the title assuming he wins.

I've been Joe harshest critic, but this is simply not a big fight yet - now if Froch beats any of the 3 SM champions - now we have a big one.

Chad Dawson is the biggest fight for Joe currently.

Dawson would be a huge risk, I think but a massive moneymaker. Froch is young, superfit, unbeaten and has a concussive punch, but he lacks speed. Froch is beatable given Joes speed and style and its the one the fans want to see. It a good fight that would gain him loads of respect and still be a good payday. He could still retire undefeated, but fighting Dawson would just be for big money and his 0 could go.

[Max Molyneux]

Dawson struggled with Johnson trying to outwork him so Calzaghe would have no trouble using his workrate to overwhelm Dawson.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Dawson struggled with Johnson trying to outwork him so Calzaghe would have no trouble using his workrate to overwhelm Dawson.

Not to mention than Johnson almost had him completely out of there twice in the fight. Johnson is a decent hitter, but hardly a concussive puncher.

The reason Calzaghe gets massive respect for fighting Froch, is that there is nothing really for him to gain from it.

Whatever Froch's flaws, he is very much a live challenger and is just coming into his prime now, whilst Joe is just past the cusp of his.

[DavidPayne]

Jesus Christ - there is no pleasing people it seems!

Listen if Joe beats Roy Jones and then Froch then no-one can argue that he has ducked challenges, resume would read something like this

Big Wins
Hopkins
Jones
Kessler
Lacy
Eubank
Froch

Good victories
Sheika
Woodhall
Brewer
Mitchell


What more do people want - Froch would be a better fight than Pavlik, yet some people on here still slag Joe off because he won't fight a man who was exposed against a man he has already beaten on a bad night

Dear me people - get a life

What Joe cannot escape, particularly as he enjoys pointing out that Hopkins subsequently beat Pavlik, that the fights immediatley before Calzaghe tackles the opponents above is of interest when gauging the significance of the bouts.

Charles Brewer had been stopped in 3 by Echols two fights before Calzaghe
Byron Mitchell had been beaten by Ottke over 12 in his preceding fight and prior to a recent comeback essentially never fought again
Chris Eubank took the fight on 12 days notice having messed about in Dubai at above Light heavy.
Omar Sheika has never before or since beaten a top-line opponent
Richie Woodhall was a very good fighter but lost his WBC title the year before to a young Beyer.

Of the top list - he hasn't fought Froch or Jones yet.

Hopkins was a great win and is, despite my comments above endorsed by his subsequent victory.
Kessler and Lacy were also very good performances but Hagler isn't judged on his victory over Mugabi is he?

Why were Mitchell, Brewer and Woodhall all accomodated once beaten?

Why were mandatories Mgertkeren and Veit accomodated, his only two over 11 years? Where did they find Jimenez and McIntrye and yet ignore Reid II or Mundine or Beyer or Catley and all those I listed earlier.

Calzaghe has done much but had you sprinkled a unification against Sanavia or Catley or Beyer his record would be much more solid.

Calzaghe could keep fighting for three years and still have gaps he'll never fill, he's wise to quit after Jones and leave everyone wanting more....its only a matter of time before abig right flattens him.

Great fighter. Terrific professional. Very good [but not great] resume.

[Maelstrom]

Two points, even if the journo has polished up his peice, Joe has stated he may fight again and that he may fight Froch. Had he stuck to his previous stement, that RJJ is his last fight, thats what would have been written. Talking about Froch rather than dismissing him as he always has in the past, is a big change as far as I am concerned.

The difference is that in the past he hasn't controlled his own PR. He does now.

I am sure over the last few years he wouldn't have absolutely ruled out the Froch fight if asked in private.

In fact, I remember him telling Froch himself: 'If the money is right....'

What I don't get is how beating Froch would cement a legacy. Froch - as excellent as he may be in the future - is not a proven world class operator yet.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Jesus Christ - there is no pleasing people it seems!

Listen if Joe beats Roy Jones and then Froch then no-one can argue that he has ducked challenges, resume would read something like this

Big Wins
Hopkins
Jones
Kessler
Lacy
Eubank
Froch

Good victories
Sheika
Woodhall
Brewer
Mitchell


What more do people want - Froch would be a better fight than Pavlik, yet some people on here still slag Joe off because he won't fight a man who was exposed against a man he has already beaten on a bad night

Dear me people - get a life

What Joe cannot escape, particularly as he enjoys pointing out that Hopkins subsequently beat Pavlik, that the fights immediatley before Calzaghe tackles the opponents above is of interest when gauging the significance of the bouts.

Charles Brewer had been stopped in 3 by Echols two fights before Calzaghe
Byron Mitchell had been beaten by Ottke over 12 in his preceding fight and prior to a recent comeback essentially never fought again
Chris Eubank took the fight on 12 days notice having messed about in Dubai at above Light heavy.
Omar Sheika has never before or since beaten a top-line opponent
Richie Woodhall was a very good fighter but lost his WBC title the year before to a young Beyer.

Of the top list - he hasn't fought Froch or Jones yet.

Hopkins was a great win and is, despite my comments above endorsed by his subsequent victory.
Kessler and Lacy were also very good performances but Hagler isn't judged on his victory over Mugabi is he?

Why were Mitchell, Brewer and Woodhall all accomodated once beaten?

Why were mandatories Mgertkeren and Veit accomodated, his only two over 11 years? Where did they find Jimenez and McIntrye and yet ignore Reid II or Mundine or Beyer or Catley and all those I listed earlier.

Calzaghe has done much but had you sprinkled a unification against Sanavia or Catley or Beyer his record would be much more solid.

Calzaghe could keep fighting for three years and still have gaps he'll never fill, he's wise to quit after Jones and leave everyone wanting more....its only a matter of time before abig right flattens him.

Great fighter. Terrific professional. Very good [but not great] resume.

To offer another perspective. Calzaghe himself said he wanted to fight Brewer and Mitchell before they lost, but neither wanted to fight him. He also claimed he wanted to fight Reid before Reid lost his title, but Reid wasn't interested.

Just playing devil's advocate, however there are too many fights which never happened to not blame Calzaghe for some of them.

It's plausible that Brewer, Mitchell and Reid wouldn't have wanted Calzaghe until he had something they wanted - namely a title they didn't have.

[Autobarn]

Well, when a guy like Brewer or Mitchell has lost his title, they have nothing to lose and will travel for the money and the title.

And also, given that both lost to Ottke, you can spin it by saying that they got robbed and still deserve to be champ. Ottke's wins IMO were very narrow - deserved but narrow - so there is room for argument. Joe stopped Mitchell and said Mitchell got robbed in Germany, and ppl believe it.

Woodhall & Reid - the same, fight 'em when they need the fight.

Smart? Yes
Bargain basement title reign? Maybe
Completely satisfying? Hell no

Re Joe's lack of solid challengers - the WBO should really have pushed some more decent names forward. They definitely have to take some of the blame. Also, I think they shouldn't have approved a number of opponents.

[fist]

Why does he not just fight a proper challenger, like Pavlik

Or maybe a rematch with Hopkins, especially since many feel Calzaghe lost that fight. a Dodgy SD is hardly anything to go by now is it.

He may aswell fight Winky or something.

Calzaghe v Froch will be just a fraud

Yawn. I dont think anyone could bear to watch Hopkins and Calzaghe again, the fight was very boring - its boxing not wrestling. Calzaghe has beaten Hopkins, so need to go there again. As for Pavlik, no point in that either now. Froch would be a much better challange - he's a dangerous heavy handed fighter.