BoxRec

According to The Independent newspaper, Joe Calzaghe is already guaranteed WBO mandatory status once he moves up to light-heavyweight if he gets past Mger Mkrtchyan on February 21 in Cardiff.
Calzaghe is thus guaranteed a shot at WBO light-heavyweight champion Julio Gonzalez in April or May.
Nice work if you can get it.

Apparently this is because any fighter who makes 10 defences of the WBO belt will automatically be installed as the #1 contender in the division above.

Nelson for the WBO heavyweight title anyone

What the hell did you think the W stood for, "world"?

I've been making the point since about 1999 that if the "huge super-middle" Calzaghe really wanted a big fight he should've vacated his belt and moved up to take on Michalszewski. Now it's too late. Calzaghe v Gonzalez is not a big fight.

Even without this "10 defences to become mandatory" thing Calzaghe at the very worst would've only had to have beaten someone like King Dongo Perez to become no.1 contender for the light heavy belt.

The chance was there to beat a big name (and Calzaghe would not have been a huge underdog, if at all) but now it's gone forever. Big shame.

Kilburn wrote:I've been making the point since about 1999 that if the "huge super-middle" Calzaghe really wanted a big fight he should've vacated his belt and moved up to take on Michalszewski. Now it's too late. Calzaghe v Gonzalez is not a big fight.

Even without this "10 defences to become mandatory" thing Calzaghe at the very worst would've only had to have beaten someone like King Dongo Perez to become no.1 contender for the light heavy belt.

The chance was there to beat a big name (and Calzaghe would not have been a huge underdog, if at all) but now it's gone forever. Big shame.

Too true. I guess JC can still go up and become a 2 weight 'world' champion although it's a shame that

1 - He never won one of the big 3 belts when he clearly could have.

2 - As you say no big big fight at Light-Heavy, Michelwhathisface would have absolutely perfect. Only Tarver is a big fight there but given Wawwen's history there would appear to be absolutely 0% chance of that being made.

You know I watched Gonzalez-Dariuz the other night on Eurosport and wasn't overly impressed, along with the Woods-Johnson fight the Light-Heavyweight division is sparse on quality at the moment.

I think a fight with Gonzalez, although not exactly PPV gold, could be an exciting fight. Gonzalez is as tough as old boots and has some boxing ability.

I wonder though whether Calzaghe's power is going to carry at light heavyweight. Tarver walks around at around 208, and he hit hard enough to wobble Roy Jones, who definetly has a granite chin.

I don't think Calzaghe is versatile enough to overcome a light heavyweight with a good chin who can box him at range, it's not like he has lot's of stylistic options. He's going to be a small light heavyweight compared to Gonzalez and Tarver.

I think Calzaghe will beat the tough Mexican on points, and it'll no doubt be in Cardiff too, as Gonzalez hasn't got much of a following, even in LA.

Last I heard Julio was defending in Germany Jan 18th first, against a typicaly obscure WBO contender. He'll no doubt welcome a chance to make some decent cash against Joe..Hasn't Darius M decided to carry on too?

If Calzaghe won the WBC instead of the WBO Calzaghe would of had more decent names on his record and probably his big fight

GAV wrote:Apparently this is because any fighter who makes 10 defences of the WBO belt will automatically be installed as the #1 contender in the division above.

Nelson for the WBO heavyweight title anyone

That's fair enough I suppose. Dariusz Michaelczewski will be pissed off though. He made 23 defences of his WBO light-heavyweight title and will find himself ranked below Calzaghe...