The way I see it, Calzaghe can't win no matter WHAT he does. Every fighter in the division is either too young (Dawson, Diacanou, Cloud ect...) or too old (Hopkins, RJJ, Tarver Johnson) for Joe to get any credit for fighting. If he doesn't fight Dawson or Johnson it's because he is scared. If he fights them and wins it's because they are too young/old and he cherry picked them. And if he loses, his whole career was a sham. There are two big problems I have with this logic. First off, Dawson and Johnson would both give Calzaghe a hell of a fight. When they fought each other in April of 2008 they put on a great fight. It can be argued that either man won the fight (i thought Dawson won by a point but a draw would have been acceptable) but what can't be argued is that both men looked great and fought at a very high level. Secondly, if Calzaghe feels that he can't win no matter what he does, we may never get to see any of these fights. I am a big fan of Calzaghe, Johnson, and Dawson and it would really **** me off if none of these potentially great fights happen. If Calzaghe detractors want to have a chance at seeing Calzaghe lose, they better stop denigrating every Joe win and make these fights seem as appealing as they really are. Dawson does not fight like a novice and Johnson does not fight like an old man. If Calzaghe thinks he'll get credit if he wins, he'll make these fights happen.
You fight for yourself an your fans, that the most important, i know who ever he fights an beats will be called overated, so i don't care i enjoy watching an seeing him win, so i hope he keeps going, i think he got a few years in him.....
Lol. It will be funny when Glen or Chad beat him. Oh, he is going to rematch Kessler most likely. He already ducked out of fighting Glen three ****ing times. I guess b/c of his hands..lol but he goes and fights Manfredo.........euros.
There is no way he rematches Kessler or Hopkins. When you are trying to make fights to secure a legacy, you don't start with guys you just beat. Obviously those two wins aren't getting him the credit he deserves.
Very good points you have there. Good to see some of Joe's fans are logical and know their boxing. I generally agree, except for the bold part. If Calzaghe takes just one of the two fights you mentioned and wins (especially vs Dawson), whoever says afterwards that "it's because they are too young/old and he cherry picked them" would be a complete idiot. I've said it again in other similar threads, if Calzaghe takes one or two more fights like those you mentioned, he deserves mad respect, even if he LOST. To me he would be a winner for just taking the fight.
I think he should fight Dawson because Dawson holds those victories over Tarver and Johnson. It is also safe to assume that Dawson's post Calzaghe career would only make Calzaghe look better (assuming he doesn't just burn out). This is often the thought with Joe's win over Kessler, that it will truly prove impressive IF Kessler has a great career. A farewell fight in Wales over the only top LHW fighter not coming off a recent loss. Dawson seems like the best option.
I am sick and tired of hearing 'oh poor joe, won't get credit if he beats Dawson'. That's a load of crap. He got credit for beating Kessler, didn't he? Kessler is not even American, and though many people call Kessler a robot, etc, it ultimately did raise Joe's stock. Most people label Dawson as a superior boxer and bigger challenge than the Dane, and so it is unfathomable that Joe goes and defeats Chad, without recieving his due credit. It won't happen. That being said people do and will continue to denigrate his wins over Hopkins and Jones, as he caught these fighters far, far past their peaks. He deserves to be criticized for this.
I know i'd give him credit if he beat Dawson but people seem very reluctant to. I do think he will fight Dawson in Wales.
Some good points there, valid ones too... Those two names are the only names that will even come into play for Joe next, nobody else, period. If he fights and beats Johnson he will get the usual **** thrown at him and wont get the full credit, even though for me Johnson is a real tough fight, Johnson gives anyone problems at LHW. Dawson is the call for me, he beat Tarver (one ticked) and Johnson (another ticked), he is a young champion another to take down. I dont care about nobody else...for me he gets real credit for beating Dawson, and what a way to go out......but if he retires now then so be it, big deal he doesnt fight Dawson, he beats him anyway...plus there is always gonna be people like dawson to beat, where do you draw the line ???
