BoxRec

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 08:11**

Hope this is true. Good things will happen all round. Calzaghe-Kessler AND Froch v Inkin for the vacant WBO.

Why waste his hands on a TOUGH mandatory, indeed. Make the 1 that counts - Kessler.

The Sun - Pat Sheehan

JOE CALZAGHE could give up his WBO world super- middleweight crown rather than face Denis Inkin.

Calzaghe has ruled his division since taking the title 10 years ago and made a record-breaking 20 successful defences during his reign.

But the Welsh southpaw, 35, is ready to give it all up to pursue the big-name fights he craves.

Russian Inkin is the mandatory WBO challenger and officials are attempting to push through a showdown.

Calzaghe said: “I do not need Inkin. I’ve only two or three fights left and I want big names like Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones or, preferably, Mikkel Kessler.

“I don’t want to waste six months preparing to face a mandatory challenger I’d beat easily.”

Calzaghe will have a scan tomorrow on the wrist he broke against Peter Manfredo Jr to determine when he can step back in the ring.

Promoter allegedly is trying to arrange a clash with reigning WBA and WBC champ Kessler.

Warren said: “I’m in negotiations and hope to finalise something soon.”

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 08:21**

I get the feeling it'll be Joe/Kessler in Sep...everyone wants it, Joe, Kessler, HBO...and the money is there.

There's no real gain for anyone if negotiations break down: Joe needs this fight ASAP, as a long wait means the odds favour Kessler more and more, and Kessler likely believes he'll beat Joe right now, and the money sounds right - so my feeling is that they will make this one happen.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 08:23**

strip a man after 10 yrs loyal service.

the sanctioning bodies have cheapened there belts beyond belief with all there antics.

shocking mess.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 08:24**

Calzaghe said: .

“I don’t want to waste six months preparing to face a mandatory challenger I’d beat easily.”

Be nice if he'd taken that point of view a few years earlier.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 08:30**

J-C wrote:
Calzaghe said: .

“I don’t want to waste six months preparing to face a mandatory challenger I’d beat easily.”
Be nice if he'd taken that point of view a few years earlier.

yeah especially when sven ottke was around.

he could have become his mandatory and put us all out of our misery.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 08:36**

I think he has come to that point where, who cares if I make defense #21, 22, 35...hopefully. I mean, a fighter like Kessler is worth more than five title defenses.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 10:43**

hitman_hatton1 wrote:
J-C wrote:
Calzaghe said: .

“I don’t want to waste six months preparing to face a mandatory challenger I’d beat easily.”
Be nice if he'd taken that point of view a few years earlier.
yeah especially when sven ottke was around.

he could have become his mandatory and put us all out of our misery.

In fairness to Joe and Warren, I don't think Ottke wanted that fight to happen.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 10:49**

Sounds good. For the first time in years I like what Calzaghe SAYS -- I hope I'll also like what he DOES.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 11:15**

Amen to that brother Pundit, amen to that!

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 11:41**

maybe Calzaghe can stop us all from having our feuds - by getting in there and fighting the guy he's supposed to fight!

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 12:46**

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
hitman_hatton1 wrote:
J-C wrote: Be nice if he'd taken that point of view a few years earlier.
yeah especially when sven ottke was around.

he could have become his mandatory and put us all out of our misery.
In fairness to Joe and Warren, I don't think Ottke wanted that fight to happen.

precisely the reason calzaghe should have ditched the wbo and become ottke's mandatory.

if ottke had dumped the belt then we would have known for sure he weren't interested.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 13:07**

hitman_hatton1 wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:
hitman_hatton1 wrote: yeah especially when sven ottke was around.

he could have become his mandatory and put us all out of our misery.
In fairness to Joe and Warren, I don't think Ottke wanted that fight to happen.
precisely the reason calzaghe should have ditched the wbo and become ottke's mandatory.

if ottke had dumped the belt then we would have known for sure he weren't interested.

That would have been stupid. Ottke could have just dumped whichever belt Calzaghe was the mandatory for. Also, bear in mind, that on dumping his own belt, Calzaghe would have then had to have worked his way up the rankings, and Ottke's people would have done everything in their power to avoid Calzaghe becoming the mandatory in the first place.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 14:12**

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
hitman_hatton1 wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote: In fairness to Joe and Warren, I don't think Ottke wanted that fight to happen.
precisely the reason calzaghe should have ditched the wbo and become ottke's mandatory.

if ottke had dumped the belt then we would have known for sure he weren't interested.
That would have been stupid. Ottke could have just dumped whichever belt Calzaghe was the mandatory for. Also, bear in mind, that on dumping his own belt, Calzaghe would have then had to have worked his way up the rankings, and Ottke's people would have done everything in their power to avoid Calzaghe becoming the mandatory in the first place.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 14:14**

The Blade wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:
hitman_hatton1 wrote: precisely the reason calzaghe should have ditched the wbo and become ottke's mandatory.

if ottke had dumped the belt then we would have known for sure he weren't interested.
That would have been stupid. Ottke could have just dumped whichever belt Calzaghe was the mandatory for. Also, bear in mind, that on dumping his own belt, Calzaghe would have then had to have worked his way up the rankings, and Ottke's people would have done everything in their power to avoid Calzaghe becoming the mandatory in the first place.

Joe wants the fight that generates the biggest money, be it Kessler Taylor or whoever. US TV (and for that matter ITV) dont give a flying kuf about Dennis Inkin.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 15:12**

That's true but thanks to developments at heavy (the Eastern European invasions) and super middle (Calzaghe and Kessler) US TV are open to European fighters in these divisions. When you see how marketable the Klitschkos have been, HBO aren't going to just ignore fighters from this continent...Inkin is a skilled, aggressive fighter and makes for good fights.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 15:23**

The only fight for Joe is Kessler - taylor at a push.

For me Joe does a number on Kessler, I agree Mundine whilst not overly great stylewise is what Calzaghe hates, almost Starie esque is Mundine.

If joe meets and beats kessler its a belt at 175 for me then Hopkins and good noght vienna

Pundit - surely you cant begrudge Joe a fight with Hopkins if he fights Kessler then say a Dawson or Woods???

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 15:30**

Wrists wrote:The only fight for Joe is Kessler - taylor at a push.

For me Joe does a number on Kessler, I agree Mundine whilst not overly great stylewise is what Calzaghe hates, almost Starie esque is Mundine.

If joe meets and beats kessler its a belt at 175 for me then Hopkins and good noght vienna

Pundit - surely you cant begrudge Joe a fight with Hopkins if he fights Kessler then say a Dawson or Woods???

Well, important is that Calzaghe does meaningful fights. If in addition he does a few fights that are less meaningful there is no problem -- the problem is if he does ONLY those fights.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 15:46**

Hey pundit - amidst all the talk of which there has been much who do you ACTUALLY think wins Calzaghe V Kessler - genuine question not wanting to start a war!!

I believe Calzaghe wins a wide UD almost Lacy like

thoughts??

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 15:54**

Would be nice to see them fight for all 3 belts although it's good to hear that negotiations between both camps are serious. If Calzaghe does beat Kessler, that will be two top hungry and undefeated super middleweights (both of which were universally ranked 2nd or 3rd behind Joe) in the cap within 2 years, impressive.

After that, Mundine wouldn't mean as much nor would Woods except for the 175 belt. Would prefer to see Calzaghe fight Hopkins (after he beats Winky) whom is still despite his age a top 10 P4P'r.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 15:57**

Wrists wrote:Hey pundit - amidst all the talk of which there has been much who do you ACTUALLY think wins Calzaghe V Kessler - genuine question not wanting to start a war!!

I believe Calzaghe wins a wide UD almost Lacy like

thoughts??

At the moment I'd say it's 50-50. Definitely not a Lacy-like beatup.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 16:01**

Come on get off the fence!!!

For me Joe - if the fight was another 12-15 months down the line Kessler has a chance

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 16:07**

I'm backing Kessler.

Says here Calzaghe was told to retire by a doctor after his latest hand injury.

http://www.secondsout.com/news/index.cf ... 4&cs=21900

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 17:02**

Wrists wrote:Come on get off the fence!!!

For me Joe - if the fight was another 12-15 months down the line Kessler has a chance

I'll get off the fence in time.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 17:27**

lvlarc wrote:If Calzaghe does beat Kessler, that will be two top hungry and undefeated super middleweights (both of which were universally ranked 2nd or 3rd behind Joe) in the cap within 2 years, impressive.

Lacy was not universally ranked 2nd or 3rd, some ranked him 4th. Still good though.

Posted: **25 Apr 2007, 17:49**

Horse wrote:
lvlarc wrote:If Calzaghe does beat Kessler, that will be two top hungry and undefeated super middleweights (both of which were universally ranked 2nd or 3rd behind Joe) in the cap within 2 years, impressive.
Lacy was not universally ranked 2nd or 3rd, some ranked him 4th. Still good though.

Some prob ranked him lower also, but I meant official boxing site/magaize rankings i.e The Ring, ESPN, etc. I don't think any ranked Lacy lower than 3rd? Here is an old list on how they once stood, posted on here before.

Ring Magazine: Calzaghe #1 Lacy #3
ESPN: Calzaghe #1 Lacy #2
Boxingtalk.net: Calzaghe #1 Lacy #2
Fightnews: Calzaghe #1 Lacy #2
IBO Computerized rankings: Calzaghe #1 Lacy #3
Boxing Writers' Rankings Poll: Calzaghe #1 Lacy #2
Boxrec: Lacy #1

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