Miranda favorite to meet Calzaghe?
Posted: 16 May 2006, 08:17
Rumour of the day that is...only a few weeks to go so no hurry! Eubank rematch maybe? Miranda would make for a very exciting fight, before getting knocked out in style.
Sorry about the non Hatton thread!
Calzaghe opponent search goes on
Secondsout.com -By Ant Evans:
Less than eight weeks to go before Joe Calzaghe's huge 'homecoming' fight at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and the reigning IBF/WBO super-middleweight champion is still clueless as to the identify of the man he should be facing on July 7. A superb supporting cast - topped by the mouth-watering rematch between heavyweights Danny Williams and Matt Skelton - has been unveiled but Calzaghe continues to prepare for the big night without knowing who his co-star will be.
The announcement of Joe's foe has been repeatedly pushed back and several press conferences have been cancelled as prospective opponents have fallen by the wayside. At time of writing, unbeaten middleweight Edison Miranda, who recently KO'd Howard Eastman, is emerging as the favourite to stare down the super-middleweight kingpin on the big HBO/ITV televised card but the clock is a-ticking.
Warriors Boxing promoted Miranda is already inked in to face IBF champion Arthur Abraham in Germany in August but, with the greatest respect to the emerging force that is Abraham, a fight with Calzaghe would be a much bigger opportunity, providing the money is acceptable.
Both Calzaghe and the German power-puncher are heavy hitters but a win over pound-for-pounder Calzaghe would elevate Miranda much more than a win over the dangerous Abraham, who is as yet little known outside of Germany despite his potential.
According to reliable sources, HBO are also considering offering the fight to the winner of this Wednesday's all-Australian super-fight between former champions Anthony Mundine and Danny Green, however unlikely their acceptance of such a fight on seven weeks notice may be.
But it may be a case of Calzaghe having to face the last opponent standing, though, as credible opponents continue to slip through promoters Sports Network's net.
Peter Manfredo Junior of 'the Contender' reality TV series, was in the frame for several weeks but the company who created the TV show and handle his career demanded a purse of $1.5million - a completely unreasonable sum for a fighter who has lost two of his last three fights.
Then, the HBO approved Librado Andrade was said to have been turned down as an opponent by Calzaghe's father/trainer Enzo. Mexican born Andrade is coming off a breakout performance against southpaw Otis Grant, and perhaps Enzo felt that the largely unknown Andrada represented an unacceptable risk/reward scenario.
And most disappointing to hardcore fans will be the news that Mikkel Kessler - the highly rated unbeaten WBA champion - essentially back down from the fight by 'pricing himself out' of the triple crown unification match. This is tactic the Dane and his people employed last November to body swerve a title v title fight with then IBF king Jeff Lacy and it leaves one questioning whether Kessler's promoters, Team Palle, truly believe that their Viking is an elite fighter.
Untested American Allan Green's name was also linked with the July 7 date but HBO developed strong reservations about the Tulsa born 26 year old after viewing a tape of his messy win over Donnie McCrary from April.
Finally, William Joppy's name was also mentioned somewhere out there in cyberspace but HBO wouldn't accept the shot former middleweight in a billion years.
The phone calls continue but, hopefully, an announcement is imminent.
Sorry about the non Hatton thread!
Calzaghe opponent search goes on
Secondsout.com -By Ant Evans:
Less than eight weeks to go before Joe Calzaghe's huge 'homecoming' fight at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and the reigning IBF/WBO super-middleweight champion is still clueless as to the identify of the man he should be facing on July 7. A superb supporting cast - topped by the mouth-watering rematch between heavyweights Danny Williams and Matt Skelton - has been unveiled but Calzaghe continues to prepare for the big night without knowing who his co-star will be.
The announcement of Joe's foe has been repeatedly pushed back and several press conferences have been cancelled as prospective opponents have fallen by the wayside. At time of writing, unbeaten middleweight Edison Miranda, who recently KO'd Howard Eastman, is emerging as the favourite to stare down the super-middleweight kingpin on the big HBO/ITV televised card but the clock is a-ticking.
Warriors Boxing promoted Miranda is already inked in to face IBF champion Arthur Abraham in Germany in August but, with the greatest respect to the emerging force that is Abraham, a fight with Calzaghe would be a much bigger opportunity, providing the money is acceptable.
Both Calzaghe and the German power-puncher are heavy hitters but a win over pound-for-pounder Calzaghe would elevate Miranda much more than a win over the dangerous Abraham, who is as yet little known outside of Germany despite his potential.
According to reliable sources, HBO are also considering offering the fight to the winner of this Wednesday's all-Australian super-fight between former champions Anthony Mundine and Danny Green, however unlikely their acceptance of such a fight on seven weeks notice may be.
But it may be a case of Calzaghe having to face the last opponent standing, though, as credible opponents continue to slip through promoters Sports Network's net.
Peter Manfredo Junior of 'the Contender' reality TV series, was in the frame for several weeks but the company who created the TV show and handle his career demanded a purse of $1.5million - a completely unreasonable sum for a fighter who has lost two of his last three fights.
Then, the HBO approved Librado Andrade was said to have been turned down as an opponent by Calzaghe's father/trainer Enzo. Mexican born Andrade is coming off a breakout performance against southpaw Otis Grant, and perhaps Enzo felt that the largely unknown Andrada represented an unacceptable risk/reward scenario.
And most disappointing to hardcore fans will be the news that Mikkel Kessler - the highly rated unbeaten WBA champion - essentially back down from the fight by 'pricing himself out' of the triple crown unification match. This is tactic the Dane and his people employed last November to body swerve a title v title fight with then IBF king Jeff Lacy and it leaves one questioning whether Kessler's promoters, Team Palle, truly believe that their Viking is an elite fighter.
Untested American Allan Green's name was also linked with the July 7 date but HBO developed strong reservations about the Tulsa born 26 year old after viewing a tape of his messy win over Donnie McCrary from April.
Finally, William Joppy's name was also mentioned somewhere out there in cyberspace but HBO wouldn't accept the shot former middleweight in a billion years.
The phone calls continue but, hopefully, an announcement is imminent.
:x 
:( 
least hatton had someone in place 7 weeks out from the fight.