BoxRec

ANOTHER year over and a new one around the corner but the targets remain exactly the same for yours truly - to become a two-weight world champion and to have at least three big fights.

After 2003, when I had just one fight, a cracker at that, against top American Byron Mitchell whom I got up off the canvas against to stop in two rounds, I'd hoped to achieve those goals in 2004.

But in the end I only had two fights, stopping mandatory Armenian challenger Mger Mkrtchian in seven rounds and then outpointing Egyptian Kabary Salem.

The biggest disappointment was having to pull out of the clash with then IBF light-heavyweight champion Glen Johnson just a week before a bout which would have fulfilled my two-title ambition.

I'm convinced I would have had too much speed and power for Johnson, but we could still meet next year if promoter allegedly does the business.

Johnson has since gone on to KO Roy Jones and then beat Antonio Tarver, another who ko'd Jones, on points to prove that you are never too old to reach the top in this game.

A return bout with Tarver and a Tarver win could scupper all those plans but that's the fight I would love, though technically it wouldn't mean me becoming a double champion.

Johnson and Tarver relinquished their crowns in order to meet for the IBO title, which means nothing, but I would still take the bout because by winning I would be universally recognised as the best at that weight as well as at super-middleweight, and I wouldn't have to relinquish the WBO crown.

Clinton Woods is due to fight Rico Hoye for the now vacant IBF crown in England in February, his fourth attempt at a world title, and if he can't beat Hoye then he'll never be a champion.

I don't rate Hoye at all, but then I don't rate Woods who is just an ordinary European fighter I know I could beat easily.

I suppose if a Johnson fight doesn't come off - and I have every confidence allegedly will succeed in setting that up - then Woods could be the one to help me fulfil my ambitions, but I wouldn't hold your breath. For all his talk about fighting me in the past, I doubt he will be talking that way if he wins the title.

So though 2004 was disappointing in some ways, in other respects it was not.

I did stop Mkrtchian, a good fighter whom I made to look ordinary, and I did beat Salem, a dirty, awkward opponent, albeit on points.

The latter was an ugly fight and people criticised me and I suppose I was a little ring rusty, but I won easily and you can't do more than that.

And at the end of the day I'm still undefeated, I beat Chris Eubank's British record for world title defences and I'm still the longest-reigning champion.

If that's disappointing then I'm sure there are hundreds of boxers all over the world who would love to share such disappointment.

But I do need a new challenge to motivate me and get me going so the light-heavyweight title and more meaningful fights remain the aim and I'm confident I'll get them.

But there has been no further news over Christmas so I still don't know who I'll be meeting in Manchester in February, be it Mario Veit, Scott Pemberton or someone else.

Keeping on the theme of 2005, I think the year is going to be a very big one too for two more Welshmen, one right here on our doorstep in Gwent.

The first is WBU world cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli, reported to be set to make his next defence against little known American Rich LaMontagne at Bridgend on January 21.

Montagne has fought nobody of note, is not ranked in the top fifty in the world and, at 35, shouldn't present Maccarinelli with any problems.

The fight the Swansea puncher wants is against Johnny Nelson for a more meaningful version of the world title and there's a good chance he'll get that in 2005.

It's probably because of that prospect that he's facing LaMontagne. It'll keep him ticking over and there's really no point in over-matching Maccarinelli at this stage.

He's still only 24 - I was 25 when I met Eubank to win my title - so still has time on his side and he is still far from the finished article.

But he's getting there and when he eventually, hopefully, meets Nelson it will be an intriguing fight. The second fighter set for a big year is Pontypool welterweight Tony Doherty, winner of all ten of his contests so far.

I have been really impressed by the 21-year-old and believe he has the attributes to go all the way.

He is a confident and very exciting performer with fast hands, fast feet, excellent combinations, powerful punches and bags of skill.

It's time for him to step up from fighting journeymen to meeting some more prominent opponents. I think he'll do that and I think he'll succeed. I like his style and rate him the best young British prospect I've seen.

I wish him a very happy 2005 and I wish the same to all my readers.

Max Molyneux wrote:Why did he pull out with Johnson if he wants to move to Light Heavyweight though?

JimmyJamJerusalem wrote:Steve, why would it be one of the worst rematches ever?

JimmyJamJerusalem wrote:Well Veit has gathered alot of momentum since then, and claims he was merely caught cold. I'm a Calzaghe fan, and the fight would shut a few people up. I think he should change promoters and move up. Allegedly

JimmyJamJerusalem wrote:People I've spoken to reckon Veit was caught cold. Reckon by demolishing Brewer in devastating fashion he proved that. But hey, I'm a little too close to home to be impartial on this one. Joe writes in our local Rag every Friday, so I may just be swallowing his hype to bluff the fight up.

JimmyJamJerusalem wrote:People I've spoken to reckon Veit was caught cold. Reckon by demolishing Brewer in devastating fashion he proved that. But hey, I'm a little too close to home to be impartial on this one. Joe writes in our local Rag every Friday, so I may just be swallowing his hype to bluff the fight up.

JimmyJamJerusalem wrote:Well Veit has gathered alot of momentum since then, and claims he was merely caught cold. I'm a Calzaghe fan, and the fight would shut a few people up. I think he should change promoters and move up. Allegedly

lirva33 wrote:
Who exactly would this fight "shut up"?

The Undisputed 168lb Bullshit Artist wrote:I did stop Mkrtchian, a good fighter whom I made to look ordinary

jamesmcdonnell wrote:As a final point, what if Calzaghe isn't able to raise his game? It happens to a lot of fighters who have been treading water for a long time, they go in against someone a cut above their last few opponents, and suddenly they realise they aren't the fighter they were two years ago.