Calzaghe interview for Ring Magazine in 1996

Discussion in 'British Boxing Forum' started by kosaros, Aug 21, 2009.


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  1. kosaros

    kosaros Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    This is part of an interview Joe Calzaghe, who was 14-0 at the time, gave to the Ring magazine in April 1996.

    ..."Definitely," he said. "If I didn't think I'd be a world champion someday, I wouldn't be doing it. That's always been my dream."

    Duff, who has guided seven fighters to world titles, has never been a man to rush his charges, and he thinks his fighter needs some further education. Fortunately, the Welshman is in agreement.

    In a way, I've only had four fights," Calzaghe said. "I don't really count the ones that were over early. You can't learn anything from them. But from now on I'm going to get better and stronger, fight by fight. I'm in no rush. In about 16 months, I'll be ready." Ready for whom? "Anybody who's out there, I'd love to fight Nigel Benn, though I expect he'll be have finished by then. But Steve Collins is the one I want. I'd fancy him now."

    But even Calzaghe draws the line - for the time being - at Roy Jone. "He's awesome, definitely the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world," he said. "At the moment he's at his peak, and I'm still learning. Let him burn for a bit. Wait till I'm at my peak and he's 30-odd and starting to slip. That'll be the time to take him."

    (I apologise for another Calzaghe thread...).

    Edit: I edited the thread - I don't want to come off as a 'Calzaghe hater', which I certainly am not.
     
    kosaros, Aug 21, 2009
    kosaros, Aug 21, 2009
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  2. TFFP

    TFFP The Eskimo

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    Stop the press.
     
    TFFP, Aug 21, 2009
    TFFP, Aug 21, 2009
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  3. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

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    You'd get more bites if you'd had omited the "14-0" detail, that kinda puts a big hole in the argument....;)
     
    GazOC, Aug 21, 2009
    GazOC, Aug 21, 2009
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  4. El Cepillo

    El Cepillo Baddest Man on the Planet Full Member

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    Calzaghe was no fool. He knew the limits of his own capabilities, and built his career accordingly. Well done to him, I say.
     
    El Cepillo, Aug 21, 2009
    El Cepillo, Aug 21, 2009
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  5. teessider

    teessider Member Full Member

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    :lol: exactly what i thought
     
    teessider, Aug 21, 2009
    teessider, Aug 21, 2009
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  6. Losfer_Words

    Losfer_Words Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    "He's awesome, definitely the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world," he said. "At the moment he's at his peak, and I'm still learning. Let him burn for a bit. Wait till I'm at my peak and he's 30-odd and starting to slip. That'll be the time to take him."

    Forgive me for saying this but surely it's a moot point considering he was 14-0 at the time? How many others would jump in with the P4P #1 after just over a dozen fights? Even the most egotistical boxer out there would surely say the same thing?:think
     
    Losfer_Words, Aug 21, 2009
    Losfer_Words, Aug 21, 2009
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  7. brown bomber

    brown bomber 2010 Poster of the Year Full Member

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    yes well done calzaghe you fooled an awful lot of people. Congrats.
     
    brown bomber, Aug 21, 2009
    brown bomber, Aug 21, 2009
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  8. kosaros

    kosaros Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    But he said when he was at his peak, he would only fight a RJJ who was slipping, and not in his prime.
     
    kosaros, Aug 21, 2009
    kosaros, Aug 21, 2009
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  9. Mandanda

    Mandanda SkillspayBills Full Member

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    I rather a fighter not kid himself about beating guys like Roy then going round at say 17-0 and saying there good enough to beat the p4p guys in a year when they clearly can't.

    Must say that final part he sounds like a cold blooded s.o.b...always knew Joe had a darkside to him.
     
    Mandanda, Aug 21, 2009
    Mandanda, Aug 21, 2009
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  10. China_hand_Joe

    China_hand_Joe Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    So he said he would beat him?
     
    China_hand_Joe, Aug 21, 2009
    China_hand_Joe, Aug 21, 2009
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  11. Losfer_Words

    Losfer_Words Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Can you blame him? I wouldn't read too much into it anyway, the interview is over ten years old. Comments said in gest are very hard to pick up in print and you also have to remember that we are relying on the interviewer to put the words across as they were said. Maybe he said it in a way like 'at the end of the day, he's awesome and I think, as it stands at the moment, I would have to fight him outside of his prime to stand any chance of winning considering where I am at at this point in time'.:think
     
    Losfer_Words, Aug 21, 2009
    Losfer_Words, Aug 21, 2009
    #11
  12. Dan684

    Dan684 Dave's Stepdad Full Member

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    Fixed :blurp
     
    Dan684, Aug 21, 2009
    Dan684, Aug 21, 2009
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  13. TFFP

    TFFP The Eskimo

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    And...Calzaghe was how old? :lol:

    People like to forget that convenient truth.
     
    TFFP, Aug 21, 2009
    TFFP, Aug 21, 2009
    #13
  14. Losfer_Words

    Losfer_Words Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The RJJ that fought Lacy was different to the one that fought JC as well apparently;):patsch:lol:.
     
    Losfer_Words, Aug 21, 2009
    Losfer_Words, Aug 21, 2009
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  15. Dan684

    Dan684 Dave's Stepdad Full Member

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    TFFP - Difference between age/primes.

    People forget that when Joe Calzaghe made his debut, Roy Jones was already IBF middleweight champion of the world. By the time they met, Roy Jones had been from Middleweight to Heavyweight, back down to Light Heavy, got himself knocked clean out a couple of times virtually retired, came back and fought a couple of nobody's and a shot to **** ex-welterweight.
     
    Dan684, Aug 21, 2009
    Dan684, Aug 21, 2009
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