BoxRec

Bit of an interesting development.

Calzaghe rejects Hopkins offer!
Unbeaten WBC/WBA/WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe says he has rejected an offer from Golden Boy to fight Bernard Hopkins. "To be honest, the offer wasn't as much as I got for the Kessler fight so from a business point of view the deal doesn't make sense for me," Super Joe told Wales on Sunday. "Hopkins must really convince me with hard cash that he really wants this fight because I'm not sure he does." Calzaghe, who will be at in Las Vegas to cheer on countryman Ricky Hatton next Saturday, added that Hopkins is still his #1 target but only if the numbers add up. He also dismissed a possible bout against IBF light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods saying "While Clinton has a title, he is not a big name and will not get American TV excited – and I want to keep them happy as that's where the money is."
Sunday, December 2 2007

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Jaydon Codrington it is then

If it isn't Hopkins/Woods/Froch/Jones, then he seriously may aswell retire.. maybe Dawson aswell.

Calzaghe is looking for the pay day.

He has proved his point in being the best in his division... now he wants the super pay days.

I can understand his him turning Hopkins chump-change down, he isn`t after recognition..he already has it...he wants the money

Who knows whats going on. If it was just a first offer in a negotiating process then you can understand it. If he is dicking around cos he doesn't want to pull his fingure out and fight the guy then I'm pissed.

As has been stated though he doesn't really need the money. Interesting that he said woods isn't happening though.

tonyevs wrote:Calzaghe is looking for the pay day.

He has proved his point in being the best in his division... now he wants the super pay days.

I can understand his him turning Hopkins chump-change down, he isn`t after recognition..he already has it...he wants the money

Thing is he is turning down both the potential payday (Hopkins) and the chance to fight for a 175 belt (Woods).

Either or seems a valid choice, neither nor leaves JC in limbo (for now).

maybe Pavlik Taylor winner although that would prove little legacy wise it'd make him some cash, or who knows maybe DLH will move up to smw

josh fg wrote:maybe Pavlik Taylor winner although that would prove little legacy wise it'd make him some cash, or who knows maybe DLH will move up to smw

I'd like him take on Chad Dawson. Young, hungry, skilled. The best Calzaghe opponent I can see at 160-175, bar a Kessler refight. Calzaghe unified 168 champ and WBC 175 champ --- wouldn't this be something?

More likely they'll eventually hammer out the details of a (in sporting terms relatively meaningless) Calzaghe Hopkins moneyfight.

pundit wrote:

josh fg wrote:maybe Pavlik Taylor winner although that would prove little legacy wise it'd make him some cash, or who knows maybe DLH will move up to smw

I'd like him take on Chad Dawson. Young, hungry, skilled. The best Calzaghe opponent I can see at 160-175, bar a Kessler refight. Calzaghe unified 168 champ and WBC 175 champ --- wouldn't this be something?

More likely they'll eventually hammer out the details of a (in sporting terms relatively meaningless) Calzaghe Hopkins moneyfight.

I'd read on another site that there was a big offer from GBP for JC to fight B-Hop in the US, but you can't always believe what you read. B-Hop won't come over here, but RJJ has said he will. I bet that fight in Cardiff would generate enough money to pay both fighters handsomely. It might be a good fight too, as Roy might still have more left than most think (especially as Joe isn't hitting so hard due to hand problems). Woods, Froch, Dawson, despite their credentials, just wouldn't bring the same money as RJJ or B-Hop.

chesh wrote:

pundit wrote:

josh fg wrote:maybe Pavlik Taylor winner although that would prove little legacy wise it'd make him some cash, or who knows maybe DLH will move up to smw

I'd like him take on Chad Dawson. Young, hungry, skilled. The best Calzaghe opponent I can see at 160-175, bar a Kessler refight. Calzaghe unified 168 champ and WBC 175 champ --- wouldn't this be something?

More likely they'll eventually hammer out the details of a (in sporting terms relatively meaningless) Calzaghe Hopkins moneyfight.

I'd read on another site that there was a big offer from GBP for JC to fight B-Hop in the US, but you can't always believe what you read. B-Hop won't come over here, but RJJ has said he will. I bet that fight in Cardiff would generate enough money to pay both fighters handsomely. It might be a good fight too, as Roy might still have more left than most think (especially as Joe isn't hitting so hard due to hand problems). Woods, Froch, Dawson, despite their credentials, just wouldn't bring the same money as RJJ or B-Hop.

WHo knows what the money was does anyone know what Calzaghe earned for finghting Kesslar?

chesh wrote:

pundit wrote:

josh fg wrote:maybe Pavlik Taylor winner although that would prove little legacy wise it'd make him some cash, or who knows maybe DLH will move up to smw

I'd like him take on Chad Dawson. Young, hungry, skilled. The best Calzaghe opponent I can see at 160-175, bar a Kessler refight. Calzaghe unified 168 champ and WBC 175 champ --- wouldn't this be something?

More likely they'll eventually hammer out the details of a (in sporting terms relatively meaningless) Calzaghe Hopkins moneyfight.

I'd read on another site that there was a big offer from GBP for JC to fight B-Hop in the US, but you can't always believe what you read. B-Hop won't come over here, but RJJ has said he will. I bet that fight in Cardiff would generate enough money to pay both fighters handsomely. It might be a good fight too, as Roy might still have more left than most think (especially as Joe isn't hitting so hard due to hand problems). Woods, Froch, Dawson, despite their credentials, just wouldn't bring the same money as RJJ or B-Hop.

Now BHops vs. JC wouldn't have little value as BHops is years beyond his peak, but at least he still looked competitive in his last fights.

JC vs. RJJ would be simply distasteful. Beating up a corpse.

pundit wrote:

chesh wrote:

pundit wrote: I'd like him take on Chad Dawson. Young, hungry, skilled. The best Calzaghe opponent I can see at 160-175, bar a Kessler refight. Calzaghe unified 168 champ and WBC 175 champ --- wouldn't this be something?

More likely they'll eventually hammer out the details of a (in sporting terms relatively meaningless) Calzaghe Hopkins moneyfight.

I'd read on another site that there was a big offer from GBP for JC to fight B-Hop in the US, but you can't always believe what you read. B-Hop won't come over here, but RJJ has said he will. I bet that fight in Cardiff would generate enough money to pay both fighters handsomely. It might be a good fight too, as Roy might still have more left than most think (especially as Joe isn't hitting so hard due to hand problems). Woods, Froch, Dawson, despite their credentials, just wouldn't bring the same money as RJJ or B-Hop.

Now BHops vs. JC wouldn't have little value as BHops is years beyond his peak, but at least he still looked competitive in his last fights.

JC vs. RJJ would be simply distasteful. Beating up a corpse.

So what are you saying? Calzaghe is now past the point where he has any lasting legacy? If so I agree to a point. The best SMW of all time is the best that he can stretch for (in a relatively new division) with the longevity of the reign and the few significant challenges that he dismissed in between. He could have been so much better I am sure but didn't prove it for whatever reason.

SticknMove wrote:

pundit wrote:

chesh wrote: I'd read on another site that there was a big offer from GBP for JC to fight B-Hop in the US, but you can't always believe what you read. B-Hop won't come over here, but RJJ has said he will. I bet that fight in Cardiff would generate enough money to pay both fighters handsomely. It might be a good fight too, as Roy might still have more left than most think (especially as Joe isn't hitting so hard due to hand problems). Woods, Froch, Dawson, despite their credentials, just wouldn't bring the same money as RJJ or B-Hop.

Now BHops vs. JC wouldn't have little value as BHops is years beyond his peak, but at least he still looked competitive in his last fights.

JC vs. RJJ would be simply distasteful. Beating up a corpse.

So what are you saying? Calzaghe is now past the point where he has any lasting legacy? If so I agree to a point. The best SMW of all time is the best that he can stretch for (in a relatively new division) with the longevity of the reign and the few significant challenges that he dismissed in between. He could have been so much better I am sure but didn't prove it for whatever reason.

I think if he steps up to 175 and obtains a meaningful belt there he could add a bit more to his legacy.

pundit wrote:

SticknMove wrote:

pundit wrote: Now BHops vs. JC wouldn't have little value as BHops is years beyond his peak, but at least he still looked competitive in his last fights.

JC vs. RJJ would be simply distasteful. Beating up a corpse.

So what are you saying? Calzaghe is now past the point where he has any lasting legacy? If so I agree to a point. The best SMW of all time is the best that he can stretch for (in a relatively new division) with the longevity of the reign and the few significant challenges that he dismissed in between. He could have been so much better I am sure but didn't prove it for whatever reason.

I think if he steps up to 175 and obtains a meaningful belt there he could add a bit more to his legacy.

So what belt would be meaningful enough for you as a pundit to add to whatever legacy, over and above the one he already has at SMW?

SticknMove wrote:

pundit wrote:

SticknMove wrote: So what are you saying? Calzaghe is now past the point where he has any lasting legacy? If so I agree to a point. The best SMW of all time is the best that he can stretch for (in a relatively new division) with the longevity of the reign and the few significant challenges that he dismissed in between. He could have been so much better I am sure but didn't prove it for whatever reason.

I think if he steps up to 175 and obtains a meaningful belt there he could add a bit more to his legacy.

So what belt would be meaningful enough for you as a pundit to add to whatever legacy, over and above the one he already has at SMW?

Any. It's a higher weight class, and two-weight champion is a nice label. This said, among the current titleholders Dawson seems the most dangerous to me.

pundit wrote:

SticknMove wrote:

pundit wrote: I think if he steps up to 175 and obtains a meaningful belt there he could add a bit more to his legacy.

So what belt would be meaningful enough for you as a pundit to add to whatever legacy, over and above the one he already has at SMW?

Any. It's a higher weight class, and two-weight champion is a nice label. This said, among the current titleholders Dawson seems the most dangerous to me.

Clinton Woods or maybe Hopkins would be acceptable to you? If he met and beat Dawson I think even the most sceptical British fan would say that he was a legend.

SticknMove wrote: Clinton Woods or maybe Hopkins would be acceptable to you? If he met and beat Dawson I think even the most sceptical British fan would say that he was a legend.

I'd fancy Woods more than Hopkins.

pundit wrote:

SticknMove wrote: Clinton Woods or maybe Hopkins would be acceptable to you? If he met and beat Dawson I think even the most sceptical British fan would say that he was a legend.

I'd fancy Woods more than Hopkins.

I think either/or and vice versa if that's the way they can be made. But Jeez at least you will be happy if he wins both.

If is isnt a big money US fight against a Hopkins or whatever im sure Calzaghe will call it a day.

There is no point in going back to the Clinton Woods of this world and if the big fights are not going to happen now, they are never going to happen

Don't know about anyone else, but I'm sick of hearing fighters talking about nothing but money.

Its a business, deal with it.

why do you think fighters take off the vest?


I personally, am sick of people on internet forums who cant grasp this simple fact

He should fornicate the American's off and fight Zsolt Erdei in my opinion.

Pity Jones doesn't have a credible win but beating Tito should raise his sinking profile enough to fill Millenium Stadium again, though they may need a decent undercard; Rees v Witter perhaps or Macca v Cunningham or Mormeck to fill the place.

From beating Jones in say April, he could look for Hopkins again, the winner of Taylor v Pavlik or....well actually thats it.

The cupboard is bloody bare.

Dawson etc are a lot of risk for little gain.

Dioufy wrote:He should eff the American's off and fight Zsolt Erdei in my opinion.

right, well thanks for that

Calzaghe caps off a fine career by fighting unknown over protected Hungarian for less than half the cash he got for the kessler fight

woooooooooooooooo hooooooooooooooo

Khaosai-Galaxy wrote:Its a business, deal with it.

why do you think fighters take off the vest?


I personally, am sick of people on internet forums who cant grasp this simple fact

anyone can grasp the fact. but it doesn't look good a fighter talking about money all the time. fighters like the petersen brothers and pavlik make a point of not acting like this.

calzahge has been so well paid for 1 of 2 big fights that no one else can afford him. he even moaned about not getting paid great money for lacy, when he whole career's credibility was on the line.

joe will join the seniors tour. only if the money is right. how exciting and how credible.

I wonder if Tarver is back in the plans now after his win on the weekend.