Calzaghe Salutes Tony Blair

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 12 May 2007, 09:27

CALZAGHE SALUTES BLAIR BUT VOWS TO MAINTAIN HIS REIGN

With Tony Blair stepping down from power after 10 years as Prime Minister; record-breaking World Champion Joe Calzaghe has promised that he will not be relinquishing his position as the world's number one super-middleweight in the near future.

Blair flattened rival John Major when he swept to power in May 1997 and Calzaghe followed five months later with an emphatic points victory over British great Chris Eubank at the Sheffield Arena to begin his reign as WBO Champion.

Unbeaten Welshman Calzaghe, the longest reigning world champion in boxing, said, "Blair might be bringing down the curtains on his Premiership but I'm still at the top of my game and I don't see anyone toppling me either so I'm going to be around for a few good years yet,"

"I salute him for the 10 years he has served as Prime Minister because to rule for a decade in any career, be it politics or sport, is a great achievement and he showed real leadership, courage and drive in his time in power,"

"Gordon Brown might be lined up to succeed him but I don't see anyone in Britain who is ready to step into my shoes. One things for sure I'm not going to surrender my title; whoever wants it is going to have to knock me out to tear it from me. I train as a challenger and the fear of losing makes me keep hold of the title to remain undefeated and with that mindset I can rule for as long as I want to,"

Calzaghe set new records last month when he faced American star Peter Manfredo at the Millennium Stadium. The successful 20th defence of his title meant he became the most successful British fighter ever and tied with heavyweight legend Larry Holmes and middleweight great Hopkins for all-time record title defences. A record 35,000 fans flocked into the Millennium Stadium to create the largest ever attendance at an indoor boxing event in Europe.

He continued, "I've still got a lot of things to do in my career and over the next few years you will see the best of me to achieve them. I want Jermain Taylor because I love taking on and beating the top American's. They bring the best out in me - just ask Jeff Lacy. Mikkel Kessler is in my sights because he's claiming to be the best in the division and I will happily relieve him from his two titles. Plus a burning ambition is to become a two-weight world champion and I want Bernard Hopkins at light-heavyweight,"

After his sensational victory over IBF World Champion Jeff Lacy last year, described as the best performance ever by a British boxer, Calzaghe catapulted into the the top 10 pound-for-pound ratings and was awarded the prestigious Ring Magazine Belt.

He added"It's great to create a legacy but that will be recognised when I have retired. I believe I'm getting the recognition I deserve now from the public and media but I'm just going to get on with my career and face the best out there and let history decide where I stand."

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 12 May 2007, 11:04

it's all gone a bit quiet on calzaghe-kessler over the last few weeks. i assume the 2 promoters have hit a brick wall again.

it'll be interesting to hear what taylor's plans are after he beats spinks next week.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 12 May 2007, 11:21

Both have been a big let down as far as I am concerned.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 12 May 2007, 12:17

Terry D wrote:
KOJOE90 wrote:Both have been a big let down as far as I am concerned.
Yeah, one guy for allegedly being a bit too insistent on going to war, the other for allegedly being a bit nonplussed about going to war.

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 12 May 2007, 15:15

Hmm thats a fight I'd enjoy :P

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 12 May 2007, 18:59

Im not going into politics because this is not the place but I will just say a couple of things - Give it a little time and you will wish we still had Blair and eventually he will be recognised as the best PM this country has ever had and I have seen a few in my lifetime, Winston Churchill was PM when I was born - If you know anything about Britains links with America political, financial and historical you will know why Blair went along with Bush, he had no choice - Right Calzaghe, I really dont know why the guy gets such a rough ride on here - He has made some tough defenses of his WBO title - OK not all were hard fights for him, but thats the same for any champion - His last fight was about money, you cant blame Joe for taking an easy fight to make a lot of money - All that is over and he now, he wants the big names only in big money fights - By the very nature of the sport every fight is a risk and some more than others but he has taken the rough with the smooth and remained champion for an incredible 10 years - The Lacy fight was a massive risk, even many of his fans doubted he could win but he not only won, he won by a landslide winning almost every round - WTF does the man have to do to get the respect he deserves - He doesnt want Froch because he knows he is in a class above Froch and fighting Taylor or Kessler is not only far more competative but more of a money maker as well - I have to admit I would love to see them get it on just to see that point proven but Joe is the best in the world so he hardly needs to prove he is the best in Britain - Before Joe retires he will clean up but dont expect KOs he will win on points most of the time, looking after his hands - Joe is a fantastic champion, I wont say the same as McGuigan, but certainly one of the best of all time - He has made boxing history and deserves a lot more credit than some on here are giving him.

funso banjo baby · Post by **funso banjo baby** » 13 May 2007, 06:02

blair and calzaghe ........ THE ERA OF HAPPY SLAPPING

Rocky Balboa · Post by **Rocky Balboa** » 13 May 2007, 10:56

Wonder how much Blair would want to fight Calzaghe?

Allegedly Frank might want options though!

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 14 May 2007, 04:45

Rocky Balboa wrote:Wonder how much Blair would want to fight Calzaghe?

Allegedly Frank might want options though!

I'd want options on one of the best Prime Ministers too though.

Except for sending soldiers to Iraq and places like Afganistan, theres not been that many complaints about him.

Taki... · Post by **Taki...** » 14 May 2007, 05:35

It's a wonder Calzaghe didn't break a hand during the salute.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 14 May 2007, 06:09

Terry D wrote:
KOJOE90 wrote:Both have been a big let down as far as I am concerned.
Yeah, one guy for allegedly being a bit too insistent on going to war, the other for allegedly being a bit nonplussed about going to war.

Very good Terry

Des1 · Post by **Des1** » 14 May 2007, 12:41

wildwaylon wrote:Im not going into politics because this is not the place but I will just say a couple of things - Give it a little time and you will wish we still had Blair and eventually he will be recognised as the best PM this country has ever had and I have seen a few in my lifetime, Winston Churchill was PM when I was born - If you know anything about Britains links with America political, financial and historical you will know why Blair went along with Bush, he had no choice - Right Calzaghe, I really dont know why the guy gets such a rough ride on here - He has made some tough defenses of his WBO title - OK not all were hard fights for him, but thats the same for any champion - His last fight was about money, you cant blame Joe for taking an easy fight to make a lot of money - All that is over and he now, he wants the big names only in big money fights - By the very nature of the sport every fight is a risk and some more than others but he has taken the rough with the smooth and remained champion for an incredible 10 years - The Lacy fight was a massive risk, even many of his fans doubted he could win but he not only won, he won by a landslide winning almost every round - WTF does the man have to do to get the respect he deserves - He doesnt want Froch because he knows he is in a class above Froch and fighting Taylor or Kessler is not only far more competative but more of a money maker as well - I have to admit I would love to see them get it on just to see that point proven but Joe is the best in the world so he hardly needs to prove he is the best in Britain - Before Joe retires he will clean up but dont expect KOs he will win on points most of the time, looking after his hands - Joe is a fantastic champion, I wont say the same as McGuigan, but certainly one of the best of all time - He has made boxing history and deserves a lot more credit than some on here are giving him.

Still wish we had blair as PM in few years time? dont speak for me, i'll be glad to see the back of him, opening the doors to this once great country & letting anyone and everyone come in who dont respect this country, no checks on them, at the worst we might be being flooded with sleeping terrorists, rapists, drug gangs etc or at the best he has just let this country be over crowded letting our oap's who fought, worked & made this country, suffer. My view is blair didnt & dosnt care about his own people. He like maybe you is wrapped up in cotton wool out the way & dosnt come into contact or see the real shit that goes on. This country is a soft touch to those coming over but a hard touch for those born and bred here. This country may have been going down hill but blair has sure helped it go down hill faster

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 14 May 2007, 12:59

wildwaylon wrote: His last fight was about money, you cant blame Joe for taking an easy fight to make a lot of money - All that is over and he now, he wants the big names only in big money fights -
.

After how many Calzaghe fights have we been fed that line? Oh yeah- EVERY ONE!

wildwaylon wrote: remained champion for an incredible 10 years .

You sound like Blairs boy Pete Madleson spouting out whacky figures that are only impressive in the superficial sense.

Do we applaud Calzaghe for 'all these tough years'? 1998- his hellish struggles with Branko Sobot and Juan Carlos Gimenez, or 99 where we were treated to Robin Reid and Rick Thornberry, lets not forget that strenuous 2003- his 2 rds of action v Byron Mitchell, his 2001 forray into deep waters v Mario Veit and Will McIntyre, 2004 we had Mger Mktchian and Kabar Salem, 2005 it was Evans Ashira and Veit again... 2007 so far its Pete Manfredo... Do you see what im getting at? Not many Roy Jones, James Toneys, Julian Jacksons, Nigel Benns amongst them is there?

Add 1 talanted boxer & a shameless promoter, minus a credible sanctioning body or any mandatories, equals nice long 10 year PR reign.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 14 May 2007, 13:15

I think Blair is a decent PM, who made a massive massive miscalculation in going to war in Iraq, believing he would be hailed as a conquering hero who liberated Iraq.

There was a piece about him in the independent today, and it was remarkable just how naive he was about the true situation in Iraq, and Americas foreign policy for that matter. Staggering for a politician of his standing, but he didn't seem to even consider or understand America's reasons for going into Iraq, thinking that this confilct was going to be like Kosovo where they rescued the people from tyranny, was a very big mistake indeed, in a fiercely tribal country like Iraq.

600,000 dead and counting, before this war is over, I am sure over 1 million Iraq's will die, and who knows when the civil war will end. My guess, it will end with another dictator or military coup 5 years down the line, supported by the western powers as they seek to stabilise the region and keep the oil pumping through Iraq.

Woe betide us that we get a pratt like Cameron in power, which I think he will unless labour ditch Gordon Brown, and possibly even if they do. Cameron represents the ultimate evolution in style over substance, focus group led politics, but once that bastard gets in to power, we'll be back in the bad old tory days.

The funny this is, I suspect that in another era, Gordon Brown might have made a good prime minister, but in todays image obssessed culture, he hasn't got a chance, he makes Richard Nixon look like a warm and genuine human being on camera.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 14 May 2007, 13:28

Des1 wrote:]Still wish we had blair as PM in few years time? dont speak for me, i'll be glad to see the back of him, opening the doors to this once great country & letting anyone and everyone come in who dont respect this country, no checks on them, at the worst we might be being flooded with sleeping terrorists, rapists, drug gangs etc or at the best he has just let this country be over crowded letting our oap's who fought, worked & made this country, suffer

For the past 6 years I have worked in a job which means I am in close contact with The Home Office on an allmost daily basis (with regards to immergration matters) and I can confirm that there are very few, if any at times, checks done on people entering the UK. The whole system is a complete mess.

pundit · Post by **pundit** » 14 May 2007, 15:00

The difference is that Tony Blair didn't hold a minor belt only controlled by his promoter, but instead the unified, lineal, undisputed UK Premiership.

Blair took the office from the previous unified, lineal, undisputed Prime Minister (John Major) in a one-sided beating, and defended it twice by pummeling his mandatory challegners (William Hague, Michael Howard). The mandatories were, incedentally, not chosen by Tony Blair's promoter (Peter Mendelssohn for much of Tony's career) but by gruelling eliminator tournaments within the opposition party.

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 14 May 2007, 19:11

Des1 wrote:
wildwaylon wrote:Im not going into politics because this is not the place but I will just say a couple of things - Give it a little time and you will wish we still had Blair and eventually he will be recognised as the best PM this country has ever had and I have seen a few in my lifetime, Winston Churchill was PM when I was born - If you know anything about Britains links with America political, financial and historical you will know why Blair went along with Bush, he had no choice - Right Calzaghe, I really dont know why the guy gets such a rough ride on here - He has made some tough defenses of his WBO title - OK not all were hard fights for him, but thats the same for any champion - His last fight was about money, you cant blame Joe for taking an easy fight to make a lot of money - All that is over and he now, he wants the big names only in big money fights - By the very nature of the sport every fight is a risk and some more than others but he has taken the rough with the smooth and remained champion for an incredible 10 years - The Lacy fight was a massive risk, even many of his fans doubted he could win but he not only won, he won by a landslide winning almost every round - WTF does the man have to do to get the respect he deserves - He doesnt want Froch because he knows he is in a class above Froch and fighting Taylor or Kessler is not only far more competative but more of a money maker as well - I have to admit I would love to see them get it on just to see that point proven but Joe is the best in the world so he hardly needs to prove he is the best in Britain - Before Joe retires he will clean up but dont expect KOs he will win on points most of the time, looking after his hands - Joe is a fantastic champion, I wont say the same as McGuigan, but certainly one of the best of all time - He has made boxing history and deserves a lot more credit than some on here are giving him.
Still wish we had blair as PM in few years time? dont speak for me, i'll be glad to see the back of him, opening the doors to this once great country & letting anyone and everyone come in who dont respect this country, no checks on them, at the worst we might be being flooded with sleeping terrorists, rapists, drug gangs etc or at the best he has just let this country be over crowded letting our oap's who fought, worked & made this country, suffer. My view is blair didnt & dosnt care about his own people. He like maybe you is wrapped up in cotton wool out the way & dosnt come into contact or see the real shit that goes on. This country is a soft touch to those coming over but a hard touch for those born and bred here. This country may have been going down hill but blair has sure helped it go down hill faster

I do come in contact on a daily basis with people who like myself are very ordinary - I hear people with very different views about Blair airing their opinions but whatever they think and say my own view is what I believe and is not influenced by others - I am not a supporter of the labour party or any other for that matter - Time will tell, but Brown although a good chancellor wont in my opinion make a good PM and heaven help us if we let the conservatives get back and get Cameron as a PM - Look at the PMs we have had since WW2 and Blair looks pretty good by comparison - Nobody respects those who have fought for this country more than me, I respect them with passion and I have never seen any government including Blairs give them enough recognition, compensation etc ect - As for people comming into this country and getting automatic handouts at the expense of our own people, I am completely with you on that one - I am also against illeagal immigrants - This problem has been highlighted recently but it isnt a new one its been going on longer than the lives of most who write on this forum - Every PM has ducked the issue which has lead to it becomming a major problem.

Des1 · Post by **Des1** » 15 May 2007, 08:29

wildwaylon wrote:
Des1 wrote:
wildwaylon wrote:Im not going into politics because this is not the place but I will just say a couple of things - Give it a little time and you will wish we still had Blair and eventually he will be recognised as the best PM this country has ever had and I have seen a few in my lifetime, Winston Churchill was PM when I was born - If you know anything about Britains links with America political, financial and historical you will know why Blair went along with Bush, he had no choice - Right Calzaghe, I really dont know why the guy gets such a rough ride on here - He has made some tough defenses of his WBO title - OK not all were hard fights for him, but thats the same for any champion - His last fight was about money, you cant blame Joe for taking an easy fight to make a lot of money - All that is over and he now, he wants the big names only in big money fights - By the very nature of the sport every fight is a risk and some more than others but he has taken the rough with the smooth and remained champion for an incredible 10 years - The Lacy fight was a massive risk, even many of his fans doubted he could win but he not only won, he won by a landslide winning almost every round - WTF does the man have to do to get the respect he deserves - He doesnt want Froch because he knows he is in a class above Froch and fighting Taylor or Kessler is not only far more competative but more of a money maker as well - I have to admit I would love to see them get it on just to see that point proven but Joe is the best in the world so he hardly needs to prove he is the best in Britain - Before Joe retires he will clean up but dont expect KOs he will win on points most of the time, looking after his hands - Joe is a fantastic champion, I wont say the same as McGuigan, but certainly one of the best of all time - He has made boxing history and deserves a lot more credit than some on here are giving him.
Still wish we had blair as PM in few years time? dont speak for me, i'll be glad to see the back of him, opening the doors to this once great country & letting anyone and everyone come in who dont respect this country, no checks on them, at the worst we might be being flooded with sleeping terrorists, rapists, drug gangs etc or at the best he has just let this country be over crowded letting our oap's who fought, worked & made this country, suffer. My view is blair didnt & dosnt care about his own people. He like maybe you is wrapped up in cotton wool out the way & dosnt come into contact or see the real shit that goes on. This country is a soft touch to those coming over but a hard touch for those born and bred here. This country may have been going down hill but blair has sure helped it go down hill faster
I do come in contact on a daily basis with people who like myself are very ordinary - I hear people with very different views about Blair airing their opinions but whatever they think and say my own view is what I believe and is not influenced by others - I am not a supporter of the labour party or any other for that matter - Time will tell, but Brown although a good chancellor wont in my opinion make a good PM and heaven help us if we let the conservatives get back and get Cameron as a PM - Look at the PMs we have had since WW2 and Blair looks pretty good by comparison - Nobody respects those who have fought for this country more than me, I respect them with passion and I have never seen any government including Blairs give them enough recognition, compensation etc ect - As for people comming into this country and getting automatic handouts at the expense of our own people, I am completely with you on that one - I am also against illeagal immigrants - This problem has been highlighted recently but it isnt a new one its been going on longer than the lives of most who write on this forum - Every PM has ducked the issue which has lead to it becomming a major problem.

Good point, as you say the problems aren't new and its easy to forget that and blame whoever is in power at the time. You have opened my eye's a little there, I shall not be so single minded in future.

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 15 May 2007, 12:20

overhand_right wrote:
wildwaylon wrote: His last fight was about money, you cant blame Joe for taking an easy fight to make a lot of money - All that is over and he now, he wants the big names only in big money fights -
.
After how many Calzaghe fights have we been fed that line? Oh yeah- EVERY ONE!

wildwaylon wrote: remained champion for an incredible 10 years .
You sound like Blairs boy Pete Madleson spouting out whacky figures that are only impressive in the superficial sense.

Do we applaud Calzaghe for 'all these tough years'? 1998- his hellish struggles with Branko Sobot and Juan Carlos Gimenez, or 99 where we were treated to Robin Reid and Rick Thornberry, lets not forget that strenuous 2003- his 2 rds of action v Byron Mitchell, his 2001 forray into deep waters v Mario Veit and Will McIntyre, 2004 we had Mger Mktchian and Kabar Salem, 2005 it was Evans Ashira and Veit again... 2007 so far its Pete Manfredo... Do you see what im getting at? Not many Roy Jones, James Toneys, Julian Jacksons, Nigel Benns amongst them is there?

Add 1 talanted boxer & a shameless promoter, minus a credible sanctioning body or any mandatories, equals nice long 10 year PR reign.

First of all, hope you managed to get a good result with your GF v the big fight - Re the topic Calzaghe pleaded with Hopkins a few years back and was told to get in line, there were others for consideration first - Joe doesnt duck the tough fights, he just doesnt get some of the fights he wants - He has said he doesnt want Inkin because he knows he can beat him - Kessler and Taylor are the fights he wants and lets hope he gets them as both would be 50/50 with an outcome difficult to predict - I think Kessler is the preferred man and thats the one I would like to see happen the most - We shall just have to wait until an announcement is made.