Calzaghe: "Dawson is the LHW version of Pavlik. He hasn’t proved himself!"

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"To be honest, I haven’t loved boxing for a few years,’ he answered. ‘Dad (his trainer Enzo) has to kick me up the arse more and more to get me to fight. For the Bernard Hopkins fight I didn’t train as much as I should have. For this one I did."

"My dad knows me so well, he told me about 12 weeks ago that I was in danger of getting my arse kicked in this fight and that’s what got me motivated."

"The fear of losing is what drives me on, never the fear of an opponent. I’ve never feared anyone. I remember my last defeat in July 1990 as an amateur at the European junior championships when I got robbed in the fight. I swore I would never lose again and here I am."

"I always knew I’d be world champion, from 13 or 14 when I won my first schoolboy title. I always had this unbelievable drive to be world champion. I trained like a pro every day from 13 years old. Talent alone doesn’t make a great fighter."

"It feels great after the hardship I’ve spoken about before, at nearly 37, to be given the respect and credit. I’ve beaten a legend. I know he’s 39 but he dropped me with a good shot. I did all the work, sparred with Enzo Maccarinelli and other good fighters. I didn’t want to fail at the final hurdle. To get to 46-0 — I’m really proud of that."

"I’m going to chill out with my family and make a decision in a few weeks, maybe a month. My kids are 11 and 14. There are more important things in life than fighting."

"They’re talking about Chad Dawson, but at the end of the day he’s a light-heavyweight who’s won a couple of fights and has just beaten Antonio Tarver, who’s an old man. It doesn’t get me excited. What’s the point?"

"If Kelly Pavlik had beaten Bernard Hopkins, people would have said you’ve got to go and fight Pavlik, but with Hopkins winning that one there’s no one left for me to face. Chad Dawson is a light-heayweight version of Pavlik. He hasn’t proved himself."

"Screw Hopkins. He’s a complete idiot. Why would I want to dance and hold with him again? What he did against Pavlik he could never do to me. The way he fought against me was cowardly. Held on, then tried to claim low blows to try and steal the fight."

"How many British fighters go to America and beat two legends: one in Las Vegas, one in New York? What is there left to do? I don’t do rematches. What else is there to get me excited?"

"I think I’ll walk away from boxing easily enough. My dad’s got a great gym and I can help him with that. I’ve also got my promoter’s licence. I want to get out at the top. There’s a good chance I’m going to call it a day."

 

No. Kessler was shot. :hi:

 

Dawson just ducked a prime dangerous fighter, his mandatory no less, to beat up an old shot fighter instead. Whom did Calzaghe duck, when he decided to fight Hopkins and then Jones? Did he duck Kessler? No, he didn't. Did he duck Lacy? No, he didn't. Bute, perhaps? What has Bute done to deserve a shot at Calzaghe? Did he beat the best of the rest in Kessler? No!...So...whom did Calzaghe duck? Did he not fight the best LHW in the world in Hopkins? Was he not allowed a farewell dream fight against his hero, Jones, who called him out?