BoxRec

Joe Calzaghe will make the first defence of his combined IBF and WBO super-middleweight titles on October 14 at the MEN Arena, Manchester.

The Welshman will box for the first time since beating Jeff Lacy in March this year in a sensational display.

Calzaghe's first defence will be supported on the card by a string of other quality fights.

His opponent will be announced shortly, along with more title fights to be held on the card.

As it is, fight fans will see Ricky Burns' British super-featherweight title eliminator against John Murray, and Matthew Hall's English light-middleweight title challenge against Andrew Facey.

Also on the card, undefeated welterweights Tony Doherty and Kell Brook square off, while light-middleweights Thomas McDonagh and Martin Concepcion are also due to meet.

It's all very well announcing his fight but who is the esteemed opponent?? Mkrtchian rematch? Maybe TBA will be drafted in.

steve689 wrote:It's all very well announcing his fight but who is the esteemed opponent?? Mkrtchian rematch? Maybe TBA will be drafted in.

I'm holding out for Shelby Pudwill, Tocker's brother.....

Sven Ottke's sister is also under discussion. When she was 8 and Sven 4 she knocked him out cold; Joe should be able to do better than that.

I hear Kessler's balls need a washin.

Why do they always make these big announcements with no opponent named? Calzaghe is the king of TBA's every fight he has is announced before we know who is in the other corner!

He'll get to 80-0 at this rate.

It's embarrassing isn't it. When they announce the fight in this fashion you know it's not going to be a live opponent.

Kid Fire McIntyre is free for a rematch.

Maybe this is cynical but, from the promoter's point of view, if they announce the promotion as being Joe Calzaghe vs tba, and sell tickets off of that announcement, the punters can hardly complain if the eventual opponent is inept. And I'd have to agree with the promoter too. Anybody buying a ticket for Calzaghe vs tba can't bitch and moan when a low grade opponent is brought in at three weeks notice, and the main event ends up being a mismatch.

Fans are not demanding better opposition when they shell out tickets for a "champ vs tba" promotion.

JimJim wrote:Maybe this is cynical but, from the promoter's point of view, if they announce the promotion as being Joe Calzaghe vs tba, and sell tickets off of that announcement, the punters can hardly complain if the eventual opponent is inept. And I'd have to agree with the promoter too. Anybody buying a ticket for Calzaghe vs tba can't bitch and moan when a low grade opponent is brought in at three weeks notice, and the main event ends up being a mismatch.

Fans are not demanding better opposition when they shell out tickets for a "champ vs tba" promotion.

Good point, while the fans buy the tickets the promoter is going to put on the same shows.

Personally i wouldn't mind seeing Allen Green as an opponent, he's full of confidence, would come to win, and a good prospect.

JimJim wrote:Maybe this is cynical but, from the promoter's point of view, if they announce the promotion as being Joe Calzaghe vs tba, and sell tickets off of that announcement, the punters can hardly complain if the eventual opponent is inept. And I'd have to agree with the promoter too. Anybody buying a ticket for Calzaghe vs tba can't bitch and moan when a low grade opponent is brought in at three weeks notice, and the main event ends up being a mismatch.

Fans are not demanding better opposition when they shell out tickets for a "champ vs tba" promotion.

True. Not only has Calzaghe faced low grade opposition most of his career he's facing them when they only have 3 or 4 weeks notice while he's training for 2 or 3 months. Talk about stacking the decks in your favour!

allegedly is a cynical ~%*"

Calzaghe has his career defining fight with Lacy then back to the mediocrity of TBA you couldn't make it up! And we're promised a superfight after this one perhaps with Glen Johnson? Johnson is no superfight I don't care how you try and dress it up.

Prove he's going back to TBA's it's only just been confirmed he's fighting October.

we ought to refer to Warren from now on as "Allegedly TBA"

viciousmaussa wrote:we ought to refer to Warren from now on as "Allegedly TBA"

it would be nice if an opponent came with these announcements. i'd like to see andrade or green be the opponent.

I've heard Joey Spina's name being thrown about as a possible opponent.

nickd wrote:Calzaghe has his career defining fight with Lacy then back to the mediocrity of TBA you couldn't make it up! And we're promised a superfight after this one perhaps with Glen Johnson? Johnson is no superfight I don't care how you try and dress it up.

At last!!!! Someone has said it!!!

Sick of people keep suggesting that Glen Johnson(yes,the 37 year old with 10 defeats on his record)will be Calzaghe's career defining super fight!!!!

Hopkins,Taylor,Kessler(once he beats Beyer)are the 3 names that can give Joe the super fight he allegedly craves.
No one can argue about these 3 names as possible opponents.

Max Molyneux wrote:Prove he's going back to TBA's it's only just been confirmed he's fighting October.

Against who? The fight is announced Calzaghe has been in training already and the opponents gets less notice as always. Other than the Lacy fight and the second Veit fight that took place in Germany when was the last Calzaghe fight that was announced with an opponent named?

Good old TBA; Joe Calzaghe's favourite opponent.

It's so frustrating being a JC fan, because I know he is very good fighter.

nickd wrote:

Max Molyneux wrote:Prove he's going back to TBA's it's only just been confirmed he's fighting October.

Against who? The fight is announced Calzaghe has been in training already and the opponents gets less notice as always. Other than the Lacy fight and the second Veit fight that took place in Germany when was the last Calzaghe fight that was announced with an opponent named?

You try finding an opponent for Calzaghe then.

Loads of fighters do this, they say there in training and have a fight date but take their time getting a suitable fighter.

Yeah and it's been like a day or two since it's been announced and theirs still a good amount of time to find one.

Max Molyneux wrote:Yeah and it's been like a day or two since it's been announced and theirs still a good amount of time to find one.

the fans can only take so much abuse. all of us know how good calzaghe is & want to see him in real fights. ok, he's beaten some respectable/good ex champs as well as lacy. but boxing enthusiasts can only take so much abuse.

personally i'm starting to find SN and Calzaghe's messing about of opponents to be totally lacking in respect. the pullouts against johnson, the attempts to get johnson & paul briggs down to 168, when even calzaghe wants to be a player at light heavy!

and now, the TBA fight, which seems more of a ruse to distract ppl from the REAL FIGHT, Kessler v Beyer.

I want to see Calzaghe do well as much as anyone. But please, NO MORE FVCKING ABOUT

Well they are trying to get solid opponents now and no more Evans Ashira's.

Theres some who probably don't want none of him.