WBO push for Calzaghe-Inkin!

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 23 Apr 2007, 10:20

Nice one. I'm pulling for the upset. I think Joe and Warren need a drastic shakeup.

They're acting like they think he's a bum and could be in for a shock.

from fightnews via icwales

The WBO is reportedly putting the heat on unbeaten super middleweight champion Joe Calzage to face top challenger, unbeaten Dennis Inkin (30-0, 23 KOs). "The WBO want Joe to fight a mandatory challenger and Inkin tops their list," Calzaghe's promoter allegedly told IC Wales. "The WBO wants Joe to fight in July. Joe wants to fight in July too but not against a nobody like Inkin. Joe only wants big box office fighters who will interest American TV. People will say 'Denis who?' We need to find a big name quick because the WBO are putting the pressure on."

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 23 Apr 2007, 10:23

how convenient from the wbo.

seems like calzaghe ain't happy to oblige this time.

that's good news.

time for warren and palle to get together and make a proper fight then isn't it.

salaco · Post by **salaco** » 23 Apr 2007, 10:25

Yeah, the same way they 'pushed' for Freeman Barr years ago. Its funny how mandatories can be postponed and ignored sometimes and become urgent and compelling at other times. BS.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 23 Apr 2007, 10:26

Inkin's a skilled guy. 1st world class mandatory for Joe, with some skills to boot. At least we'll have Joe in v a solid technical fighter who can punch a bit.

pundit · Post by **pundit** » 23 Apr 2007, 11:05

Final Fight wrote:Nice one. I'm pulling for the upset. I think Joe and Warren need a drastic shakeup.

They're acting like they think he's a bum and could be in for a shock.

from fightnews via icwales

The WBO is reportedly putting the heat on unbeaten super middleweight champion Joe Calzage to face top challenger, unbeaten Dennis Inkin (30-0, 23 KOs). "The WBO want Joe to fight a mandatory challenger and Inkin tops their list," Calzaghe's promoter allegedly allegedly told IC Wales. "The WBO wants Joe to fight in July. Joe wants to fight in July too but not against a nobody like Inkin. Joe only wants big box office fighters who will interest American TV. People will say 'Denis who?' We need to find a big name quick because the WBO are putting the pressure on."

Let's not be naive. If the WBO says this it's because Warren wants it.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 23 Apr 2007, 11:17

Doesn't make sense, it's not going to generate a lot of money, and Inkin sounds like a much tougher than usual mandatory.

Is it possible the WBO are thinking Calzaghe's near the end of his reign now, and are looking to have a Kohl managed fighter running the WBO title? After all, Kohl has a long history with the WBO too.

pundit · Post by **pundit** » 23 Apr 2007, 11:18

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Doesn't make sense, it's not going to generate a lot of money, and Inkin sounds like a much tougher than usual mandatory.

Is it possible the WBO are thinking Calzaghe's near the end of his reign now, and are looking to have a Kohl managed fighter running the WBO title? After all, Kohl has a long history with the WBO too.

It was Warren himself who a few weeks ago first raised the possibility of righting Inkin. And now the WBO puts "pressure" on Warren -- haha.

Moreover, I believe Calzaghe can do without a belt at this juncture. Everyone knows that he and Kessler are the guys at 168. Dropping the belt would even incrase his options -- e.g., he could fight Mundine who is, as a consequence of his WBA title status, prohibited from participating in unifiers. In a nutshell: if they don't want Inkin they don't need to fight him.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 23 Apr 2007, 11:21

The cynic in me sees your point.

However, Inkin does seem a bizzare choice, given how few fights Calzaghe has left in him in all liklihood. As a keep busy fight it seems a little risky taking on a hungry eastern european fighter who is in his prime.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 23 Apr 2007, 11:39

Final Fight wrote:Nice one. I'm pulling for the upset. I think Joe and Warren need a drastic shakeup.

They're acting like they think he's a bum and could be in for a shock.

from fightnews via icwales

The WBO is reportedly putting the heat on unbeaten super middleweight champion Joe Calzage to face top challenger, unbeaten Dennis Inkin (30-0, 23 KOs). "The WBO want Joe to fight a mandatory challenger and Inkin tops their list," Calzaghe's promoter allegedly allegedly told IC Wales. "The WBO wants Joe to fight in July. Joe wants to fight in July too but not against a nobody like Inkin. Joe only wants big box office fighters who will interest American TV. People will say 'Denis who?' We need to find a big name quick because the WBO are putting the pressure on."

People said "Sakio who???", people said "Evans Who???", people said "Mario/Kabary/Mger etc. who???" its never stopped him before.

Basically Frank wants to fight Inkin rather than Froch, so all of a sudden the WBO want Inkin as well. Just fight Carl Froch FFS

holyfields_ear · Post by **holyfields_ear** » 23 Apr 2007, 11:43

No chance of Froch getting in with Calzaghe then :x The WBO should make Froch and Inkin fight an eliminator before deciding on any mandatory. Froch has fought better competition. I'd put his win against Tatevosyan over Inkin's win against Veit. The WBO made Holt vs Arnaoutis an eliminator this weekend - no reason they shouldn't make one here either.

fried bread · Post by **fried bread** » 23 Apr 2007, 11:45

Freeman Barr? I think he lost to Mgr Mkr, making MM mandatory. I watched Inkin on Eurosport a month or 2 ago and he was impressive. Better than Freeman and Veit for sure.

Pundit - valid point. Joe doesn't need a title. He is at the "career cash in" point. Where he can fight a Roy Jones, raise his profile and then get Taylor. Or something.

Some definite conspiracy theorists here! I lean with Universum having some push. As with the Veit 2 situation.

[/People said "Sakio who???", people said "Evans Who???", people said "Mario/Kabary/Mger etc. who???" its never stopped him before.

Basically Frank wants to fight Inkin rather than Froch, so all of a sudden the WBO want Inkin as well. Just fight Carl Froch FFS

Inkin is as much a handful as Froch. You're right though Warren sounds a tit having the nerve to say that. It's an a similar league to Warren saying "Kessler beat Sheika recently, who Calzaghe KO'd!"

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 23 Apr 2007, 11:54

holyfields_ear wrote:No chance of Froch getting in with Calzaghe then :x The WBO should make Froch and Inkin fight an eliminator before deciding on any mandatory. Froch has fought better competition. I'd put his win against Tatevosyan over Inkin's win against Veit. The WBO made Holt vs Arnaoutis an eliminator this weekend - no reason they shouldn't make one here either.

Froch was calling for an eliminator with Inkin

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 23 Apr 2007, 12:19

Inkin is Universum, they have quite a bit of power with the WBO.... (see Mario Veit for example)....

Axe · Post by **Axe** » 23 Apr 2007, 14:10

I agree with Vicious, this is actually a very decent challenger for Joe, and certainly not one that Warren picked as a passing time fight. Kohl wanted a shot for Inkin and he got it.

As to Froch, I doubt he is even on Inkin's level, to be honest (though he did call him out).

The only real fight at 168 for Calzaghe is Kessler, other than that he has to look in other weightclasses if he wants to increase his P4P status or legacy.

salaco · Post by **salaco** » 24 Apr 2007, 03:59

fried bread wrote:Freeman Barr? I think he lost to Mgr Mkr, making MM mandatory. I watched Inkin on Eurosport a month or 2 ago and he was impressive. Better than Freeman and Veit for sure.

Pundit - valid point. Joe doesn't need a title. He is at the "career cash in" point. Where he can fight a Roy Jones, raise his profile and then get Taylor. Or something.

Some definite conspiracy theorists here! I lean with Universum having some push. As with the Veit 2 situation.

[/People said "Sakio who???", people said "Evans Who???", people said "Mario/Kabary/Mger etc. who???" its never stopped him before.

Basically Frank wants to fight Inkin rather than Froch, so all of a sudden the WBO want Inkin as well. Just fight Carl Froch FFS
Inkin is as much a handful as Froch. You're right though Warren sounds a tit having the nerve to say that. It's an a similar league to Warren saying "Kessler beat Sheika recently, who Calzaghe KO'd!"

The point was that Freeman Barr was his mandatory for 2+ yrs (in fact, he really sat on that position and did fcuk all until getting beaten in a tune-up against mger) if my memory serves me and the WBO never bothered pushing Joe in that case.

How about Joe fight Kessler, then he'll still have the opportunity to acquire some belts and won't have to worry about his wbo mandatory?

It might be a backward step but the IBF titleist Berrio would give Joe a good test too...am not convinced with Inkin, he looks pretty solid but has no special quality as far as i can see...

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 24 Apr 2007, 04:33

who was Freeman's promoter?

Inkin has fine skills. It's up to him to be able to step up to another level or not. At 29, with a champion near the end, he has the perfect chance. He can be hurt, but Joe has no single punch power anymore. I doubt he gets shoeshined - he's too polished.

If it goes from Kessler/Taylor, to Froch/Jones Jr that's a bitter disappointment. Settle for the middle ground, the WBO mandatory.

Axe is right. Froch may not be on the same level as Inkin. We know Carl has the power but may not have the all round skills to be in v Joe for long. Stylistically, Inkin is superior to the 'young' contenders (Bute, Froch, Allan Green) and I give him the best shot.

'Joe Calzaghe in Good Mandatory Shocker!'

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 24 Apr 2007, 04:33

knockout wrote:Inkin is Universum, they have quite a bit of power with the WBO.... (see Mario Veit for example)....

That was the point I was making Knockout.

Universum can bring the WBO some nice lolly in sanctioning fees, and Calzaghe isn't exactly the most active of champions, and is nearing the end of his career. I'm sure the WBO wouldn't mind at all if one of the Universum boys with their big TV audience and nice gates were able to get their hands on the title.

I'm not saying that the WBO are doing this, but it's certainly not beyond the realms of possibility.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 24 Apr 2007, 04:46

I'm trying to figure out - how did the purse bids for Joe v Veit 2 get out of Warren's hands?

He was ready to fight Magee. But the fight (a voluntary) was too close to mandatory and was called off making Joe go to Germany or vacate.

Universum obviously place a lot of rpestige on getting their fighters title shots. They definitely have some power and influence.

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 24 Apr 2007, 04:59

Sorry James, missed your post and did indeed repeat what you were saying!!!!

The WBO made an absolute fortune from Universum with the Klitchsko brothers and even more so Michalczewski, those guys fought every few months in front of thousands of people, for huge purses. Which the WBO got there percentage of.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 24 Apr 2007, 05:25

pundit wrote:
Let's not be naive. If the WBO says this it's because Warren wants it.

Well, clearly that's NOT the case. Why on earth would Warren label him a "no-body" if he plans to promote the fight? If that was the case, FW would be calling him a top-rated dangerous guy etc etc

As Knockout says, it's obviously the well connected German promoters who are pushing for this.

At any other time, Inkin would be a very decent fight for JC, but not now, when he's getting in the way of a long over due mega fight - though God alone knows who that'll be with.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 24 Apr 2007, 05:46

pundit wrote:
Final Fight wrote:Nice one. I'm pulling for the upset. I think Joe and Warren need a drastic shakeup.

They're acting like they think he's a bum and could be in for a shock.

from fightnews via icwales

The WBO is reportedly putting the heat on unbeaten super middleweight champion Joe Calzage to face top challenger, unbeaten Dennis Inkin (30-0, 23 KOs). "The WBO want Joe to fight a mandatory challenger and Inkin tops their list," Calzaghe's promoter allegedly allegedly allegedly told IC Wales. "The WBO wants Joe to fight in July. Joe wants to fight in July too but not against a nobody like Inkin. Joe only wants big box office fighters who will interest American TV. People will say 'Denis who?' We need to find a big name quick because the WBO are putting the pressure on."
Let's not be naive. If the WBO says this it's because Warren wants it.

So If Joe fights Inkin would you consider Inkin bad opp then just because Warren picks him?

salaco · Post by **salaco** » 24 Apr 2007, 08:43

I'd laugh my ass off if joe didn't get the chance to cash out and was beaten by an unspectacular mandatory like Inkin...

I wouldn't say Inkin is certainly better than Bute or Green (who isn't that great) , and he's roughly on the same level as Froch...he hasn't beaten anybody of note outside Veit, which is fine but only that...

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 24 Apr 2007, 08:48

Grren's useless. Inkin a much better technician.

salaco · Post by **salaco** » 24 Apr 2007, 08:59

Final Fight wrote:Grren's useless. Inkin a much better technician.

Alright already, Inkin is great, we get it. 8)
I disagree, Green may be a scrub but at least we got a chance to find out. Inkin has only fought one 168Iber of note, and by some accounts he didn't look too spectacular against a more recent opponent who shouldn't have been a problem. From my limited exposure to Inkin, I'd expect him to lose too many early rds to calzaghe, come strong towards the middle and do enough to make it competitive but not that close down the stretch.

Ally-M1 · Post by **Ally-M1** » 24 Apr 2007, 12:06

It be a rare mandatory for Joe to fight but I believe Inkin would not pose a huge threat...

I the old adage in boxing is that you never know but i'd be pretty confident Calzaghe would have to much for Inkin.

WBO push for Calzaghe-Inkin!

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