Calzaghe v Woods?

Mario · Post by **Mario** » 07 Nov 2007, 20:47

I hope not!

But this is from Eastsideboxing.com. Dont know how good their sources are.

"British local TV network Yorkshire television have reported that negotiations for a 175 pound match up between Sheffield’s International Boxing Federation champion Clinton Woods and pound for pound great Joe Calzaghe have begun and are at an advanced stage."

Miuna · Post by **Miuna** » 08 Nov 2007, 16:03

Would you rather see a 36-year-old against a 43-year-old?

Calzaghe-Woods would do big viewers on ITV1 or BBC1, since Woods's title win and the Woodson-Johnson fights were on those channels and Calzaghe's last five fights have (/would have ie Sat) been too.

This could be like a Benn-Watson/Eubank-Watson/Benn-Collins thing. It would do 5+ million viewers IMO and could be a good ole domestic war with hype and trash talk and shake, rattle and roll.

I say go for it!

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 08 Nov 2007, 16:25

Very surprised to be honest - Cant see there being any hype, not Woods style - Not too sure who would televise, could be another for Setanta - Better fight than Hopkins but nowhere near the same money - Still Joe could go off to the States as LH champ and make a good few bucks.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 08 Nov 2007, 16:42

I'm not that surprised. I predicted this option on a previous thread, Woods fits the bill, he's known to the public and a British rival so they could pack an arena for the fight. Calzaghe jumps a division and becomes a two weight world champion as he wishes by defeating a credible domestic rival he almost certainly has the beating of. It makes business sense, legacy sense (if such a term exists) and they don't have to pay mega bucks to pander to Hopkins demands!

The down side is it probably then means the Hopkins fight won't happen (if that is a downside) as Calzaghe will then say "I'm the world champion i call the shots you come to me". Hopkins seems to have this typical yankee notion that as soon as he sets foot outside of the US he is going to be robbed blind by hometown judges. So he won't be travelling.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 08 Nov 2007, 18:54

oh god, so this is what he thought when he said 'a two weight champion'

calzaghe will totally destroy woods

Flav1 · Post by **Flav1** » 08 Nov 2007, 20:36

Woods + Pavlik/Taylor doesn't exactly lay a legacy to remember does it?

Calzaghe has to go to America. Hopkins, regardless of appeal to genuine boxing fans, needs to Joe's next port of call. Bute would be immense but there's more chance of Bruno coming out of retirement and winning a world title...

Mario · Post by **Mario** » 08 Nov 2007, 20:48

Beating Clinton Woods would not enhance Calzaghes legacy one bit. It would mean he could call himself a 2 weight champion but Woods will be remembered as a poor champion in an average division and Calzaghe would destroy him.

A fight with Bernard Hopkins might not be the prettiest to watch but along with Pavlik it would be the most meaningful and challenging fight around for Joe despite Hopkins' age.

tilly69 · Post by **tilly69** » 09 Nov 2007, 02:18

Mario wrote:Beating Clinton Woods would not enhance Calzaghes legacy one bit. It would mean he could call himself a 2 weight champion but Woods will be remembered as a poor champion in an average division and Calzaghe would destroy him.

A fight with Bernard Hopkins might not be the prettiest to watch but along with Pavlik it would be the most meaningful and challenging fight around for Joe despite Hopkins' age.

calzaghe vs pavlik would b the fight of the century,id fly over 2 c that one 4 sure

Crew2 · Post by **Crew2** » 09 Nov 2007, 03:09

Miuna wrote: This could be like a Benn-Watson/Eubank-Watson/Benn-Collins thing.

MORE LIKE A EUBANK-COLLINS THING

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 09 Nov 2007, 04:32

We sound suprised, we really shouldn't be. Once again, Joe enhances his legacy, and then takes several steps back in class.

My only hope is that this is to entice Hopkins into fighting Joe for the IBF belt afterwards.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 09 Nov 2007, 04:47

Woods is a riskier fight than Hopkins IMO. Particularly considering the respective gain to be made.

I'd expect Calzaghe to prevail but Clinton is rugged, busy, strong, holds a shot and is fitter than ever.

Hopkins is cuter, more economical and will make Joe's workrate seem even higher than it natually is.

Hopkins is the perfect fight for Joe, because he likes to rest, wont be naturally heavier and doesn't punch with the authority Clinton does. He's more precise and quicker in delivery, but he's a very beatable foe for Joe at this stage.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 09 Nov 2007, 04:54

DavidPayne wrote:Woods is a riskier fight than Hopkins IMO. Particularly considering the respective gain to be made.

I'd expect Calzaghe to prevail but Clinton is rugged, busy, strong, holds a shot and is fitter than ever.

Hopkins is cuter, more economical and will make Joe's workrate seem even higher than it natually is.

Hopkins is the perfect fight for Joe, because he likes to rest, wont be naturally heavier and doesn't punch with the authority Clinton does. He's more precise and quicker in delivery, but he's a very beatable foe for Joe at this stage.

Totally agree, but I guess they don't see it that way. With the amount of shots Joe took from Kessler, I think Woods might stop him if Joe doesn't stop dropping his hands and tightening his guard.

We all know Woods can bang.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 09 Nov 2007, 05:18

Joe's not getting stopped by anybody. In consecutive years he's faced his 2 toughest young rivals. He figured Lacy out in the 1st minute of rd 1. He figured Kessler out by rd 7 after a close first half. This is great work. Kessler hit him a lot in rds 4, 7 and 12 because he was a confident, accomplished two-belt champ!

I like the idea of Joe v Woods. I'm a big Woods fan and he deserves this. If Clinton was trained by Enzo Calzaghe you'd all be coming out with superlatives about how he turned his career around. What Hobson (getting him another chance with the IBF), the nutritionist and Poxon (training him to have world class skills), have all done is remarkable.

Joe already has his legacy. He's the super middle boss beyond doubt. He's held all the belts, he's become the 1st fighter ever to hold the Ring titles at 168-lbs and he put on 2 truly Hall of Fame worthy, 1000-punches thrown, performances.

Woods is physical, solid, well schooled.

Look, if the Hopkins fight is so important, why not have it after he beats Woods in an exciting all-British fight? You know, have a unification bout... Us Brits love our winners (unbeaten Joe) and we love our underdogs (Clinton, with the gritty way and hangdog look about him). Joe draws a huge crowd and Clinton's great fight with Johnson went down really well last year.

Hope this is all true!

Give your super middle belts away, fight Woods and cash in with Hopkins. That would excite me.

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 09 Nov 2007, 05:30

If a busy, marauding Johnson can give Clinton all he can handle, then expect the same from Calzaghe only more impressive.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 09 Nov 2007, 05:38

Twinkle Toes wrote:If a busy, marauding Johnson can give Clinton all he can handle, then expect the same from Calzaghe only more impressive.

Clinton's left arm was badly hindered in that fight. He couldn't jab or counter Glen's right with a left hook. No wonder he stood there taking shots at times. I thought Clinton held his own over the first 8, fell behind in a terrible ninth, and stormed down the stretch impressive. Woods is a great guy and deserves this.

Hopkins even admitted after the tame Winky fight that all the pre fight hype was just to boost PPVs - so he wouldn't get fined for the pushing. I hope everyone watching saw the cynic in him and is put off.

That said, Joe's pulling power was hardly hurt by the Manfredo fight - I thought it would have been dented but it wasn't.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 09 Nov 2007, 05:48

Autobarn wrote:Joe's not getting stopped by anybody. In consecutive years he's faced his 2 toughest young rivals. He figured Lacy out in the 1st minute of rd 1. He figured Kessler out by rd 7 after a close first half. This is great work. Kessler hit him a lot in rds 4, 7 and 12 because he was a confident, accomplished two-belt champ!

I like the idea of Joe v Woods. I'm a big Woods fan and he deserves this. If Clinton was trained by Enzo Calzaghe you'd all be coming out with superlatives about how he turned his career around. What Hobson (getting him another chance with the IBF), the nutritionist and Poxon (training him to have world class skills), have all done is remarkable.

Joe already has his legacy. He's the super middle boss beyond doubt. He's held all the belts, he's become the 1st fighter ever to hold the Ring titles at 168-lbs and he put on 2 truly Hall of Fame worthy, 1000-punches thrown, performances.

Woods is physical, solid, well schooled.

Look, if the Hopkins fight is so important, why not have it after he beats Woods in an exciting all-British fight? You know, have a unification bout... Us Brits love our winners (unbeaten Joe) and we love our underdogs (Clinton, with the gritty way and hangdog look about him). Joe draws a huge crowd and Clinton's great fight with Johnson went down really well last year.

Hope this is all true!

Give your super middle belts away, fight Woods and cash in with Hopkins. That would excite me.

Joe's chin has never been tested by a boxer weighing 175-190 pounds (depending on Clinton's ring weight). It's fair to say that he hasn't been stopeed before by a SM, but he's in unchartered territory at LHW, so we just don't know.

If Joe fights in the same flashy, drop your hands, way he did against Kessler he definately COULD be stopped. No question. I like his flashy style, but it's also a bit heart in mouth at times. Woods is a lot better than people give him credit for.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 09 Nov 2007, 06:16

Very true. Clinton is a big bloke and Joe does take punches. I think he will be strong inside. But I think he took shots vs Kessler because Kessler did throw some fast right hands.

I was surprised how big Joe is, vs Kessler. I thought Kessler would be taller, thicker set, with longer arms. But Joe seemed to have identical height - they both must be 6' -, looked heavier on the night and had identical reach.

Seeing that fight, I thought Joe looked like a decent sized light heavy.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 09 Nov 2007, 07:25

hold on a second. nowhere in that woods interview does it say the fight is in negotiations. woods is just saying why joe should fight him.

Albert · Post by **Albert** » 09 Nov 2007, 20:09

For me Calzaghe v Woods has the makings of a magnificent fight.

At the time I honestly believe Dennis Hobson was right not to take the money on offer at the time a year or so ago for Woods to fight Calzaghe.

It is going to be difficult and it is going to take an awful lot of millions to tempt Hopkins out of the USA - Whilst Woods won't come cheap it is a logical fight for the UK to see.

Clinton Woods is a lot tougher and ring savy than a lot of people give him credit for and make no mistake Calzaghe would have to fight every minute of every round to stay with Woods.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 10 Nov 2007, 05:20

Wioods has been 1 of the compelling stories in British boxing. While Joe was wasting his title on Kabary Salem and co, Clinton somehow reached a massive career peak to outclass Rico Hoye. OK, Joe was destined to reach bigger heights, but Woods should be proud with that win over Johnson, a guy who'd already beaten him with no problems (in their 2nd fight). Woods-Johnson 3 was a great fight, and even his Gonzalez rematch went down well for entertainment value.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 10 Nov 2007, 08:32

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote: (depending on Clinton's ring weight). .

Apperently puts on 17lbs so 192lbs on fight night.

Clintons too slow and pondorous for Calazage though. Clintons money shot of a left hook just isn't going to land. Not quite as hard as the Kessler fight for my money

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 10 Nov 2007, 08:51

Joe is just as fit as he was years back but now he has the experiance to counter any style - Woods, Hopkins and retire two weight world champion undefeated - I would have no complaints and a lot of admiration - For me he has already done enough but obviously he wants to do more and succeed at LH as well - I hope he pulls it off and his career has a dream ending.

Albert · Post by **Albert** » 10 Nov 2007, 16:49

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:
Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote: (depending on Clinton's ring weight). .
Apperently puts on 17lbs so 192lbs on fight night.

Clintons too slow and pondorous for Calazage though. Clintons money shot of a left hook just isn't going to land. Not quite as hard as the Kessler fight for my money

Where did you get your info from??

Incidentally under IBF rules there is a check weigh in on the morning of the fight and you are only allowed to put on so much weight - can't remember what it is - something like 11lbs.

After the last check weigh in - We all went for a breakfast and Clinton certainly did not pig out - have to say I had a lot bigger breakfast than he did and so did everyone else sat at the table.

Another note is Clinton is normally extremely fit all year round - constantly ticking over keeping the weight in check.

ArtOfWar · Post by **ArtOfWar** » 10 Nov 2007, 16:57

DavidPayne wrote:Woods is a riskier fight than Hopkins IMO. Particularly considering the respective gain to be made.

I'd expect Calzaghe to prevail but Clinton is rugged, busy, strong, holds a shot and is fitter than ever.

Hopkins is cuter, more economical and will make Joe's workrate seem even higher than it natually is.

Hopkins is the perfect fight for Joe, because he likes to rest, wont be naturally heavier and doesn't punch with the authority Clinton does. He's more precise and quicker in delivery, but he's a very beatable foe for Joe at this stage.

No he's not, because he's hard as f**k to catch clean and he's a master at neutralizing his opponents weapons. Have you ever seen anyone take Winky's jab away like that? Granted his tactics were horrible to watch, but it was no different to what Hatton does. I'd expect Joe to beat Hopkins at this stage, but Hopkins is as clever as they come in a boxing ring.

With Woods what you see is what you get and what I see is not gonna be nearly enough to beat Calzaghe. He'll get totally outworked and unlike Hopkins, he doesn't have the smarts or the defensive abilities to nullify Calzaghe at all.