ITV talk up Calzaghe-Kessler

lvlarc · Post by **lvlarc** » 14 Oct 2006, 18:01

Didn't expect them to show the Kessler KO.

This must mean they have Kessler in their plans which is great

Cannibal · Post by **Cannibal** » 14 Oct 2006, 18:02

Calzaghe is also complaining of hand trouble again so don't expect to see that fight for at least another 10 months.

mattyp151 · Post by **mattyp151** » 14 Oct 2006, 18:03

It's a fight neither guy should and can afford to avoid, especially with Calzaghe and his 25 defenses talk. He's up to 21ish now? He can't avoid Kessler at 168 for 4 fights, no way. The only bump in the road is an Andrade fight for Kessler.

Smit · Post by **Smit** » 14 Oct 2006, 18:03

Cannibal wrote:Calzaghe is also complaining of hand trouble again so don't expect to see that fight for at least another 10 months.

When was the last time he didnt mention his hands in an interview after a fight

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 14 Oct 2006, 18:04

Did you see the KO punch by Kessler, a sweet straight right hand.

mattyp151 · Post by **mattyp151** » 14 Oct 2006, 18:05

Smit wrote:
Cannibal wrote:Calzaghe is also complaining of hand trouble again so don't expect to see that fight for at least another 10 months.
When was the last time he didnt mention his hands in an interview after a fight

Probably the same time Gatti didn't.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 14 Oct 2006, 18:08

Mattyp151 wrote:It's a fight neither guy should and can afford to avoid, especially with Calzaghe and his 25 defenses talk. He's up to 21ish now? He can't avoid Kessler at 168 for 4 fights, no way. The only bump in the road is an Andrade fight for Kessler.

I agree, Calzaghe has to go for Kessler. That might be a relief after going in with Bika. Bika is amde ut of rock & would've done better had it not been for the tangles.

WTF is wrong with SN matchmakers? I thought it was dumb putting JC in with Salem & Ashira.

I think Bika comes out of this fight with a boosted reputation. I only had it 8-4 to JC. Considering Bika was in w a more experienced, faster man, & to add insult to injury a leftie, Sakio can improve on this. I doubt anyone would want to fight him.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 14 Oct 2006, 18:10

do any of you seriously f*cking believe Calzaghe will step into the ring with kessler?

The fight went to script, yet another hand picked limited hardass a la salem, jiminez, ashira, etc.

this is the only type of opponent viable for bum of the month club, when he bumbles to a UD win there's always the 'but he was so game and always came back strong' angle they couldn't use for Pudwill, Veit etc.

Shouldn't complain, the guy consistently wins me money with his UDs. A nice £225 tonight

mattyp151 · Post by **mattyp151** » 14 Oct 2006, 18:22

viciousmaussa wrote:
Mattyp151 wrote:It's a fight neither guy should and can afford to avoid, especially with Calzaghe and his 25 defenses talk. He's up to 21ish now? He can't avoid Kessler at 168 for 4 fights, no way. The only bump in the road is an Andrade fight for Kessler.
I agree, Calzaghe has to go for Kessler. That might be a relief after going in with Bika. Bika is amde ut of rock & would've done better had it not been for the tangles.

WTF is wrong with SN matchmakers? I thought it was dumb putting JC in with Salem & Ashira.

I think Bika comes out of this fight with a boosted reputation. I only had it 8-4 to JC. Considering Bika was in w a more experienced, faster man, & to add insult to injury a leftie, Sakio can improve on this. I doubt anyone would want to fight him.

SN picks guys who can take a pounding but don't offer much offensively. That way, if he does KO them, his power looks great and if they go to a decision, then so be it, the guys are tough. But at no point would they put a good chin with skills in there.

Axe · Post by **Axe** » 14 Oct 2006, 18:50

This fight has to happen, asap. There's really nothing left at 168 for either man after tonight (other than Bute in a few years).

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 14 Oct 2006, 19:33

Mattyp151 wrote:
viciousmaussa wrote:
Mattyp151 wrote:It's a fight neither guy should and can afford to avoid, especially with Calzaghe and his 25 defenses talk. He's up to 21ish now? He can't avoid Kessler at 168 for 4 fights, no way. The only bump in the road is an Andrade fight for Kessler.
I agree, Calzaghe has to go for Kessler. That might be a relief after going in with Bika. Bika is amde ut of rock & would've done better had it not been for the tangles.

WTF is wrong with SN matchmakers? I thought it was dumb putting JC in with Salem & Ashira.

I think Bika comes out of this fight with a boosted reputation. I only had it 8-4 to JC. Considering Bika was in w a more experienced, faster man, & to add insult to injury a leftie, Sakio can improve on this. I doubt anyone would want to fight him.
SN picks guys who can take a pounding but don't offer much offensively. That way, if he does KO them, his power looks great and if they go to a decision, then so be it, the guys are tough. But at no point would they put a good chin with skills in there.

Thing is, Bika had some offense and some skills. They made a mistake picking him for his draw with beyer, unaware that he could really fight. If Calzaghe wasn't a southpaw who likes to tie up, Bika would have smashed his head in. Good performance from Bika, definitely world class & I pick him over any of the guys that Calzaghe beat, like Woodhall or Lacy etc prime for prime. Sakio's had 2 very good learning experiences. This guy was leagues above Salem.

I'm very glad Joe has had a sobering experience; he won't forget he still has LOTS to prove and Kessler is stealing his thunder.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 14 Oct 2006, 19:51

viciousmaussa wrote:
Mattyp151 wrote:It's a fight neither guy should and can afford to avoid, especially with Calzaghe and his 25 defenses talk. He's up to 21ish now? He can't avoid Kessler at 168 for 4 fights, no way. The only bump in the road is an Andrade fight for Kessler.
I agree, Calzaghe has to go for Kessler. That might be a relief after going in with Bika. Bika is amde ut of rock & would've done better had it not been for the tangles.

WTF is wrong with SN matchmakers? I thought it was dumb putting JC in with Salem & Ashira.

I think Bika comes out of this fight with a boosted reputation. I only had it 8-4 to JC. Considering Bika was in w a more experienced, faster man, & to add insult to injury a leftie, Sakio can improve on this. I doubt anyone would want to fight him.

Mate, you were right about Bika.

Bowe, your a tool Bika was a good choice.

jomothepure · Post by **jomothepure** » 14 Oct 2006, 19:56

Riddick Blowe wrote:do any of you seriously f*cking believe Calzaghe will step into the ring with kessler?

The fight went to script, yet another hand picked limited hardass a la salem, jiminez, ashira, etc.

this is the only type of opponent viable for bum of the month club, when he bumbles to a UD win there's always the 'but he was so game and always came back strong' angle they couldn't use for Pudwill, Veit etc.

Shouldn't complain, the guy consistently wins me money with his UDs. A nice £225 tonight

Made more than you na na na na na

But..no beating you on this front- Calzaghe-Kessler will not happen. Which is sad, because sicknote is still my SM #1, yet considering (at a guess) 30-40%ish (probably more given tonight) would say Kessler would beat him - you (ie. JC, FW) have to make things happen to rectify that. Only they wont.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 14 Oct 2006, 20:01

Bika was better than lots anticipated, but a good choice of opponent I do disagree for two reasons.

1) He made it an awkard night and didn't make Joe look good, not really the type of fight that will impress HBO - but hopefully might entice the American champions to think the overhyped Lacy flattered Joe.

2) Whilst Bika was better than some expected, I anticipated an Evans Ashira style win (one handed if need be)..... He's too raw, slow handed and not technical enough to beat most in world class. Sure he could win a title, but I feel it would have to be the champion on an off day (or a shot champion). A bit like Carlos Maussa, he could catch a champion unmotivated (as Carlos did Vivien Harris) but thats about the only time he would win at the top level.

His only world class fighter he faced, and then he is only a fringe world class fighter he lost too (note I'm not counting Beyer).

Froch vs Bika would be fun, but I would be inclined to favour Froch.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 14 Oct 2006, 20:01

I ain't heard sicknote since 2005.

HBO and ITV showed the Beyer and Kessler KO, so they seem interested in Joe fighting Kessler so I wouldn't just accuse it of not happening yet.

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 14 Oct 2006, 20:07

kessler would stop joe i am very confident of that would bet big on it.

SticknMove · Post by **SticknMove** » 14 Oct 2006, 20:11

I think Calzaghe v Kessler will have to happen. Simply because it will open the doors for the winner to earn a lot of bucks in the States, with Taylor possibly waiting in the wings to step up. The winner will be an unbeaten outsider who holds 4 belts and that is just what the Americans like to buy into withthe possibility of their golden boy stepping up to the plate and becoming a two weight champ.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 14 Oct 2006, 20:13

leforge wrote:kessler would stop joe i am very confident of that would bet big on it.

Kessler likes to box more than use his size, so I doubt it.

jomothepure · Post by **jomothepure** » 14 Oct 2006, 20:14

stujones wrote:Bika was better than lots anticipated, but a good choice of opponent I do disagree for two reasons.

1) He made it an awkard night and didn't make Joe look good, not really the type of fight that will impress HBO - but hopefully might entice the American champions to think the overhyped Lacy flattered Joe.

2) Whilst Bika was better than some expected, I anticipated an Evans Ashira style win (one handed if need be)..... He's too raw, slow handed and not technical enough to beat most in world class. Sure he could win a title, but I feel it would have to be the champion on an off day (or a shot champion). A bit like Carlos Maussa, he could catch a champion unmotivated (as Carlos did Vivien Harris) but thats about the only time he would win at the top level.

His only world class fighter he faced, and then he is only a fringe world class fighter he lost too (note I'm not counting Beyer).

Froch vs Bika would be fun, but I would be inclined to favour Froch.

In terms of the "selling Joe" to America I do agree. A big feck'off KO against Manfredo or even Spina would have done the trick. However, whilst I'm not one of the FW match-making schools' biggest proponents, Bika did at least turn out to be a decent 'test.' Whilst the days of having the #1 and #2 boxers in a division are long gone, at least Bika made Joe reverse on his primary game plan of thinking this was a walk in the park a la Veit or Ashira. I'd say ironicaly Joe was actually unfortunate in picking a tough fornicator for once. I think Boka would fare no worse against Kessler, and would have beaten Beyer.

You mention Bika-Froch - I'd actually go Bika-Lacy. I actually think JC is a class apart, Kessler is with him, but only because JC+FW havn't done the necessary fights, and then after that it's every man for himself, with Bika not terribly far off a fringe world title shot.

In short (because it seems like I've been typing for about 6 weeks) I think Bika is pretty decent (in the necessary arenas), and JC just drew the short straw in being the one to succumb to highlighting it

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 14 Oct 2006, 20:16

i am so convinced Kessler would win i will put a £1000 on at bookermakers, joe looked poor tonight kessler is younger more hungry fighter imo. I lkie joe but he looked poor tonight

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 14 Oct 2006, 20:23

Yeah, I would say pretty decent sums up my views on Bika. Thats not though Kessler, Bute, Mundine, Lacy (IMO), Danny Green, Larsen (if he does return), and I'd even tendatively say Manfredo, Allan Green and Andrande.

I would put him in the Froch, Brahmer, Viet, Tatesvyan bracket - and I would probably favour (close mind) all to beat him.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 14 Oct 2006, 20:32

Forge your prediction is reminding me of when nearly everyone favoured Lacy after he beat a faded Reid. Reid and Beyer for good wins for Lacy and Kessler but the only difference is Beyer had a belt.

jomothepure · Post by **jomothepure** » 14 Oct 2006, 20:34

Well, without being a blatent backtracker, you could be on to something with that list stu.

What I should have said was, whilst Joe was in a bit of a slapping mode tonight, I do reckon Bika has the strngth and chin to go the distance with anyone.

The only problem then of course, is getting the decision. Green I think he;d genuinely KO. And that's not just going by the guy who alomst had Green finished 1 or 2 fights ago. I think Green has an evergreen problem in that department.

The rest, well, it's up to the fighters. Whilst I thought JC did more showboating than boxing to win the earlier rounds tonight, Bika didn't actually capitalise fully. Then again, if we were in Australia or whatever, the scoreacards could easily have been different

mrbassie · Post by **mrbassie** » 15 Oct 2006, 05:28

he was a good opponent because it was a competitive fight and despite all the grappling and fouling a compelling one too, I don't understand this thing of people playing pretend manager and only wanting fights their favourite can dominate, then complain about dull walkovers.

glahn · Post by **glahn** » 15 Oct 2006, 05:43

People forget that Calzaghe actually looked worse against the likes of Salem before pulling off that performance against Lacy. He just needs the right type of opponent to bring out the best in him. It's no coincidence that his best showings have been against Eubank and Lacy, while he has often looked poor against lesser fighters. People who write him off against Kessler on the basis of last night are crazy, simple as that.