The Calzaghe Guessing Game

[Autobarn]

It's time to use our intellectual muscle and abilities of precognition to fathom who Calzaghe will fight after Manfredo Jr.

SN have burned bridges pretty much with Woods and Kessler, no one believes Froch will be on the horizon because Carl has a different promoter.

I don't see him fighting any skilled/unfashionable Euros, so here the WBO comes in handy because they've seldom forced him to face anyone.


HOPKINS wants Jones, TAYLOR wants Wright apparently and a longer stay at 160 than predicted. Scratch them off, IMO.


Okay, where does that leave us? The route is American interest, going by Manfredo and of course HBO's involvement.

Tarver & Johnson are just too old, forget them.

There is a rumoured catchweight bout between Edison Miranda and Allan Green. Calzaghe vs the winner would be a natural HBO.

Then there are the 2 boxers who drew in the ShoBox super middleweight final, Hanshaw and Mendy. Hanshaw has had a serious cut, will he be recovered on time? How about Mendy?

[fried bread]

I thought he would cash out with big names. He needs to step it up because Kessler's reign is getting more interesting.

[Max Molyneux]

I think he might end up going for Kessler, Taylor wants to stay at Middle, Hopkins wants Jones again.

Since when will Calzaghe care about Allan Green, He's done nothing more than 8 rounders on Shobox and the odd 10 rounders. Miranda will probably want Abraham and before Abraham his best was over a shot Eastman.

[Max Molyneux]

I thought he would cash out with big names. He needs to step it up because Kessler's reign is getting more interesting.

Interesting since when?

I don't think he would of unified without getting the idea from Calzaghe and Lacy doing It first. He was nearly going to fight Tsypko.

It made sense to unify though to get more fans on his side so people can say Calzaghe's ducking him.

[nickd]

Mario Veit III, Pudwill II.

[Max Molyneux]

Mario Veit III, Pudwill II.

How about Lacy 2? We all know Lacy was robbed and won every round and I had It 119 - 105 to Lacy.

[Autobarn]

I think he might end up going for Kessler, Taylor wants to stay at Middle, Hopkins wants Jones again.

Since when will Calzaghe care about Allan Green, He's done nothing more than 8 rounders on Shobox and the odd 10 rounders. Miranda will probably want Abraham and before Abraham his best was over a shot Eastman.

I don't think anyone sees a Kessler fight coming. Calzaghe's reaction to kessler winning a unification wasn't what I thought it'd be. i thought he would've been pissed big time and demanded a fight - as if it was a slight to him.

I think Calzaghe's career is going to wind down like Larry Holmes'. Lacy being the equivalent of Cooney (right down to the 'left hook' and the 'overrated' postmortem) - who brought the last big, big effort out of a long reigner. It will all be about what money he'll be able to make.

Methinks he can do this fighting inexperienced, albeit promising Americans / US based, rather than title unifications.

The natural direction to follow the win over Lacy is someone recognisble to USA, someone either exciting or with a personality. HBO won't put up with any Bikas nor any dull mandatories.

You say Green's not ready, I agree, but if he beats Miranda, it may create the image that he is ready (& make him a legit top 10). ppl tune in to watch Green. If Miranda knocks him out, he's KO'd a super middle, & surely HBO wouldn't turn their nose up at Miranda-Calzaghe/

I remember Jay Larkin was trying to mastermind Calzaghe-Trinidad for JC's 'US debut' LOL.

[Autobarn]

Certainly. If Calzaghe was 5'6, 147 lbs and fighting a peak Tito he'd probably befuddle the Puerto Rican. Punchers hate fluidity, an alert mind and fast hands.

It was a sick idea from Warren's US adviser!

Probably why I reckon Miranda could be on the horizon. It suits SN, it suits HBO, for the excitement factor if/when Edison lands, in all it looks great on paper & a nice calculate risk for a US debut.

I'm glad Hopkins-Calzaghe looks like it has slim chances. The fight would just stink. Hopkins spoiled for 3/4 of each Taylor fight, then started hitting him more freely when he was pissed off, tired and slightly confused.

[nickd]

I seriously think Hopkins is the hardest fight out there for Calzaghe aside from Kessler. Calzaghe's darting in and out flurrying with not much in the way of defence would play right into Hopkins' counter punching style. Not saying Hopkins would win but he's land PLENTY.

[dumdane]

I thought he would cash out with big names. He needs to step it up because Kessler's reign is getting more interesting.

Interesting since when?

I don't think he would of unified without getting the idea from Calzaghe and Lacy doing It first. He was nearly going to fight Tsypko.

It made sense to unify though to get more fans on his side so people can say Calzaghe's ducking him.

So now your the expert of Kessler's reasons and motives?

Kessler's mere presense in the division and the impact of avoiding him (sorry - chosing not to fight him for financial reasons - if that's more to your liking) on Calzaghe's reputation is really bothering you isn't it?

Tough.
Kessler isn't going away.

[Autobarn]

IMO when big fighters try & negotiate there's too many egos in the way. Hopkins & Jones are hard ppl to come to terms with. It took them 14 years to sort out a rematch!

I just don't see any of them happening for Calzaghe.


Anyone think Anthony Hanshaw or Jean Paul Mendy are acceptable foes?
They drew in the ShoBox final, for super middles (this is the tourney that Bika pulled out of). So obviously there isn't a natural choice - but many feel Hanshaw won.

Hanshaw and Mendy are #8 and #9 in the World Boxing Media, unrated in The Ring (they prefer Manfredo, in at #10), and unrated in BM - the latter 2 may be out of date.

These gimmicky sort of things do tend to create shortcuts to being a challenger.

[fried bread]

I thought he would cash out with big names. He needs to step it up because Kessler's reign is getting more interesting.

Interesting since when?

I don't think he would of unified without getting the idea from Calzaghe and Lacy doing It first. He was nearly going to fight Tsypko.

It made sense to unify though to get more fans on his side so people can say Calzaghe's ducking him.

His fights are flawless technically. Furthermore, he has solid comp going back through his last 6 fights.

You could argue his win over Beyer is the equivalent to Calzaghe-Lacy.
Ok, Lacy had a spotless record, a KO punch and a title.

Beyer had a title plus skills, Andrade is an unbeaten puncher. So Kessler's 'latest' 2 fights = Calzaghe-Lacy x2, hahahaha

[JC]

Be interesting to see what Ring Magazine would do about their SMW championship if kessler picked up the IBF belt too. If Calzaghe retired without facing Kessler what would they do, just transfer the belt across or only give Kessler the title if he beat the no2 in their rankings? Which at the rate Kesslers going he will probably have already done by then anyway. IMO The Ring were wrong to give Calzaghe the belt after beating Lacy.

[steve689]

Anyone think Anthony Hanshaw or Jean Paul Mendy are acceptable foes?

I would say not but again they are now familiar names in America after the tournament exposure so are probably as likely as anyone to go in there with Calzaghe. I strongly favour Allan Green next, if he doesn't meet Miranda i expect him to be in with Calzaghe come the Autumn.

[pundit]

There is a rumoured catchweight bout between Edison Miranda and Allan Green. Calzaghe vs the winner would be a natural HBO.

Wow, what a fight!!!!

Then there are the 2 boxers who drew in the ShoBox super middleweight final, Hanshaw and Mendy. Hanshaw has had a serious cut, will he be recovered on time? How about Mendy?

I have to admit, this one would be even better.

P

[fried bread]

Interesting since when?

I don't think he would of unified without getting the idea from Calzaghe and Lacy doing It first. He was nearly going to fight Tsypko.

It made sense to unify though to get more fans on his side so people can say Calzaghe's ducking him.

His fights are flawless technically. Furthermore, he has solid comp going back through his last 6 fights.

You could argue his win over Beyer is the equivalent to Calzaghe-Lacy.
Ok, Lacy had a spotless record, a KO punch and a title.

Beyer had a title plus skills, Andrade is an unbeaten puncher. So Kessler's 'latest' 2 fights = Calzaghe-Lacy x2, hahahaha

Technically you watch Kessler and think "I want to see more of this guy"

Absolutely. I enjoy a Calzaghe flurry as much as the next man. But it's good to see someone fight the correct way. That jab's a killer and with his size, Kessler is pretty hard to get near. By the time opponents get near him, their faces are in a bad way, lol

[Autobarn]

There is a rumoured catchweight bout between Edison Miranda and Allan Green. Calzaghe vs the winner would be a natural HBO.

Wow, what a fight!!!!

Then there are the 2 boxers who drew in the ShoBox super middleweight final, Hanshaw and Mendy. Hanshaw has had a serious cut, will he be recovered on time? How about Mendy?

I have to admit, this one would be even better.

P

Yeah, but I reckon Manfredo will be a good earner, and the logical step would be Hanshaw.

If Calzaghe were to debut in America, HBO would want someone 'interesting', & Calzaghe would want someone beatable. For risk/reward, it balances out pretty well, and for that Green/Miranda would be even better.


After Larry Holmes beat Cooney, he made nice money beating the likes of Marvis Frazier, James Smith and the like - rather than unifications with Thomas, Dokes, Coetzee etc - & he had a title (IBF) that would let him do what he wants.

Calzaghe's situation is similar. In this case he can live off that reality/tournament craze and maximise his earnings.

[Autobarn]

Be interesting to see what Ring Magazine would do about their SMW championship if kessler picked up the IBF belt too. If Calzaghe retired without facing Kessler what would they do, just transfer the belt across or only give Kessler the title if he beat the no2 in their rankings? Which at the rate Kesslers going he will probably have already done by then anyway. IMO The Ring were wrong to give Calzaghe the belt after beating Lacy.

good point. The Ring have now got a new advisory panel, and it seems that they're going to be more consistent/diligent with their rankings. There are ppl who object to their habit of passing off Ring belts to the winner of #1 and #3 contenders as Ring Champion -Cliff Rold has been criticla of this and he's on the panel.

[Max Molyneux]

I thought he would cash out with big names. He needs to step it up because Kessler's reign is getting more interesting.

Interesting since when?

I don't think he would of unified without getting the idea from Calzaghe and Lacy doing It first. He was nearly going to fight Tsypko.

It made sense to unify though to get more fans on his side so people can say Calzaghe's ducking him.

So now your the expert of Kessler's reasons and motives?

Kessler's mere presense in the division and the impact of avoiding him (sorry - chosing not to fight him for financial reasons - if that's more to your liking) on Calzaghe's reputation is really bothering you isn't it?

Tough.
Kessler isn't going away.

Don't assume, maybe you'd be able to hold an argument towards me.

If I said I was an expert, I'd have said It.

[eeler1]

I thought Calzaghe/Manfredo had a rematch clause?

[Max Molyneux]

Absolutely. I enjoy a Calzaghe flurry as much as the next man. But it's good to see someone fight the correct way. That jab's a killer and with his size, Kessler is pretty hard to get near. By the time opponents get near him, their faces are in a bad way, lol

Kessler's style does work that way when you fight the likes of Lucas and Beyer.

By the time Godzaghe gets near him, his face would be a puffcake.

Be interesting to see what Ring Magazine would do about their SMW championship if kessler picked up the IBF belt too. If Calzaghe retired without facing Kessler what would they do, just transfer the belt across or only give Kessler the title if he beat the no2 in their rankings? Which at the rate Kesslers going he will probably have already done by then anyway. IMO The Ring were wrong to give Calzaghe the belt after beating Lacy.

People were saying they didn't have a problem with the ring giving the winner of Calzaghe and Lacy their belt.

Calzaghe was No 1 on their ratings for years, I think they waited till he fought someone good since they wanted to give him their belt.

The ring Is overated, they give their belts to whoever HBO tells them too.

[nickd]

Bollocks, Ring and HBO are not connected in any way. Their policy is straightforward in the case of a vacant Ring belt 1 v 2 or 1 v 3 is for the Ring title. Its not rocket science. HBO has fornicate all to do with it.

[Max Molyneux]

Bollocks, Ring and HBO are not connected in any way. Their policy is straightforward in the case of a vacant Ring belt 1 v 2 or 1 v 3 is for the Ring title. Its not rocket science. HBO has fornicate all to do with it.

Well how do explain the ring giving Vitali Klitschko the belt for beating Sanders who was No 4 In the ring.

HBO uses the rings ratings on their site too.

[fried bread]

Max - Lucas and Beyer have very different styles. One is a southpaw no one expected to get beat to the jab so easily. The other is a pressure guy. No style has been able to get near Kessler thus far.

Calzaghe-Kessler isn't happening. Maybe Calzaghe could outwork him, maybe not. Kessler is taller and well outreaches him. This has technical fight written all over it. In techie fights, Calzaghe isn't as red hot as he can be. The taff works best with a hard puncher that he can bombard with flurries. Not the same against a cool headed boxer.

I agree with Maussa. J-Cal could do well with the reality stars, tournament winners. Beat up these young guys before they get really good. It does seem he wants the American money and Joes not getting any younger.

[nickd]

Calzaghe is a joke, yes he beat Lacy but otherwise avoiding stiff challenges. Talks about Hopkins, Taylor etc then fights Manfredo. No doubt Hansaw or Allen Green will be up next after much superfight talk.