BoxRec

Kessler targets Calzaghe!
Sunday, October 15 2006
However, Joe is calling for Hopkins
After impressively disposing of three-time world champion Markus Beyer inside three rounds, unified WBC/WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler says he's ready to face the 168lb division's other unified champion Joe Calzaghe in a superfight for the undisputed title. "I would be glad to fight Joe under the right financial conditions," said Kessler. "I would go to England or he could come to Denmark. I will beat him in either place. I had said that Floyd Mayweather is boxing's best pound for pound and that I am the second best fighter in the sport. I think I demonstrated that to some people here tonight. I will fight anyone who is out there."
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"If this fight did not impress HBO, then nothing will," said Kessler's promoter Mogens Palle. "Mikkel did more than dominate. He was a wrecking ball from the opening bell. His right hand was powerful and accurate. Now we will look at all our attractive options." HBO bought the rights to televise Kessler-Beyer, but unfortunately only showed about a 30-second clip following the twelve round Calzaghe-Sakio Bika fight.
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Meanwhile Calzaghe, who admittedly was not up to par in his decision win over Bika, said he's looking in another direction. "I am looking forward to coming to America to show I am the real deal. Bernard Hopkins is the man and 100% I would fight him in his own garden if that is what it took to get him into the ring with me. He can fight me next to prevent me from tying his record for consecutive victories or wait one fight to prevent me from surpassing him on the all time list."


Chasing a 42-year-old middleweight to avoid Kessler.... this is bad even by Calzaghe's/Warren's standards.

Mikkel Kessler is a real champ, not a hand-selected media-hyped bum like Jeff Lacy. If Calzaghe is the real deal, THIS is the fight he needs to take -- win or lose. Warren/Joe should take an example in Markus Beyer. At least the guy had guts.

I hope Joe takes the Kessler fight, it would be the most meaningful match in a long time. I think there is a very good chance it will happen.

Pundit, my view is that Calzaghe and Kessler are the real deal. They both destroyed their co-champions.

Kessler KO'd Beyer. Beyer was supposed to give him problems, from the southpaw stance.

Calzaghe shut out Lacy. Lacy was meant to be able to break down the 'ageing' Welshman.

It can always be turned around to focus on the other man's weaknesses. Lacy wasn't versatile enough. Beyer was past it. I don't like to do this.


ITV want this fight. I think HBO might have created some demand for it - possibly even to make a star out of the young Kessler.

Calzaghe and Warren need to get real. Why call out Hopkins, Taylor etc? Of all the fighters who can make you look bad, Hopkins is the #1. He's so old and so clever, that he has to make ou look bad. Can Calzaghe REALLY resist the call of history? I think he has too much pride to 'allow' room for another unified champ at super middleweight.

I despair at modern day fighters!

Too many titles & weight classes have completely ruined the sport.

I hope these two fight, but it's getting to the point that I just don't care if they do.

I'm fed up of spineless, tinpot so-called world champions avoiding all the best oppostion & never leaving their countries to fight etc.

It's time that the paymasters (the fans), voted with their feet & refused to watch these guys unless the best matchups were made.

That would get the promoters & fighters thinking.

viciousmaussa wrote:Pundit, my view is that Calzaghe and Kessler are the real deal. They both destroyed their co-champions.

Kessler KO'd Beyer. Beyer was supposed to give him problems, from the southpaw stance.

Calzaghe shut out Lacy. Lacy was meant to be able to break down the 'ageing' Welshman.

It can always be turned around to focus on the other man's weaknesses. Lacy wasn't versatile enough. Beyer was past it. I don't like to do this.


ITV want this fight. I think HBO might have created some demand for it - possibly even to make a star out of the young Kessler.

Calzaghe and Warren need to get real. Why call out Hopkins, Taylor etc? Of all the fighters who can make you look bad, Hopkins is the #1. He's so old and so clever, that he has to make ou look bad. Can Calzaghe REALLY resist the call of history? I think he has too much pride to 'allow' room for another unified champ at super middleweight.

So you tell me why Joe talks Hopkins when he should talk Kessler.

My take: because he know he could lose to Kessler and therefore wants no part of him. Hopkins talk is only his first line of defense; the second line will be talk of a mediocre light-heavyweight with a style taylor made for Joe. Say Glencoffe (who's aged enough to be a safe bet) or Woods.

Hopkins is hardly an easy target, after all he destroyed Tarver in his last fight. The age is irrelevant, Hopkins would still beat pretty much every super middle/light heavyweight out there.

However, I agree that Calzaghe should fight Kessler and if he doesn't then he will go down in my estimation. I will also call him a 'fight ducker' if he doesn't fight Kessler

I don't think Hopkins would go near ANY of the super middles. None are as smart as him, but come on, they can let their shots go freely, are fresh and relatively fast. Calzaghe and Kessler are major talents, & lets not forget Hopkins couldn't let enough leather fly to beat Taylor.

Taylor is smaller & less proven than Calzaghe & Kessler. Calzaghe's been around at the top level for ages. Though he hasn't always fought the best, he's kept winning, has bags of experience and is still fit & fast. That counts for something. Kessler's just fought 4 former/current titlists in a row and - like Calzaghe - won a CONVINCING UNIFICATION.

Hopkins was masterful v Tarver, but Tarver wasn't in good condition, was slow and had poor stamina.

Hopkins is the greatest of his generation - but there is a limit to what he can do now. I remember, he took his damn time with Vanderpool (who was beaten up by Lacy) and it took him twice to beat Mercado (who was broken to pieces by the accomplished Frankie Liles)

I never saw Hopkins as a super middle. A legend at middleweight, but beating Tarver at 175 doesn't mean he beats everyone in the 160-175-lb region.

Calzaghe will want a career defining fight that will satisfy his detractors. Fighting RJJ (unlikely) or Hopkins (possible) will not do much apart from pleasing his bank manager. If he wins he has fought an over the hill fighter ready for the taking and if he loses people will say I told you so. A fight against Kessler should and must happen IMO because it will have 4 belts on the line which is a rare thing nowadays. Maybe this fight should be staged in the States, with the winner awaiting the new Golden boy, Jermain Taylor, in a multi million matchup that has credibilty, status and audience appeal.

If he wants the recognition of a true great champion this is the only way to go IMO.

A legend at middleweight, but beating Tarver at 175 doesn't mean he beats everyone in the 160-175-lb region.

That opinion seems to make out Hopkins would do in most eyes as well.

viciousmaussa wrote:I don't think Hopkins would go near ANY of the super middles. None are as smart as him, but come on, they can let their shots go freely, are fresh and relatively fast. Calzaghe and Kessler are major talents, & lets not forget Hopkins couldn't let enough leather fly to beat Taylor.

Taylor is smaller & less proven than Calzaghe & Kessler. Calzaghe's been around at the top level for ages. Though he hasn't always fought the best, he's kept winning, has bags of experience and is still fit & fast. That counts for something. Kessler's just fought 4 former/current titlists in a row and - like Calzaghe - won a CONVINCING UNIFICATION.

Hopkins was masterful v Tarver, but Tarver wasn't in good condition, was slow and had poor stamina.

Hopkins is the greatest of his generation - but there is a limit to what he can do now. I remember, he took his damn time with Vanderpool (who was beaten up by Lacy) and it took him twice to beat Mercado (who was broken to pieces by the accomplished Frankie Liles)

I never saw Hopkins as a super middle. A legend at middleweight, but beating Tarver at 175 doesn't mean he beats everyone in the 160-175-lb region.

Let's not forget that Tarver wasn't exactly a spring chicken either when Hopkins schooled him. He'll turn 38 in a month. Hopkins-Tarver showed essentially that Tarver had aged faster than BHops.

That could soon be the name:

Imagine Buffer.... and NOW.... he has never met anyone that is not slow, old or a middleweight - the undefeated and unified chaaampion o the woooolrd. The pride of the lake - Joe "The Duck" Calzaghe!!!!!!!!

People are living in a dream if they think Calzaghe would be ducking Kessler if he fought Hopkins.

As a fan, of course I want Calzaghe to fight Kessler, but look at the difference in money - HBO aren't going to bankroll a Kessler fight, anywhere near as much as a US recognized name - how much did Kessler make on Saturday - Freiheit will probably know, one of the Danish tabloids reported 2 million DKK (About 250 sterling) on Sunday, which seems a bit low, but Calzaghe would have made twice that at least on Saturday.

Also, Hopkins is a legend and and is currently the man (if he chooses to fight again) at light-heavy. IMO it is a much harder fight that Kessler. And yes, I have seen the Beyer fight, I have seen lots of Kessler fight.

Loynesy wrote:People are living in a dream if they think Calzaghe would be ducking Kessler if he fought Hopkins.

As a fan, of course I want Calzaghe to fight Kessler, but look at the difference in money - HBO aren't going to bankroll a Kessler fight, anywhere near as much as a US recognized name - how much did Kessler make on Saturday - Freiheit will probably know, one of the Danish tabloids reported 2 million DKK (About 250 sterling) on Sunday, which seems a bit low, but Calzaghe would have made twice that at least on Saturday.

Also, Hopkins is a legend and and is currently the man (if he chooses to fight again) at light-heavy. IMO it is a much harder fight that Kessler. And yes, I have seen the Beyer fight, I have seen lots of Kessler fight.

Beyer got one million Euro against Kessler.

If Calzaghe targets Hopkins this means he is running from Kessler, plain and simple.

If they can't get Hopkins, expect them to come up with Glencoffe or Woods, to fight Beyer in the end -- probably on the same date that Kessler fights Andrade, after claiming during the Kessler negotiations that this date would be impossible for Joe.

If Beyer got a purse of EUR 1,000,000 for a fight that only drew 7,000 at the gate, he has one hell of a manager.

Pundit - we'll have to agree to differ. If Calzaghe fights Hopkins (incidentally I don't think he will), Iit doesn't mean he is ducking Kessler, rather that he would rather take a fight that generates more publicity and probably more money.

Loynesy wrote:If Beyer got a purse of EUR 1,000,000 for a fight that only drew 7,000 at the gate, he has one hell of a manager.

Pundit - we'll have to agree to differ. If Calzaghe fights Hopkins (incidentally I don't think he will), Iit doesn't mean he is ducking Kessler, rather that he would rather take a fight that generates more publicity and probably more money.

OF COURSE it means that. There is nothing to disagree on. Team Calzaghe tries to get out of the 168 divisoin as soon as possible before the great Dane catches them, if has be through the back door.....

More money?

The money Calzaghe-Hopkins would generate is not even comparable to Calzaghe-Kessler. Kessler isn't even a big name in his home country.

For those that say Hopkins is old.. if he came back he would be the best 175lb fighter, plus people are favouring him to beat a HW in Maskaev..yea real old

lvlarc_uk wrote:More money?

The money Calzaghe-Hopkins would generate is not even comparable to Calzaghe-Kessler. Kessler isn't even a big name in his home country.

For those that say Hopkins is old.. if he came back he would be the best 175lb fighter, plus people are favouring him to beat a HW in Maskaev..yea real old

Excuses excuses excuses.

Calzaghe: ducky duck duck... and whooops offffff he is. Runs as fast as his feet carry him. Huuuuuuu, Kessler is coming.

Btw, I agree with team Calzaghe. Joe should stay away from Kessler. He isn't ready for that level. Nothing in his career has prepared him for that.

Do you have the disease where if you keep saying something over and over again you think eventually it will come true?

Calzaghe > Kessler

lvlarc_uk wrote:More money?

The money Calzaghe-Hopkins would generate is not even comparable to Calzaghe-Kessler. Kessler isn't even a big name in his home country.

For those that say Hopkins is old.. if he came back he would be the best 175lb fighter, plus people are favouring him to beat a HW in Maskaev..yea real old

Kessler sells out his home arena every time he fights, just like Joe.

Well yeh he would since Palle makes them fight in an arena of 7000 capacity.

250K to fight Beyer. That's all you need to know.

lvlarc_uk wrote:Well yeh he would since Palle makes them fight in an arena of 7000 capacity.

250K to fight Beyer. That's all you need to know.

It currently has a capacity of 41,752 at football games, and is the home ground of F.C. Copenhagen and also the Danish national football team.


Yup, only holds 7000.

As for the purse, he offered Lacy the entire thing to fight in Denmark. Purses now don't mean anything to him, when the purses down the road can be huge. He did what he had to to get a a title in the ring.

As for where 250K was stated, please link me. Everything I read, he was extremely quiet about his purse, while Beyer said it was his biggest payday.

Joe Calzaghe this morning:


"Aua aua aua Kessler comes. I'm so scared. See his right against Beyer -- aua aua this will hurt so much. Please Frankie get me out of 168, right now. I don't want to be hurt. I'll fight anyone, grandpa Hopkins, grandpa Glencoffe, stiff Woods, Evan Ashira, Mario Veit again if he steps up to 175. Even Beyer I wouldn't duck this time. Pleaaaase, Frankie, help me, I'm so desperate.

Poor Joe

Mattyp151 wrote:

lvlarc_uk wrote:Well yeh he would since Palle makes them fight in an arena of 7000 capacity.

250K to fight Beyer. That's all you need to know.

It currently has a capacity of 41,752 at football games, and is the home ground of F.C. Copenhagen and also the Danish national football team.


Yup, only holds 7000.

Kessler-Beyer sold 7000 in Kess's home country on Denmark.

You said.

Kessler sells out his home arena every time he fights, just like Joe

Make your mind up.

Kess is not a big attraction in Denmark, if you don't believe me then ask Freheit.

Mattyp151 wrote:

lvlarc_uk wrote:Well yeh he would since Palle makes them fight in an arena of 7000 capacity.

250K to fight Beyer. That's all you need to know.

It currently has a capacity of 41,752 at football games, and is the home ground of F.C. Copenhagen and also the Danish national football team.


Yup, only holds 7000.

As for the purse, he offered Lacy the entire thing to fight in Denmark. Purses now don't mean anything to him, when the purses down the road can be huge. He did what he had to to get a a title in the ring.

As for where 250K was stated, please link me. Everything I read, he was extremely quiet about his purse, while Beyer said it was his biggest payday.

Here we go : http://www.bt.dk/sport/andensport/artikel:aid=475260/

although you will need to speak Danish.

He sold 7,000 seats in a 42,000 stadium. He is hardly a superstar, is he?