Damning Calzaghe artical by Woods Camp on Seconds Out
Posted: 21 Mar 2005, 13:10
By Clive Bernath: Richard Poxon, the trainer of IBF light-heavyweight champion Clinton Woods has accused WBO super-middleweight king Joe Calzaghe of trying to ride on the back of the Sheffield star's recent world title success.
Woods scored an impressive and career defining win over big punching American Rico Hoye on March 4 to win the vacant IBF crown but Poxon believes the undefeated Welshman is just trying to gain publicity at the expense of Woods' recent success.
"Clinton was prepared to fight Calzaghe a few months back," said Poxon, who is also the matchmaker for promoters Fight Academy. "We signed for the fight he (Calzaghe) didn't. But now we are the champion all of a sudden they want to fight us."
Prior to winning the world title, Woods signed to fight Calzaghe but the contest fell through when the IBF refused to sanction the fight as an official IBF eliminator. And of course now with Woods being the champion the logistics in the powers of negotiations has dramatically changed in his favour.
"As far as I'm concerned Calzaghe is just trying to ride on the back of Clinton's success," said Poxon. "Calzaghe has not got any creditability left but he is trying to use Clinton to get some back. Also Clinton is now the champion and if anyone's gonna call the shots he is."
"If Calzaghe really is interested in fighting Clinton get his promoter to contact Dennis Hobson. They (Sports Network) should also not assume that they will promote the fight. We are the champion and are more than capable of putting the fight on ourselves.
"Having said that, myself, Dennis and Clinton have not really discussed seriously the possibility of fighting Calzaghe," continued, Poxon. " He (Calzaghe) won't fight any decent super-middleweight so why would he want to fight a genuine world champion like Clinton? In any case how can we even be sure that he would turn up?"
Poxon was referring to the late notice cancellations of the Brian Magee fight last weekend and when Calzaghe pulled out of a showdown with then IBF titleholder Glen Johnson at short notice in June 2004.
The pullout against Johnson was attributed to Calzaghe sustaining a back injury while the Magee contest was scrapped at 36hours notice because WBO rules state that voluntary title defences cannot take place less than 60 days before a mandatory (in this case v Mario Veit).
March 21, 2005.
Despite the sentiments in this piece, I see Woods vs Calzaghe possibly happening sometime later in the year or next year even. That's Calzaghe's defining fight and it opens up the door to a lot more stiffs.
Woods scored an impressive and career defining win over big punching American Rico Hoye on March 4 to win the vacant IBF crown but Poxon believes the undefeated Welshman is just trying to gain publicity at the expense of Woods' recent success.
"Clinton was prepared to fight Calzaghe a few months back," said Poxon, who is also the matchmaker for promoters Fight Academy. "We signed for the fight he (Calzaghe) didn't. But now we are the champion all of a sudden they want to fight us."
Prior to winning the world title, Woods signed to fight Calzaghe but the contest fell through when the IBF refused to sanction the fight as an official IBF eliminator. And of course now with Woods being the champion the logistics in the powers of negotiations has dramatically changed in his favour.
"As far as I'm concerned Calzaghe is just trying to ride on the back of Clinton's success," said Poxon. "Calzaghe has not got any creditability left but he is trying to use Clinton to get some back. Also Clinton is now the champion and if anyone's gonna call the shots he is."
"If Calzaghe really is interested in fighting Clinton get his promoter to contact Dennis Hobson. They (Sports Network) should also not assume that they will promote the fight. We are the champion and are more than capable of putting the fight on ourselves.
"Having said that, myself, Dennis and Clinton have not really discussed seriously the possibility of fighting Calzaghe," continued, Poxon. " He (Calzaghe) won't fight any decent super-middleweight so why would he want to fight a genuine world champion like Clinton? In any case how can we even be sure that he would turn up?"
Poxon was referring to the late notice cancellations of the Brian Magee fight last weekend and when Calzaghe pulled out of a showdown with then IBF titleholder Glen Johnson at short notice in June 2004.
The pullout against Johnson was attributed to Calzaghe sustaining a back injury while the Magee contest was scrapped at 36hours notice because WBO rules state that voluntary title defences cannot take place less than 60 days before a mandatory (in this case v Mario Veit).
March 21, 2005.
Despite the sentiments in this piece, I see Woods vs Calzaghe possibly happening sometime later in the year or next year even. That's Calzaghe's defining fight and it opens up the door to a lot more stiffs.