BoxRec

Max Molyneux wrote:Well they are trying to get solid opponents now and no more Evans Ashira's.

But that's the kind of opponent Joe REALLY likes...

Molyneux, just admit it: Calzaghe is nothing special.

pundit wrote:

Max Molyneux wrote:Well they are trying to get solid opponents now and no more Evans Ashira's.

But that's the kind of opponent Joe REALLY likes...

Molyneux, just admit it: Calzaghe is nothing special.

talent wise he is. the problem is he just doesn't give a damn what people think about him.

for anyone inteested specifically in super middleweight boxing - and a lot of ppl are, because they are 'average sized' boxers that we can identify with more - Calzaghe's career has been maddeningly frustrating.

I think he's an excellent fighter. But imagine how much better he would have been if pushed harder by his dad and promoter.

pundit wrote:

Max Molyneux wrote:Well they are trying to get solid opponents now and no more Evans Ashira's.

But that's the kind of opponent Joe REALLY likes...

Molyneux, just admit it: Calzaghe is nothing special.

This is all I can say for the last bit.




He only fought Evan's Ashira to make sure he wasn't rusty and he fought Lacy right afterwards like he said he would.

Calzaghe dare i say has bags of "potential" even at this late stage of his career but he needs big fights now more than ever. The time has passed for sub standard opposition, we have been served up that sort of opponent time and again. At 34 Calzaghe needs big fights on the big stages, a TBA opponent just isn't good enough.

Right, here's a recap of the options for an opponent. I'll go through the boxrec's top #25 just for reference.

#2) Froch. No. Pretty unsellable to the US
#3) Andrade. Has just won a WBC eliminator. Doesn't mean he can't be called up for a Calzaghe fight. However, is apparently headlining a bill in September, so perhaps not.
#5) Inkin. Now 28-0, but nevertheless I'm not sure whether his management would put him in with Calzaghe now.
#7) Green. the fight with Lacy is off. Apparently Green's "matchmaker" was sounding out opponents on the current scene last week, as all the best management teams do, for a fight in September. Not impossible, but I'd say it was doubtful.
#8) Bute fights in Canada next month, apparently with an opponent named and lined up, so doubtful.
#9) Mundine. Nothing lined up. As with Andrade, has won an eliminator for another belt, but doesn't necessarily mean he would, or has to, wait around for the Kessler/Beyer winner.
#12) Stieglitz. 28-0. Is the IBF #1 I think, but if this is Calzaghe's last fight at SM, then I doubt he'd be made to fight a mandatory of any sort, and otherwise Stieglitz makes little appeal.
#13) Spina. Has been muted. Never seen him, but can't see a vast amount of reason's why he would make a "great" opponent.
#14) Carrerra is Castillo's 1st opponent for the WBA middle title.
#17) Markussen. Similar position to Stieglitz and Inkin.

Next at #19 we have Veit so maybe I should stop there, although Manfredo is I guess still open. Winky Wright I've lost what happened to that possibility.

Really the options are poor. If we take Kessler and Beyer out of the equasion, I personally only see Mundine, Andrade at a big push, and Winky Wright, as a meaningful fights.

Otherwise it would be a European or American with a pretty untested record, which I don't see benefitting anyone.

I highly doubt Markussen will be the opponent, I bet he will be on the Copenhagen card so that he can sell tickets and PPVs.

Thats just supermiddleweights you have listed, have a look through the middleweights too!

I hear it could well be Joe Spina.

Here's my viewpoint: Calzaghe has proven excellence, albeit on his/Warren's/his dad's infuriating own terms...I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't fight another good super middleweight. He'll fight Johnson at light heavy, providing Glen beats Woods. If it's close, he will.


When Calzaghe departs, my guess is Kessler will be WBA/IBF champion. After the Beyer fight, we will see that Mikkel has not scraped the bottom of the barrel - SN style - after winning his first world title. While not sensational in his style (I can't imagine Kessler fending off Lacy with 1000 punches), he's exceptionally reliable, with the poise, control, jab and patience that you expect to see in a man who will be around for a long time.


The good thing about kessler is he's willing. if he must travel for good money, he'll do it. Already done it to beat the quality Mundine. And there are plenty of fighters for him to take on, two of whom (if he wins in oct) will be his mandatories: Mundine (again), and Librado Andrade.

Oh, and Anrade was mentioned as a post lacy opponent for calzaghe. Guess what, his dad wouldn't approve. Another wholly unsatisfactory scrap of info that prevents an excellent fighter being a great one.

Certainly, Andrade isn't as proven as the Romanian/Canadian puncher Lucian Bute (who has dominant wins over Mock, Thysse & Salem). But his win over cagey veteran Otis Grant has to mean something.

So, fingers crossed for Mikkel Kessler. & i don't buy into the 'Kessler is overrated' backlash. This guy learned more in one hard fight with Mundine than Calzaghe learned in his first 5 WBO title defenses

Noone has more experience at fighting this TBA guy. Calzaghe should win easily.

vicious, I suppose you mean WBA/WBC champion?

JC doesnt have many options right now. He could try to lure a younger guy like Green or Bute over...other than that its Andrade (hasn't done anything) and Mundine (would be written off, as Kessler just beat him not too long ago).

Joe's options don't look good at all, imo.

Lets not exclude middleweights here they could well get someone to move up and fight.

nickd wrote:Lets not exclude middleweights here they could well get someone to move up and fight.

Or light-middleweights.

Well its almost a week since the fight was announced and still its the ever-loyal TBA in the other corner!

Axe wrote:vicious, I suppose you mean WBA/WBC champion?

JC doesnt have many options right now. He could try to lure a younger guy like Green or Bute over...other than that its Andrade (hasn't done anything) and Mundine (would be written off, as Kessler just beat him not too long ago).

Joe's options don't look good at all, imo.

WBA/WBA, thanks for the correction. with all these WBCs WBOs TBAs i'm starting to get muddled up

I don't think Calzaghe will take a moderately dangerous fight like Andrade.

Seems like Kessler won't mind beating Mundine again. Before Beyer was brought in, Kessler was on the verge of a 2nd Mundine fight.

This is going to be one hell of a schedule for Kessler. Beyer, Andrade, Mundine. If he wins those 3 he's easily in my p4p list

viciousmaussa wrote:

Axe wrote:vicious, I suppose you mean WBA/WBC champion?

JC doesnt have many options right now. He could try to lure a younger guy like Green or Bute over...other than that its Andrade (hasn't done anything) and Mundine (would be written off, as Kessler just beat him not too long ago).

Joe's options don't look good at all, imo.

WBA/WBA, thanks for the correction. with all these WBCs WBOs TBAs i'm starting to get muddled up

I don't think Calzaghe will take a moderately dangerous fight like Andrade.

Seems like Kessler won't mind beating Mundine again. Before Beyer was brought in, Kessler was on the verge of a 2nd Mundine fight.

This is going to be one hell of a schedule for Kessler. Beyer, Andrade, Mundine. If he wins those 3 he's easily in my p4p list

Well, Mundine would probably take the JR WBA title belt, and that would open up for a Calzaghe/Kessler unification. I'm sure if Andrade is promised the first match after that fight, he'd gladly take the opportunity.

There no mention of cheaper tickets for people who went to the Williams v Skelton fight as promised when Joe pulled out?

leforge wrote:There no mention of cheaper tickets for people who went to the Williams v Skelton fight as promised when Joe pulled out?

I guess you have to remember that yourself when purchasing, they're hardly going to have it emblazoned on the adverts! ;)

And lets be honest anyone who endured Skelton v Williams II in the flesh should get a free ticket for this.

Mattyp151 wrote:

viciousmaussa wrote:

Axe wrote:vicious, I suppose you mean WBA/WBC champion?

JC doesnt have many options right now. He could try to lure a younger guy like Green or Bute over...other than that its Andrade (hasn't done anything) and Mundine (would be written off, as Kessler just beat him not too long ago).

Joe's options don't look good at all, imo.

WBA/WBA, thanks for the correction. with all these WBCs WBOs TBAs i'm starting to get muddled up

I don't think Calzaghe will take a moderately dangerous fight like Andrade.

Seems like Kessler won't mind beating Mundine again. Before Beyer was brought in, Kessler was on the verge of a 2nd Mundine fight.

This is going to be one hell of a schedule for Kessler. Beyer, Andrade, Mundine. If he wins those 3 he's easily in my p4p list

Well, Mundine would probably take the JR WBA title belt, and that would open up for a Calzaghe/Kessler unification. I'm sure if Andrade is promised the first match after that fight, he'd gladly take the opportunity.

you're right, that's bad news. unless - and this could be true - mundine is #1 contender as opposed to mandatory. andrade is definitely the WBC mandatory, but super middle might not be fractured if Mundine is 'only' the #1 contender,as opposed to mandatory.

i wonder who mundine would fight for a poss vacant WBA regular title.

I damn well hope Kessler wins. If beyer wins, the german most likely retires. calzaghe's not exactly gone after every other champ, hopkins style, so i won't put faith in him.