Anybody want to put a wager on that? Calzaghe now clearly in it for the money might just take this if the offer was huge. All true Boxing fans should contribute £10 (about $100 these days...joking $18.67) to help the Pavlik fund. Really disappointed in Calzaghe at the moment but I do sense this is a PBF-esque "retirement". Find a catchweight and get it on. P.S. Calzaghe split decision
The fight with RJJ seems to be taken pretty early; I have my suspicions. Speculating, I can see a last Calzaghe fight in the Autumn. Fighting Pavlik is not the be an end all though, just a step closer...
I think if he came out and dominated Roy Jones Jr and got discredited for the victory, you might see his pride take over and a negotiation with Pavlik may take place. Personally and I hate saying it, as Pavlik is my boy, but I think Jones Jr has the better chance to beat Calzaghe than Pavlik does.
Style wise Pavlik is made for Calzaghe but the problem is he knows Pavlik can bang. At the end of a career where you've professed your desire to retire undefeated the last thing you want is someone with a puncher's chance!
calzaghe's always been in it for the money.....it's nothing new. but he won't fight pavlik. that would risk his status as a fighter of has-beens and also-rans
I'd love to see Calzaghe fight someone young and undefeated again after Jones and retire on that, I'm really disapointed that the Jones fight was made and I'll be even more disapointed if he calls it a day after Jones, even though he's had a hell of a career and has given me personally lots of thrills, it was never boring with Calzaghe. I'd actually prefer he'd fight a better fighter than pavlik with Chad Dawson and maybe Dawson can bring more money, he'd surely add more legacy wise than Pavlik.
This is a distinct possibility, for two reasons: 1) Joe Calzaghe will not have his final fight in the US. Pavlik-Calzaghe in Wales makes a ton of sense as a superfight leading into retirement. Having the home turf should be a concession Pavlik's camp makes since he is the younger, more prime fighter. There's also more cash to be made for both parties, particularly for Kelly if the deal is signed in another currency besides the dollar. 2) Joe wouldn't have fired Warren if he was only going to fight once more. Having two fights is what will really allow him to cash in on not having to pay the promoters' cut- there's a strong chance he'll make more fighting Jones and Pavlik without Warren than he did his entire career with him.
Dawson is even more likely to lose to Calzaghe than Pavlik is. Dawson is the epitomy of tailor made when it comes to Calzaghe. Dawson thinks he's got handspeed and power, he doesn't. He struggled against the pressure from Glen Johnson, a fight Johnson should have won. He'd come into the fight cocky and leave on his ass, giving Joe another TKO
Yes. I know it's not a perfect tradeoff, but it's really the best that could happen in that situation to try and make it as level a playing field as could be expected for both guys.
Must admit your first point is what got me thinking - Calzaghe not finishing up at the Millenium does seem a trifle odd. The second point is interesting. I saw the split as a one-off make as much money as possible deal for my last fight kind of vibe. But could I have underestimated just how greedy Calzaghe is? Why retire once (with massive payday) when I can retire twice??!? (insert astronomical payday here)
I figure it because Dawson will likely have a longer run at the top of the game than pavlik, because he's a better fighter. Plus he's bigger than Pavlik, provides a harder stylistic challenge to Calzaghe and that counts more than a guy made for him.
maybe. but if joe wants to fight stiffs his whole career (or most of it) and then want to crow about being an "undefeated legend" - which he will after beating hopkins and jones at the combined age of 80-something, then we need to call a spade a spade. just because joe says he has feathers does not make him a chicken.