Calzaghe should learn from Hatton

Chris the fighter · Post by **Chris the fighter** » 15 Jul 2004, 12:04

Calzaghe should be putting forcing Warren's hand, as some people have mentioned in other topics he seems satisfied by his lot. He was the top super middle but that was by default the top guys were not prepared to meet and he ruled probably one of the worst divisions in boxing. Hatton is not content to settle with his second rate title but wants to fight the best and you have to rank Harris in the top five. Warren has been forced to deliver and if Hatton wins he is set up to face the winner of Gatti/Dorin, Cotto/ Pinto or Tsyzu/ Mitchell even maybe Floyd Mayweather.
What awaits Calzaghe Mario Veit? he should still move up and get ranked as mandatory to one of the champions, swallow a bit of pride for Gods sake.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 15 Jul 2004, 12:10

I really don't think Calzaghe is as bothered about being the top dog as Hatton is. He is quite content I think to count his money, harp on about his 'record WBO title defences' and get on with his life.

I hope I am wrong, but I think Calzaghe's peak will come and go without there ever being a defining fight. Had he beat Johnson, got a title, he was right in the mix for the winner of Jones v Tarver III, who I think would have been Tarver again.

As I've said before, any fighter who wants to take on the best, has to force their promoters hand, because most promoters will only take risks with their fighters they deem neccesary. Hatton could fill the MEN Arena for the next 5 years without ever fighting anyone in the top 5, but he wanted more, and so now, Warren has delivered, well at least looks like delivering.

Chris the fighter · Post by **Chris the fighter** » 15 Jul 2004, 12:15

I think your right James, when you think Calzaghe you think what a waste.
The sad thing is he is world class but he has never gone into a fight where he was not favoured to win. A shame.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 15 Jul 2004, 12:21

I think Calzaghe reached a certain level, and never really had the desire to aspire beyond it. I think if he did, then one or other of a number of possible big fights would have come off. Sure, he couldn't get Ottke in the ring, but are we to seriously believe that every other fight that was talked about never occured because it was 'the other guy' who was unwilling to take the fight.

At some point if you really want to make a point, and fair play, not everyone does want to prove their greatness beyond doubt, you take the thin end of the wedge, or you get on the plane to the other guy's home town, or whatever it takes to remove the doubt and stake your claim.

With Calzaghe i am afraid we will be left with the legacy of...

Joe Calzaghe, quite possibly the best super middleweight in the world for a number of years, a great talent, but never quite proved his hall of fame credentials.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 15 Jul 2004, 18:51

Yep, JC had has chance against Johnson and has appeared to blow it.

Lugh · Post by **Lugh** » 16 Jul 2004, 04:23

Having seen the blonde he chucked his missus and kids for (classy Joe!) I am pretty certain I know how he put his back out! Probably broke her hip aswell!

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jul 2004, 05:14

I think he had already seperated from his missus when he met that bird.

Lugh · Post by **Lugh** » 16 Jul 2004, 05:32

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I think he had already seperated from his missus when he met that bird.

Well Jimbo,

I know that she wasn't the first. (I was!)

Seriously though, one of my wife's colleagues (knowing her interest in Boxing) about three months ago phoned with a "you'll never believe who I spent Saturday night in the Angel Hotel with."

I have seen the photo's (not the smutty type) on the lady in question's photo-phone.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jul 2004, 05:41

Really? Ah well, I'm not going to beat poor old Joe up over that, he's hardly the first geezer to be getting his leg over with extra-curricular totty.

It does seem to me though that his dedication to his boxing career isn't what it once was, and I think it is a real shame, because I did and still do believe that Joe is a truly world class talent, and given the right stage, could have been a massive star. One significant win was all he ever needed. A win over Glen Johnson, and he would have been right in the thick of it.