BoxRec

I don't blame Jones when he was asking for $5mill to come to Wales or Hopkins when he was asking for $6mill to come to Wales, because let's be honest before the Lacy fight most American's thought Joe was just some 'Brit fag' or 'Euro bum', but Jones and Hopkins knew how good and dangerous Joe was.

Warren has also tried and failed to get Trinidad ('00/'01) and Tarver ('03/'04) to come to Wales. Warren will say that it's not about fighting over there (Stateside) in the flesh, but about TV coverage (Showtime?). If that was the case, how come no American's seemed to really know who Joe was before the Lacy fight??

If he packed all his belongings and just flew off to the States in '98, instead of talking about Jones ducking him, he'd of forced American's to sit up and take notice and could of had these big American paydays a decade earlier, in his prime..

It's not like he's made much money, his total career earnings so far is £4mill (before tax, Enzo's %, etc). And it's not like anybody outside of Wales or die-hard boxing fans knew who the hell he was before his last three fights (on ITV).

What have Calzaghe and Warren been playing at, all this time?

He is a home town boy, who enjoys his home town comforts, as far as I can see.

He would rather be a big fish in a small pond as opposed to testing himself in a 'sink or swim; fashion in the states.

The saddest thing is that Joe has ALL the tools to be a superstar - the speed, the technique, the bang, the looks: he is a complete package in terms of fighter marketability and ability. The USA would hold no fear for him.

Its a crying shame he was never fully pushed/tested.