Here is a great US opponent for Calzaghe

[pundit]

Chad Dawson. Young, strong, technically versed boxer-puncher, at the hight of his powers, WBC belt holder, won his title the hard way by beating the highly considered Tom Adamek.

If Calzaghe fought Dawson to become a two-weight titleholder I could live with him avoiding Kessler (although best would be of course if he fought both). There are two avenues to greatness now -- Kessler and Dawson -- and the second offers everything that is supposedly wrong with the Kessler option, especially an opponent with a US passport.

[Autobarn]

Even better US opponent:

Kelly Pavlik - formidable infighter / natural middle, defensive lapses,

Edison Miranda - KO puncher, exciting / much smaller,

Anthony 'Not Hen' Hanshaw - tournament drawer, overhyped,

Jermain Taylor - fast, talented, hard hitter ready to outgrow middle / tendency to back up and give away initiative,

Roy Jones - big name, past his best

Calzaghe ought to make his mind up soon because he will miss the party.

[pundit]

Even better US opponent:

Kelly Pavlik - formidable infighter / natural middle, defensive lapses,

Edison Miranda - KO puncher, exciting / much smaller,

Anthony 'Not Hen' Hanshaw - tournament drawer, overhyped,

Jermain Taylor - fast, talented, hard hitter ready to outgrow middle / tendency to back up and give away initiative,

Roy Jones - big name, past his best

Calzaghe ought to make his mind up soon because he will miss the party.

Actually I was serious about Dawson. Calzaghe shouldn't fight little men or yesterday's champs, this won't add much to what he's already achieved. He should take up the stiffest challenges that present themselves here and today, at either his own weight or at 175.

If he's really serious about achieving greatness in the US, Dawson's performance last night was a gift from heaven for him.

[boxerrob2005]

Yeah Calzaghe vs Dawson is the way forward. He always wanted to be a two weight champ and now he has the chance to beat an undefeated young american champion who looked real class last night. It would do a lot to enhance his legacy and would mean more than reaching 20 defences unless he achieves that by beating Kessler who is his only real threat at super-middleweight.
On last nights performance i would say Dawson has overtaken Jermain Taylor as a defining fight for Calzaghe.

[Syntax Error]

Even better US opponent:

Kelly Pavlik - formidable infighter / natural middle, defensive lapses,

Edison Miranda - KO puncher, exciting / much smaller,

Anthony 'Not Hen' Hanshaw - tournament drawer, overhyped,

Jermain Taylor - fast, talented, hard hitter ready to outgrow middle / tendency to back up and give away initiative,

Roy Jones - big name, past his best

Calzaghe ought to make his mind up soon because he will miss the party.

Sadly, Calzaghe missed the party many moons ago when he decided to tuck himself away in a remote Welsh village, rather than get on a plane to the USA/continental Europe & go after the big boys in the SM division in the late 1990's & early 2000's.

[Autobarn]

Even better US opponent:

Kelly Pavlik - formidable infighter / natural middle, defensive lapses,

Edison Miranda - KO puncher, exciting / much smaller,

Anthony 'Not Hen' Hanshaw - tournament drawer, overhyped,

Jermain Taylor - fast, talented, hard hitter ready to outgrow middle / tendency to back up and give away initiative,

Roy Jones - big name, past his best

Calzaghe ought to make his mind up soon because he will miss the party.

Actually I was serious about Dawson. Calzaghe shouldn't fight little men or yesterday's champs, this won't add much to what he's already achieved. He should take up the stiffest challenges that present themselves here and today, at either his own weight or at 175.

If he's really serious about achieving greatness in the US, Dawson's performance last night was a gift from heaven for him.

I believed you. I just think that whoever he fights will be an exciting name with one great flaw.

With those bad hands and staying at 168 (where he's been since '93) there has to be a catch.

Dawson has looked excellent for a while, but he probably won't be the name that Miranda is. (until Miranda gets brutally broken, then he'll be disowned) And he'll be much harder to beat.

[SticknMove]

Even better US opponent:

Kelly Pavlik - formidable infighter / natural middle, defensive lapses,

Edison Miranda - KO puncher, exciting / much smaller,

Anthony 'Not Hen' Hanshaw - tournament drawer, overhyped,

Jermain Taylor - fast, talented, hard hitter ready to outgrow middle / tendency to back up and give away initiative,

Roy Jones - big name, past his best

Calzaghe ought to make his mind up soon because he will miss the party.

Sadly, Calzaghe missed the party many moons ago when he decided to tuck himself away in a remote Welsh village, rather than get on a plane to the USA/continental Europe & go after the big boys in the SM division in the late 1990's & early 2000's.

Couldn't agree more Syntax, whatever he may have achieved by the suggestion of moving away from the comfort of home is open to a whatif debate. Smacks of insecurity in his own ability and now it seems it's too late.

[Max Molyneux]

I agree with Dawson being a good opponent If Joe's looking to Impress America though.

[stujones]

Now we might have the "real" Jeff Lacy if you know what I mean. Dawson has just dominated a very decent champion who had just fought the fight of his life. Not a fight for the vacant title against a guy who had lost previous title fights (and lost subsequent)... not against a shot fighter (we didn't know at the time) who Peter Manfredo did an equally destructive job.

Dawson has looked the real deal all through his career - now he has done it against a better opposition than Lacy has beaten.

Lets get it on!!!

Forget Woods vs Dawson, Chad would toy with Clinton.

[Autobarn]

I agree with Dawson being a good opponent If Joe's looking to Impress America though.

I think this is a fight where - win or lose - it will be impossible to look good. The US debut opponent would have to be someone he'd look good against, IMO.

[jangeorg]

Chad Dawson. Young, strong, technically versed boxer-puncher, at the hight of his powers, WBC belt holder, won his title the hard way by beating the highly considered Tom Adamek.

If Calzaghe fought Dawson to become a two-weight titleholder I could live with him avoiding Kessler (although best would be of course if he fought both). There are two avenues to greatness now -- Kessler and Dawson -- and the second offers everything that is supposedly wrong with the Kessler option, especially an opponent with a US passport.

No way Calzaghe will fight Dawson,Calzaghe only fight blow-up middelweight or some tv-stars

[Neri]

Even better US opponent:

Kelly Pavlik - formidable infighter / natural middle, defensive lapses,

Edison Miranda - KO puncher, exciting / much smaller,

Anthony 'Not Hen' Hanshaw - tournament drawer, overhyped,

Jermain Taylor - fast, talented, hard hitter ready to outgrow middle / tendency to back up and give away initiative,

Roy Jones - big name, past his best

Calzaghe ought to make his mind up soon because he will miss the party.

Good list with the exception of Roy Jones. A Calzaghe victory over him will not gain anything other than money. I would assume most fans would rather see Calzaghe-Dawson than Calzaghe-Jones. In fact I don't want to see Jones versus anyone.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Won't happen. Sad but I fear, true.

I think Calzaghe wants the cachet of a Light Heavyweight title to add to his resume, but isn't interested in facing a young and hungry one. I think Calzaghe feels, rightly or wrongly he has the measure of Clinton Woods or Glen Johnson, but I don't believe he will fancy taking on a young, hungry champion who is yet to peak.

In Lacy, I think Calzaghe knew he had his number going into the fight, even if most of us didn't.

I'd love Joe to prove me wrong, because he is pissing away his career with marking time fights right now.