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Calzaghe Targets Taylor
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 08:31
by Autobarn
With Hopkins turning him down, the new #1 target is Jermain Taylor.
That's what he said in the meeting with American writers this week, in his New York visit. Apparently Lou DiBella was there and appeared to be interested for a fight next year.
Can't see that happening before late 2007. Calzaghe would have to fight someone credible in America first (maybe Glen Johnson) and Taylor has to take care of business against Ouma & Wright.
Like I said before, his heart isn't in a fight with Kessler. Kessler's promoter has said 'anyway, MK has two mandatories'. Ppl are becoming resigned to the idea that Calzaghe-Kessler ain't happening!
Then again, if HBO are marketing Miranda, there is another sensible reason for JT to stay at middle.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 08:54
by Max Molyneux
You said a while back with HBO interest you see the possibility of a Kessler fight happening though.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 08:58
by nickd
Calzaghe will go down a lot in my estimation if he fights Johnson next. Against Woods Johnson looked an old man, and was there for the taking in the last 3 rounds. What is a win over him going to prove? Plus they'll want him to get himself down to 168 what sort of effect will that have on him?
There are way better fights out there right now.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 08:58
by pundit
Terence wrote:It sounds like they are looking at Johnson next. Glen looked pretty done in to me in the Woods fight. He could barely fight full rounds.
Well it's clear who they target:
anyone but Kessler.
If they don't make the fight withing 12 months, the Ring should take the belt from Calzaghe. Kessler has beaten the better guys anyway, according to the Ring's own ratings.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 09:21
by Autobarn
Max Molyneux wrote:You said a while back with HBO interest you see the possibility of a Kessler fight happening though.
But you have to look at the direction that things are moving in. Once the cogs get moving one way there very often isn't any turning back.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 09:23
by lvlarc
Calzaghe has already said numerous times he will fight Kessler, if that fight doesn't come off then Kessler's camp is just as much to blame as Calzaghe's. Don't forget kess is out injured and andrade wont be paid off, that's his problem.
Taylor would still be a good fight though, two top 10 P4P fighters being matched together.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 09:28
by Autobarn
Terence wrote:It sounds like they are looking at Johnson next. Glen looked pretty done in to me in the Woods fight. He could barely fight full rounds.
Kessler-Calzaghe not being made would be a disgrace and cement SM as the nothing division of world boxing. It sits between two classic divisions and should be chock full of good fights. Instead, over the years, it has been a comfort zone for fighters.
Taylor would beat the piss out of Miranda.
Glen seemed to lose stamina in that fight. But he did some quality punching over the first nine rounds. In terms of punching technique he might be better than ever. I've seen Glen look like shit in his younger days, so i was encouraged by his showings vs Woods III, as well as Hall and GK Jones.
One thing about Johnson, is that you can tell he's knackered by about round 5. His arms must be on fire but he still hurls them.
What concerned me in the Woods 3 fight was he didn't try to cut off the ring. He followed Clinton and paced himself badly.
Still, a lot of ppl think Jonson might be too tough for Calzaghe. So it would be interesting and qualify as a good matchup (then again, in the light of Calzaghe-Ashira, Salem, Bika at leats it it)
I agree with everyone, however. It is pathetic that the fight isn't happening. I blame a lot of the American writers and TV people, for their total fvcking ignorance.
But the super middles will be in good hands with Kessler.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 09:28
by mattyp151
lvlarc_uk wrote:Calzaghe has already said numerous times he will fight Kessler, if that fight doesn't come off then Kessler's camp is just as much to blame as Calzaghe's. Don't forget kess is out injured and andrade wont be paid off, that's his problem.
Taylor would still be a good fight though, two top 10 P4P fighters being matched together.
Still not the fight he should take...plus, I don't think Taylor is going to leave 160 before fighting Wright again.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 09:33
by Nels
Despite all the shite about "significance" that would be bandied around, Calzaghe-Taylor would rate for me as one of the dreariest style matchups in a megafight since... For a very long time.
Seriously, I'd be chuffed for Calzaghe if he won and all, but fvck me, it'd be like amateur hour while Taylor sticks that jab into the air, Calzaghe cudgels & slaps away & they both mince at each other.
Sorry, both good fighters, but I don't think I'd want to watch that fight. Not pretty.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 09:33
by jamesmcdonnell
lvlarc_uk wrote:Calzaghe has already said numerous times he will fight Kessler, if that fight doesn't come off then Kessler's camp is just as much to blame as Calzaghe's. Don't forget kess is out injured and andrade wont be paid off, that's his problem.
Taylor would still be a good fight though, two top 10 P4P fighters being matched together.
Err, when has Joe said that. The first time Kessler was mentioned it was 'nobody has ever heard of him' which at the time was relatively true, but the guy still had a title. Then we were told that Kessler's people were talking 'telephone numbers' to fight Joe, which maybe they were.
However, yet again Kessler is calling Joe out, but to me there seems little enthusiasm, and endless talk about how big a fight with Taylor, Woods, Johnson, Hopkins, Wright would be, anyone other than Kessler.
What I want to be hearing from Joe right now is, "this guy Kessler think's he can take my powerrrrrr, well, let's see him have a go then.
Kessler will surely come to the UK provided the money is right, or perhaps the fight could be staged in the US, after all, it's a unification at 168 surely something could be done, and it would be neutral ground for both.
I have serious doubts about this ever happening now, and if it doesn't I will harbour a little resentment where Joe is concerned, I'm sure he can live with that, but that's how it is. So Joe, if you want your christmas card this year, call the Danish Pastry out.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 09:36
by lvlarc
Yes it would be great to see Calzaghe unify the 4 belts, but as it's already been reported, Palle cannot get past Andrade. So what do you suggest Calzaghe does while Kessler fights Librado, just wait around?
James, I read interviews on BBC regarding Joe saying he ill fight Kessler, have a look on there, I think there is a video interview too.
Here's a new article on Palle's site. Any translators here?
Mogens Palle og WBA & WBC Verdensmester Mikkel Kessler deltager i weekenden som inviterede æresgæster ved World Boxing Councils Årskongres i den sydkroatiske kystby Dubrovnik, hvor WBC og verdensforbundets mexicanske præsident José Sulaiman (foto i midten) vil officielt hylde sin nybagte danske WBC World Champion ved at overrække ham det eftertragtede grønne mesterskabsbælte.
Desuden skal Mogens Palle mødes med WBCs Ratings Committee for at klarlægge deltaljer samt køreplanen for Mikkel Kesslers med stor sandsynlighed næste kamp, titelforsvaret mod WBCs officielle VM-udfordrer alias den californisk baserede, ubesejrede mexicaner Librado Andrade (24-0, KO 18).
Ved Bettina Palles Championship Boxing Galla fredag 3. november i Skive Hallerne, hvor den WBA-rangerede VM-udfordrer Lolenga Mock (25-10-1, KO 8) bokser hovedkamp om den ledige EU-titel i supermellemvægt mod den belgiske ”hardhitter” Djamel Selini (17-4, KO 12), ligger det nu fast, at også det hårdtslående, nordsjællandske stortalent Ervis ”Prince” Masha, der har stoppet sine tre seneste modstandere før tid, skal i ringen til sin femte professionelle kamp.
Desuden ventes også den regerende WBA I/C Champ Reda Zam-Zam i ringen i Skive for at varme op til et kommende titelforsvar, muligvis 24. november i Horsens.
Billetsalget til Team Palles Championship Boxing Galla fredag 3.november i Skive Hallerne indledes på fredag kl. 10 fra BilletNet -
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Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 09:37
by Autobarn
Miranda is still a work in progress. I just want to see him learn some head movement, as Nigel Benn did post Eubank I. Bit more body punching, evade more shots. Miranda's not quite ready for Taylor yet - I wouldn't let him near him for a year.
Let's see Miranda in with Willie Gibbs (December) and then an Abraham rematch. If he comes through, he'll be a better foe than expected.
IMO Jermain weakens himself getting down to middle and he's definitely not used to fending off a genuine 160-pounder who can punch.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 09:43
by Phenomenal-Nutrition
viciousmaussa wrote:Terence wrote:It sounds like they are looking at Johnson next. Glen looked pretty done in to me in the Woods fight. He could barely fight full rounds.
Kessler-Calzaghe not being made would be a disgrace and cement SM as the nothing division of world boxing. It sits between two classic divisions and should be chock full of good fights. Instead, over the years, it has been a comfort zone for fighters.
Taylor would beat the piss out of Miranda.
Glen seemed to lose stamina in that fight. But he did some quality punching over the first nine rounds. In terms of punching technique he might be better than ever. I've seen Glen look like shit in his younger days, so i was encouraged by his showings vs Woods III, as well as Hall and GK Jones.
One thing about Johnson, is that you can tell he's knackered by about round 5. His arms must be on fire but he still hurls them.
What concerned me in the Woods 3 fight was he didn't try to cut off the ring. He followed Clinton and paced himself badly.
Still, a lot of ppl think Jonson might be too tough for Calzaghe. So it would be interesting and qualify as a good matchup (then again, in the light of Calzaghe-Ashira, Salem, Bika at leats it it)
I agree with everyone, however. It is pathetic that the fight isn't happening. I blame a lot of the American writers and TV people, for their total fvcking ignorance.
But the super middles will be in good hands with Kessler.
One thing about Johnson is the crafty right hand, its very compact and well timed. Calazage can eat right hands and did against Bika. His speed, workrate could box Johnsons ears off, but if Calazage is not on form expect Johnson to make it very rough for him.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 09:44
by pundit
lvlarc_uk wrote:Calzaghe has already said numerous times he will fight Kessler, if that fight doesn't come off then Kessler's camp is just as much to blame as Calzaghe's. Don't forget kess is out injured and andrade wont be paid off, that's his problem.
Taylor would still be a good fight though, two top 10 P4P fighters being matched together.
Why is that? Kessler is calling out Joe left and right, but Joe knows nothing better than to talk about all kinds of other, lesser opponents. There is no fame to be gained for Joe at this stage by beating up middle- and light-middleweights, while very visibly ducking Kessler. He can target celebrity bouts after unifying 168, but at this stage he simply hasn't done enough in terms of seroius, career-defining challenges.
This is what really bugs me -- when people start defending Sports Network and their shady dealings. Warren has handled Joe's career in a piss-poor manner for the past 10 years. If this fight doesn't come about, the cause is to be searched and found right there -- and not with the management of a fighter who has unified the WBC and WBA belts within 2 or 3 years of appearing on the radar screen.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 09:51
by lvlarc
So Pundit, tell me how exactly does this fight get made right now, with Andrade in the way. Has Andrade even said he will not be paid to step aside, or was the mandatory forced on them? Can Palle even afford to pay Andrade? I was told by Freheit that Team Palle are in financial trouble.
I will be just as pissed off too if this fight isn't made, 13 years in a division and the best chance of unifying all 4 belts, being only the 3rd person in history to do such a feat.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 09:52
by Autobarn
Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:viciousmaussa wrote:Terence wrote:It sounds like they are looking at Johnson next. Glen looked pretty done in to me in the Woods fight. He could barely fight full rounds.
Kessler-Calzaghe not being made would be a disgrace and cement SM as the nothing division of world boxing. It sits between two classic divisions and should be chock full of good fights. Instead, over the years, it has been a comfort zone for fighters.
Taylor would beat the piss out of Miranda.
Glen seemed to lose stamina in that fight. But he did some quality punching over the first nine rounds. In terms of punching technique he might be better than ever. I've seen Glen look like shit in his younger days, so i was encouraged by his showings vs Woods III, as well as Hall and GK Jones.
One thing about Johnson, is that you can tell he's knackered by about round 5. His arms must be on fire but he still hurls them.
What concerned me in the Woods 3 fight was he didn't try to cut off the ring. He followed Clinton and paced himself badly.
Still, a lot of ppl think Jonson might be too tough for Calzaghe. So it would be interesting and qualify as a good matchup (then again, in the light of Calzaghe-Ashira, Salem, Bika at leats it it)
I agree with everyone, however. It is pathetic that the fight isn't happening. I blame a lot of the American writers and TV people, for their total fvcking ignorance.
But the super middles will be in good hands with Kessler.
One thing about Johnson is the crafty right hand, its very compact and well timed. Calazage can eat right hands and did against Bika. His speed, workrate could box Johnsons ears off, but if Calazage is not on form expect Johnson to make it very rough for him.
Definitely. I noticed him throw it a lot vs Richard Hall. He really snapped Clinton's head back with it as well. In the 3rd fight, his right was way better than in the first two.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 10:03
by pundit
lvlarc_uk wrote:So Pundit, tell me how exactly does this fight get made right now, with Andrade in the way. Has Andrade even said he will not be paid to step aside, or was the mandatory forced on them? Can Palle even afford to pay Andrade? I was told by Freheit that Team Palle are in financial trouble.
Well I don't know exactly, but there are options: Sports Network pays his share to park Andrade. Ever heard of an offer from them? Or Kess does indeed fight Andrade first while Calzaghe takes a tune-up on the same card (maybe his IBF mandatory), while they are fixing a date for yhe unification fight in summer. Or they forego all belts and do the fight anyway a la Tarver Johnson.
Is there talk about any of this? No. Instead Warren and Calzaghe go to NY and discuss celebrity fights.
And are we surprised about this? No. It fits perfectly the picture of the past 10 years.
Cheers,
P
PS: requesting a history lesson -- who are the 2 other 4-belt unifiers? Bernard and...?
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 10:05
by Phenomenal-Nutrition
lvlarc_uk wrote:So Pundit, tell me how exactly does this fight get made right now, with Andrade in the way. Has Andrade even said he will not be paid to step aside, or was the mandatory forced on them? Can Palle even afford to pay Andrade? I was told by Freheit that Team Palle are in financial trouble.
I will be just as pissed off too if this fight isn't made, 13 years in a division and the best chance of unifying all 4 belts, being only the 3rd person in history to do such a feat.
They could just do a Mayweather and dump the belts.
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 10:11
by lvlarc
SN pay off Kessler's mandatory? You are living in a dream world mate. Has Andrade even said he will be paid? He already had to wait whilst Beyer fought Kessler.
Ah yes, a fight with 2 top 5 P4P'rs, celebrity fight indeed.
I agree with them both fighting on the same card, a la Pacquiao/Morales.But again, politics would get involved there too.
Ever wonder why there has only ever been 2 people to hold all four belts at the same time?
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 10:11
by mattyp151
Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:lvlarc_uk wrote:So Pundit, tell me how exactly does this fight get made right now, with Andrade in the way. Has Andrade even said he will not be paid to step aside, or was the mandatory forced on them? Can Palle even afford to pay Andrade? I was told by Freheit that Team Palle are in financial trouble.
I will be just as pissed off too if this fight isn't made, 13 years in a division and the best chance of unifying all 4 belts, being only the 3rd person in history to do such a feat.
They could just do a Mayweather and dump the belts.
The things is they could, and the fight would still carry great meaning. it's clear #1 vs clear #2, the winner is THEE guy at 168 after, no questions. Everyone with a belt could stuff it until they fight and beat the winner. Tarver and Johnson did it, why can't these two?
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 10:16
by pundit
lvlarc_uk wrote:SN pay off Kessler's mandatory?
You are living in a dream world mate.
Why not? Sports Network should be as interested in this as Palle.
Ever wonder why there has only ever been 2 people to hold all four belts at the same time?
Well, at the end of the day it's not about the belts but about making THE fight at 168. There are plentiful divisions that had such fights in recent years.
Btw, can you help me out on who's the other 4-belter besides BHops?
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 10:21
by lvlarc
Yes it would be great if they did but I've just never heard of a promotional company paying off someone else's mandatory.
The other guy was Jermain Taylor
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 10:22
by pundit
lvlarc_uk wrote:Yes it would be great if they did but I've just never heard of a promotional company paying off someone else's mandatory.
The other guy was Jermain Taylor
Oh boy.... of course
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 12:58
by josh fg
Why doesn't it supprise me after spoutin rubbish about fighting at LHW he targests a natrally smaller guy.. don't get me wrong wouldn't be a bad fight but still. The Kessler fight would just be good business people from the continent and the UK would be interested and the Yanks would have to pay attension to a 4 belt champion.
Re: Calzaghe Targets Taylor
Posted: 26 Oct 2006, 13:11
by salaco
viciousmaussa wrote:With Hopkins turning him down, the new #1 target is Jermain Taylor.
That's what he said in the meeting with American writers this week, in his New York visit. Apparently Lou DiBella was there and appeared to be interested for a fight next year.
Can't see that happening before late 2007. Calzaghe would have to fight someone credible in America first (maybe Glen Johnson) and Taylor has to take care of business against Ouma & Wright.
Like I said before, his heart isn't in a fight with Kessler. Kessler's promoter has said 'anyway, MK has two mandatories'. Ppl are becoming resigned to the idea that Calzaghe-Kessler ain't happening!
Then again, if HBO are marketing Miranda, there is another sensible reason for JT to stay at middle.
I can't imagine HBO are seriously interested in marketing Miranda, the guy couldn't land a half-decent shot on a guy who was hardly all there due to loss of blood, he almost made abraham looked like pernell whitaker with those ridiculous swinging air punches...he will knock gibbs spark out however, that is an utter mismatch...