Calzaghe excuses for Lacy fight are coming out already.

s9s · Post by **s9s** » 12 Aug 2005, 10:21

Unbelivable.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4145584.stm

Joe Calzaghe insists a super middleweight unification bout with Jeff Lacy is far from a done deal.

IBF champion Lacy impressed in stopping Robin Reid last week with his promoters saying he would face long-reigning WBO king Calzaghe in Wales on 5 November.

But Calzaghe has to get past a bout with an as-yet unnamed opponent in Cardiff on 10 September.

He says the Lacy fight will go ahead, but that the suggested 5 November date has "many obstacles" in its path.

"That date has come from America," said Calzaghe in his column for the South Wales Argus.

"Wales play the All Blacks in a rugby international in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on that date [creating problems over a venue and hotel space].

"Lacy looked good coming forward against Reid, but let's see how good he is when he's being backed up"
Joe Calzaghe

"Lots of things can also happen between now and then, not least among them injuries.

"I have had problems with my hand and back on and off over the years, which is hardly surprising when you have been fighting since the age of nine like I have.

"My left hand swells up after almost every fight - though it was fine after I stopped Mario Veit in Germany last time out - so I don't want to put the cart before the horse and it's vital I keep focused on 10 September.

"Don't get me wrong, the Lacy fight will go ahead. He wants it and I want it and the prospect really excites me, but I haven't even talked money yet so nothing is cut and dried.

"Lacy looked good coming forward against Reid, but let's see how good he is when he's being backed up.

"I certainly saw weaknesses in his armoury and, though I'll have to be at my best to beat him, I still don't believe there's a super middleweight on the planet who can live with me."

Calzaghe says he expects to hear who his 10 September opponent is within the next few days.

It will not be Scott Pemberton, though, who has agreed to fight Danny Green in Perth in October.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 12 Aug 2005, 10:27

i was about to post the same thing.

and there i was actually believing that he wanted the fight.

s9s · Post by **s9s** » 12 Aug 2005, 10:30

Riddick Blowe wrote:i was about to post the same thing.

and there i was actually believing that he wanted the fight.

Theres too many statements of how the fight won't go ahead, rather than why and how it could.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 12 Aug 2005, 10:42

Sicknote strikes again, I am even more convinced now it wont happen in November.

Why not cancel the September fight and go straight for Lacy if his hands are so brittle. Wanker.

pasty_spud · Post by **pasty_spud** » 12 Aug 2005, 12:35

for the first time i want a british fighter to lose........

i've had enough of his shite

Smit · Post by **Smit** » 12 Aug 2005, 14:05

Everyone already knew that the Millenium stadium was booked and hotels would be troublesome to get hold of. I agree he should go straight for Lacy as a solution to the problems though.

I didn't think the date was from the americans? I thought it was discussed a month or so back? But if it was purely from the Americans then why should he fight twice in 2 months?

lvlarc · Post by **lvlarc** » 12 Aug 2005, 14:24

I don't see why you all have a problem with what he said, He's just saying the truth. The fights not a done deal so why should we be lied to?

nas7232 · Post by **nas7232** » 12 Aug 2005, 14:25

Joe relaly doesn't want to fight lacy. Lacy will kill him, he should just say he is a pussy and stop building everyones hopes up if he decides to pussy out. If not, then stop trying to fornicate it up

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 12 Aug 2005, 14:27

I don't see what Calzaghe has to fear from Lacy. If he prepares well in the gym he should have little trouble outboxing and maybe stopping him. I don't rate Lacys win over Robin Reid that much. Honestly, Reids timing and workrate has been awful the last few years. Even in the Ottke fight. Omar Sheika, a brawler, was outboxing and causing Lacy huge problems. He even hurt him for a second.

koomey · Post by **koomey** » 12 Aug 2005, 15:13

This is my first post on this board, visited many times, but never felt the need to post until now.

I have been a genuine Calzaghe fan for many years now and have travelled the length and breadth of the UK to watch him fight. I've seen some good fights an a few awful ones along the way.

As for Lacy, I really think that JC does not fancy this one. I cannot understand why he'd line up a fight in September knowing that if Lacy came through the Reid fight that a fight would be inevitable towards the end of the year.

For Calzaghe to face someone in Sept. then fight Lacy 2 months later would be ludicrous. That's something that JC has never done since becoming world champ.

I have always defended JC but am now starting to see just why he has so many crtitics. Only a handful of defences in a few years, none of them 'career defining'. Compare that to Eubank/Benn/Collins who all defended against the best time and time again.

Even IF the Lacy fight comes off then that cannot be considered a career defining fight.

Joe needs to fight and beat the likes of Lacy, Johnson/Jones/Tarver at light-heavy to get the recognition that he deserves.

A dissapointed and increasingly disillusioned Calzaghe fan...

Koomey

RobD · Post by **RobD** » 12 Aug 2005, 16:25

koomey wrote:This is my first post on this board, visited many times, but never felt the need to post until now.

I have been a genuine Calzaghe fan for many years now and have travelled the length and breadth of the UK to watch him fight. I've seen some good fights an a few awful ones along the way.

As for Lacy, I really think that JC does not fancy this one. I cannot understand why he'd line up a fight in September knowing that if Lacy came through the Reid fight that a fight would be inevitable towards the end of the year.

For Calzaghe to face someone in Sept. then fight Lacy 2 months later would be ludicrous. That's something that JC has never done since becoming world champ.

I have always defended JC but am now starting to see just why he has so many crtitics. Only a handful of defences in a few years, none of them 'career defining'. Compare that to Eubank/Benn/Collins who all defended against the best time and time again.

Even IF the Lacy fight comes off then that cannot be considered a career defining fight.

Joe needs to fight and beat the likes of Lacy, Johnson/Jones/Tarver at light-heavy to get the recognition that he deserves.

A dissapointed and increasingly disillusioned Calzaghe fan...

Quite agree with you Koomey. While fighting Lacy would be a big step up from his other opponents. I wouldn't call it a career defining fight. I just hope Joe goes through with it. Really if this fight falls through whatever hint of credibility he has will be gone.

Koomey

BigTex · Post by **BigTex** » 12 Aug 2005, 16:32

come on joe is just securing his legacy in boxing..he's in the twighlight of his carrer and time is running out..what better way to secure your legacy then fighting a someone who has never fought in the same weight class as you, and wasn't even in the top 15 of the wbo rankings when his opponent was selected..joe will always be remembered as the one of the greatest duckers of all time, we salute you, your a true euro paper champ...

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 12 Aug 2005, 16:51

Kin hell, he's only talking about venue problems and that he needs to get through September not about pulling out because of an injury.

He'salso being realistic that an injury might happen.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 12 Aug 2005, 17:07

Nice to see you Koomey, it's a shame you are brought to post by such a morbid situation (a Calzaghe disussion). If the guy doesn't fight Lacy he is a cast iron fraud and a true paper champion

Owain · Post by **Owain** » 12 Aug 2005, 22:11

Calzaghe is stating the truth BUT the whole gist of his comments verge on the negative instead of the positive. It really doesn't look good, but then that's par for the course with Joe.

jeej · Post by **jeej** » 13 Aug 2005, 03:39

This certainly changes one thing...

Up until now people have called the September fight JC's warm up fight for the Lacy fight, but this interview basically poo-poo's that. JC is saying "yes" he is fighting in September, "yes" he does want to fight Lacy, but he wouldn't count that it will def be November. So... why is he fighting someone other than Lacy in September? It's not even Pemberton now - I guess I just want to know who and why? Naturally I know it cant be Lacy, he would expect a tune up before hand, but it just makes you wonder. He's not ancient, but he isnt getting any younger - at this rate Ordinary will be dominating the world before Joe is.

Totybear · Post by **Totybear** » 13 Aug 2005, 04:08

pasty_spud wrote:for the first time i want a british fighter to lose........

i've had enough of his shite

Amen to that :(

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 13 Aug 2005, 10:44

The stadium issue can't be helped. Plus Calzaghe needs to keep busy. He's only had 4 fights from mid 2003. Lacy's had 4 fights since October 2004. Definitely needs some rounds pre-Lacy but I'd like to see him vs a good fighter. (Warren's terms were no good for Mundine. Warren wanted options on him for 4 fights if he won which effectively killed ANOTHER meaningful fight.)

Calzaghe does seem negative. Aside from saying 'we definitely will fight', he talks about bad hands and money needing sorting out. Shaw seems pissed about this talk as he felt he'd had a verbal agreement when he was over here last June. Now Warren's ignoring his calls & emails...

Anyhow, if he doesn't fight Lacy his reputation will be damaged beyond repair. Calzaghe can be a fine fighter, but if he'd had Lacy's attitude he would've gone to America and got fights with Hopkins and/or Jones, or gone to Germany for Ottke at the very least.

Calzaghe has found ways not to fight Mikkel Kessler, who is being overlooked, and Glen Johnson.

I really think he should fight Lacy, as JL is a threat and JC fights best when someone's lit a fire under him.

Smit · Post by **Smit** » 13 Aug 2005, 11:08

viciousmaussa wrote:The stadium issue can't be helped. Plus Calzaghe needs to keep busy. He's only had 4 fights from mid 2003. Lacy's had 4 fights since October 2004. Definitely needs some rounds pre-Lacy but I'd like to see him vs a good fighter. (Warren's terms were no good for Mundine. Warren wanted options on him for 4 fights if he won which effectively killed ANOTHER meaningful fight.)

If he fought Mundine in September then there's no way on earth he'd have then fought Lacy in November, whereas fighting someone who shouldn't even be in the ring for the title will leave a possibility of a Lacy fight in Novmber.

shot · Post by **shot** » 15 Aug 2005, 05:59

BigTex wrote:come on joe is just securing his legacy in boxing..he's in the twighlight of his carrer and time is running out..what better way to secure your legacy then fighting a someone who has never fought in the same weight class as you, and wasn't even in the top 15 of the wbo rankings when his opponent was selected..joe will always be remembered as the one of the greatest duckers of all time, we salute you, your a true euro paper champ...

Yes behaviour like this is one of things that can make americans dismis the abilities of the european champions and thereby proclaiming themselves the best without having to fight the euro champions.

jomothepure · Post by **jomothepure** » 22 Aug 2005, 06:47

Sorry, but I don't see how anyone can defend Calzaghe on these comments.

Talking about difficulties over venue, politics etc etc. is just about permissable, although a tad pessemistic to say the least.

But can any boxer in their right mind contemplate getting an injury before a career-defining fight? And more to the point, air it in public? Did Lacy speak to the press before the Reid fight and say, "well, you know, I want to fight Calzaghe n'all, but you never know, I might get injured in the Reid fight, and that would just completely ruin forever the possibility of a fight completely." Did Hatton worry about picking up an injury anytime before the zoo fight?

For me, that is verging on the unforgivable by Calzaghe, and strongly suggests he has no desire to fight Lacy.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 22 Aug 2005, 07:54

So bored of Joe's career now.

Good first post from Koomey although I would stop short at saying that Eubank & Collins faced the best time and time again. Whilst I have every respect for them and their boxing careers they had their fair share of tomato cans, especially Eubank who was a WBO paper champion pioneer.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 22 Aug 2005, 08:20

Yes, but he had the advantage of taking on a dangerous guy like Benn twice and Collins twice, as well as Thompson, so to say he was ducking dangerous opponents would be unfair.

Benn took on DeWitt and Barkley as well as Eubank, McClellan and Collins and Watson of course.

It's all a matter of threat perception. It's a long time since Calzaghe has faced someone who was seen as a real threat, and even longer since it was someone at their peak. Mitchell and Brewer were both a little long in the tooth by the time Calzaghe got to them.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 22 Aug 2005, 08:38

Don’t forget, Dewitt and Barkley weren’t exactly ‘the best’ at the time. Sure facing very dangerous US opposition out in the States like Nigel did deserves enormous respect but Dewitt was barely a top 10 fighter at the time. He had a reputation for world class durability but had never won a big fight.

Again Eubank had some tough fights but other than against Benn you could argue he never once fought an opponent who was genuinely in the top 5/6 of his division at the time. He also had a lot of duff opposition during his title reign.

Take your point about threat perception though, Eubank and co had several more contests in which they were not clear favourites going into the contest.

barry · Post by **barry** » 22 Aug 2005, 08:59

>>>The stadium issue can't be helped<<<

If a venue was the issue I'm sure there are plenty of US venue's open for that date, but Calzaghe would never consider taking this fight anywhere but Wales. I hope it happens, but the way the article was written by Calzaghe, I really don't look for it as throwing out possible excuses this early really seems to show that Clazaghe is not at all anxious to get in the ring with Lacy. Instead of talking about the negative aspects that could happen he should be giving the impression that he wants nothing more but to get Lacy in the ring one way, or another...but JC certainly is not doing that.