BoxRec

The BBC boxing website have got an article up concerning Joe Calzaghe future. Nothing revealing of note, just said that with Showtime not being keen on Mrkrtchyan, he doubts he will face him next year.

Joe said he'll hopefully be fighting in March.

One issue with the article - the title is all to bollocks, when did Mrkrtchyan and Calzaghe first meet?

I think it's a very revealing article. Just a day after it was announced he was pulling out, Calzaghe virtually declares he'll never fight the guy. It proves he didn't want to fight him in the first place.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/3226900.stm

The way I see it is, Joe couldn't get the big fight he wanted, so he took the fight with Mrkrtchyan, just to keep himself active with minimal risk. Now he has had to pull out he should quite rightly be looking for a bigger fight, instead of wasting his time with this no contest

Yes, but what is he doing with the WBO belt?

Whether we agree or not this Mger character is the mandatory challenger - now surely the fight will have to happen next year. Otherwise, the WBO aren't a very strong organisation. Joe is taking that bogus organisation for a ride, and they're allowing him.

Shouldn't Mger matey now be able to fight for the WBO interim belt as per the Witter-Pinto-Judah scenario?

Goz wrote:Shouldn't Mger matey now be able to fight for the WBO interim belt as per the Witter-Pinto-Judah scenario?

Do you think that will happen though Goz. Look how many years Freeman Barr waited for his opportunity. Now, I'm not criticising Sports Network or team Calzaghe for not fighting Barr, or not taking this fight. I'm criticising the WBO - whats the point of having rankings if the number 1 guy isn't allowed to fight for the title.

No I don't think it will happen, the question was almost rhetorical in it's nature

Why can't Calzaghe fight until March? He's never going to get a true big fight because he's constantly inactive (and he has to postpone way too many fights lately).

Because he doesn't care.

It pains me to say it, because I am a big Calzaghe fan, but I can't see how he gives a shit.

I'd like to see Mger fight for the interim title against another top rated contendor in the WBO. Calzaghe was able to avoid Freeman Barr (an unworthy mandatory) for almost two years before Mger did his work for him (by knocking him out of the mandatory spot), and it's likely he'd do the same thing with this guy.

I agree with Twinkle Toes, Calzaghe is happy to play out his career with dodgy fights and he wil make lots of cash in the process from his loyal fans. The "defining" fight will probably not happen but if it does it will come in the form of someone a lot less glamorous than Hopkins, Ottke etc. Brian Magee anyone?! :)