BoxRec

After winning his US debut vs the tricky Hopkins, world super middleweight champ and world light heavyweight champ Calzaghe is looking to cash out with one big fight.

The fight seems likely to be Roy Jones Jr, or so we are led to believe. In truth, making it seem like Roy gets the assignment while brooding over it on holiday might be a ploy to force the hands of other, bigger $$ opponents of greater significance.

Rememner, Joe has world titles at super middle and light heavy. He is recognised in both classes by Ring magazine, who won't strip him of any belts. He has the pick of 2 weight divisions, so let's hope his last opponent will be one that matters! Everyone will soon be calling Joe out, especially with him talking of retiring soon.


Tarver has just called out Calzaghe, and says he'll fight in the US or the UK. As Tarver says he has beaten Jones "not once but twice" along with Glen Johnson and Clinton Woods (though he neglected to say Johnson and Jones also beat him).

If you really want to stretch it, Glen Johnson could claim to beating Tarver, Woods, Ottke (outright lie, Ottke schooled him) and Dawson, and few would complain. Unfashionable fighter, which is a shame, as Glen is such a value for money, hard slugging old pro (unlike the shiftier Hopkins). Glen has fought Toks Owoh in the UK and Woods 3x so he's recognisible and he'll definitely concede home ground.

Pavlik would seem to be the biggest $$ opponent. The world middleweight champ has massive power, an exciting style, is fan friendly and with white skin to boot, is a promoter's wet dream (not being racist - racial minorities seem to dominate boxing, meaning the majority like to see white guys do well). However Pavlik is not yet a PPV star - Arum didn't want to do the immediate rematch with Taylor, nor did he want it on PPV - and knows he needs to build Pavlik as an attraction by making regular title defenses. Can Bob make Pavlik a multi million $ fighter in time for a Calzaghe fight? - this is the issue.

Jermain Taylor would surely make concessions in purse/location for a shot at Calzaghe. Taylor barely lost to the Pav Man last time out, and right now seems to have nothing big happening. He's looking for a fight with Brian Vera (Andy lee conqueror) FFS!

I wouldn't argue with Tarver, go out with a win winning a world title would be good, he'll look better against Tarver too as anyone can look ugly against Ruiz Hopkins.

Froch even though he Isn't a big name wouldn't be bad If he beats Inkin.

Glen Johnson style wise would make Calzaghe look great, a come forward pressure guy like Johnson Joe likes as he wins In style against most of them.

Max Molyneux wrote:I wouldn't argue with Tarver, go out with a win winning a world title would be good, he'll look better against Tarver too as anyone can look ugly against Ruiz Hopkins.

Froch even though he Isn't a big name wouldn't be bad If he beats Inkin.

Glen Johnson style wise would make Calzaghe look great, a come forward pressure guy like Johnson Joe likes as he wins In style against most of them.

But would Joe just say, "I beat Hopkins and Tarver lost every round to Hopkins, so why should I fight him"?

I suppose if Tarver beats Dawson, IF he does unify the WBC and IBF versions, maybe.

I like Johnson myself but if I'm being realistic I'll have to say Pavlik provided Arum builds Pavlik up big this year. I mean, if Pavlik scores sickening KOs of Lockett and Rubio (and Pav's promoter will have worked with Joe's promoter re the Lockett fight), making the Yanks desperate to see Pavlik in a big fight.

I'd really like to see two more fights from Joe - though I accept that that is not the party line from team-Calzaghe as it stands. The first would be with Jones because, whilst I accept that he is nowhere near the fighter he was, he now looks to entertain, is probably the next match up best in the division and, hell, he's still Roy Jones. The second would be with Pavlik. Obviously the question of weight comes into it - if Joe next fights at light heavy he would never be able to drop back down, and that might give Jermain Taylor a shot.

Also, Joe is a fighter who changes his mind so many times.

I really would like to see 1 more super middle defence and just 1 light heavy defensc. As you say above TM, I also wouldn't mind seeing Pavlik and Jones. One good fight, one gimme.

I'm glad to see other fighters calling Joe out, because pp aren't just saying "Roy Jones!", "Roy Jones!" all the time.

Terry D wrote:His legacy is his greatest fight in my opinion. Every fight is now described as his 'legacy fight' but those dark days of McIntyre and their ilk will make-up this mythical legacy also.

Those names do not inspire confidence that he can truly cement what he wants in becoming a legend. Say all you like about Tyson but in nailing him down Lewis scored a victory on many levels, it was a symbol of putting away one era and setting his own era.

To that end perhaps Jones is the right fight.

I'm not ragging at Joe, I just feel, given the Kessler fight in particular, Joe deprived himself of many great opportunities over the years.

...and bad luck. Original Hopkins fight and injury against Johnson as examples.

I suppose Joe did beat a p4p'er last Sat. On fight night I had him losing by a rd but now I have him winning upon replay, without any controversy.

However I think his last bout should be one ion which he lands lovely, scintillatig combos on a good fighter who is a bit of a static target (Pavlik comes to mind).

Joe HAS overcome the Euro/US divide. I thought Kessler would be the 1st to do this but Joe bet Kessler then Hopkins. Joe has done what Michalczewski & Ottke showed o inclination of doing so fair dos that way.

But RJJ looks bad, finishing with that bout. Jones is an accidetn in waiting and won't travel well IMO.

Dawson will be Tarver IMO... he is the best fight for his legacy... Roy Jones is the biggest fight for him financially.

I think, if it were to go this way, that a career finish of Lacy/Bika/Manfredo/Kessler/Hopkins/Jones Jnr/Pavlik (two definite and two possible hall of famers plus Lacy who everyone thought was the badger's nadgers before Joe did a number of him, Bika, who looks better having been as tough as hell with others, and the excremental reality show kid) would be one hell of a legacy, even if there weren't as many great fights in the years between Reid and Lacy as there should have been!

Yeah, it seems as though we all want him to have 2 more fights, rather than just one. I hope they can make Glen Johnson as he provides the best fight. But sadly he also brings the least reward/highest risk ratio. Also I think Erdei would make an intriguing bout but sadly the Hungarian has been consigned to oblivion.

Carl Froch.

Powerful, accurate, unbeaten, fan base and most of all ... British.

(and white LOL )

Kelly Pavlik
Roy Jones Jr.

It's either one of those. Joe would be proving more by beating Pavlik, so that's the ideal one in my eyes, but I'd be happy with him fighting Jones Jr as he's a great name to have on your CV.