Calzaghe, Froch and Ringside...

[ScottDetonator]

Anyone else feel that this was a bit of a setup for Joe? Throughout the program, you could almost feel the tension through the screen between Joe and Carl. It seemed to me that, they had got Joe in and then put pressure on him to get the Froch fight. They even had Eddie in to push the situation. Putting both Joe and Carl in the tiny ring with Johnny in-between, was a class move, showing us, at least a glimpse of what might be.

Could the fight happen? Could ££££ sway Joe? Had there been talks between Eddie and Carl beforehand (Carl made a point that Joe would win on points)? Was it clever marketing from Sky? How much would we be talking and obviously it would have to be PPV….

[Coco]

Depends how much JC needs the money, if he is financially secure I don't think he will, but if he is living the high life with his celebrity girlfriend etc things could change.
Remember he did not receive a penny for his biggest fight against Bernard Hopkins. That £4million robbery must have put a huge dent in his pension plan.

[ScottDetonator]

Surely Joe would be looking at £5 - £8 million?

[zero]

Nope, reading too much into it IMO. Carl looked star struck TBH….

[Terminator666]

Depends how much JC needs the money, if he is financially secure I don't think he will, but if he is living the high life with his celebrity girlfriend etc things could change.
Remember he did not receive a penny for his biggest fight against Bernard Hopkins. That £4million robbery must have put a huge dent in his pension plan.

I didn't realise he wasn't paid. Why was that then?

[Coco]

FW just didn't pay him after JC did not want to renew his contract.
JC took him to court, obv won but then FW's company Sports Network Ltd went bankrupt and he started up a new company called Sports Network(Europe)Ltd and carried on as normal.
The debt still lies with Sports Network Ltd.
The BBBoC were heavily criticised at the time for not taking out any sanctions against FW.

[bripez]

The BBBoC were heavily criticised at the time for not taking out any sanctions against FW.

I think that the Board were worried in case the countries biggest promoter turned on them, and they wanted to keep him on side - that plan didn't exactly work out did it ?

[dondada]

Nope, reading too much into it IMO.

Yes, I thought it was excellent telly, all good and respectful - well done, Sky.

[HomicideHenry]

Calzaghe's window for a successful comeback closed a few years ago. He will never come back, and if he does he would be making a serious mistake.

[Glyn Leach]

Nope, reading too much into it IMO. Carl looked star struck TBH….

This

[jamesmcdonnell]

No way would Joe ever risk that 0 of his by coming out of retirement after a long layoff, and way past his best to fight someone as Hungry as Froch..... no goddam way.

Froch would beat Joe pretty easy now anyway, Joe was looking beatable against Jones Jr and Hopkins, they just both lacked the reflexes and output to do it.

That ship has sailed, I've little doubt that prime for prime Calzaghe would have won easy, but that ship has long ago sailed.

[tear up]

I thought Jo was lookin at Carl a few times think I'll wipe you out I think Jo would take him apart big style

[orbtastic]

I was watching it in HD and either JC's had some really bad botox or he had a bit of a mouse or eye swelling?

[big lennox]

I thought Froch came over really well. Seems very relaxed and friendly.I think Calzaghe looked a bit gutted to miss out on all this activity against top level guys. Once a fighter, always a fighter I guess. I am glad that they get on now though. For my money they are the two best super middleweights that we have had.

[whiskey]

I was watching it in HD and either JC's had some really bad botox or he had a bit of a mouse or eye swelling?

He's just getting on a bit mate, so eye bags. They plaster the guests with make-up before they go on too which sometimes gives them an extra-peculiar appearance in HD.

[Sid-the-hat]

So many people still say Joe hasnt been paid. Is wrong. Warren settled out of court and Joe got most of the two million was owed. Used same lawyer Lewis did against King.

[JayMc]

Would have loved to see this fight a few years ago but as most of you are saying this one will never happen.

Would have been a great fight - I'm not sure if Calzaghe would box Froch's head off or Froch would drag him in a toe to toe all out war - definitely would have been a 50/50 fight

Speaking in a purely hypothetical sense how do you think a prime Calzaghe would have faired against Andre Ward ?

[Coco]

So many people still say Joe hasnt been paid. Is wrong. Warren settled out of court and Joe got most of the two million was owed. Used same lawyer Lewis did against King.

Pure nonsense

[TopGun]

So many people still say Joe hasnt been paid. Is wrong. Warren settled out of court and Joe got most of the two million was owed. Used same lawyer Lewis did against King.

If Joe hadn't got paid we would have heard about it, he does throw his toys out of the pram at the best of times!

[dondada]

So many people still say Joe hasnt been paid. Is wrong. Warren settled out of court and Joe got most of the two million was owed. Used same lawyer Lewis did against King.

If Joe hadn't got paid we would have heard about it, he does throw his toys out of the pram at the best of times!

Have to politely disagree - he said very little, if anything, when he originally didn't get paid.

[Wrists]

Brilliant television that.

Exactly the right mix between respect and an underlying desire from both to knock seven shades of shit out of the other.

I like both guys.

JC - I was always a fan
Froch - have warmed to him big time

I think Froch called it right, JC on pts, not sure Carl hits hard enough to KO Joe and that would be his only chance

[Eddy]

Very impressed with Carl's attitude on 'Ringside' with Joe C. Thought he showed a lot of class by saying that he admitted that "Joe would've have probably beaten me if it'd gone the distance." Whether that'd been the case or not, for a current champ to show respect to a retired fighter like that (instead of being distant or flashy) has made me a fan of his now. I will root for him anytime he fights.

[sharpei_louis]

Very impressed with Carl's attitude on 'Ringside' with Joe C. Thought he showed a lot of class by saying that he admitted that "Joe would've have probably beaten me if it'd gone the distance." Whether that'd been the case or not, for a current champ to show respect to a retired fighter like that (instead of being distant or flashy) has made me a fan of his now. I will root for him anytime he fights.

Yeah I'll second that, he was a class act with what he said and probably a good reader of the fight too!! And gotta say that the quotes coming in that Carl has fought everyone there is to fight helped him cause JC must wish he had done.
Didn't come across like a setup to get the fight on to me... Hardly like Froch has no one to fight and I'd be amazed if Joe came back after a decent spell retired.

[ShadrachSimmo]

I was watching it in HD and either JC's had some really bad botox or he had a bit of a mouse or eye swelling?

I was thinking that too. Either too much eyeliner or a shiner.

[orbtastic]

What the other guy said before sounded about on the money, if you watch them in the commentary box they're always feverishly having make-up applied before they go on air.