Give Calzaghe a break! The guy's 36! He's proven himself and can fight whomever...

I don't understand the whole "Cashing in" thing people say Calzaghe is entitled to. Wasn't he already fighting for big money throughout his career? Or at least a big part? I mean, that was part of the whole "Joe C doesn't need to go to America" line wasn't it? Since he was filling the homer seats in Cardiff?

He can fight Jones if he wants. Hell, he pretty much went throughout his career with safe fights, what's one more.

 

I hate the age thing on ESB. Once again, fighters age differently. Calzaghe is still looking good at 36 and is at the peak of his career right now. Highest he's ever been P4P and he's coming off the bgigest win of his career. If it was Tyson or Vargas who was so old it may be valid, but Calzaghe has aged so well.

Anyway, **** him. He's a disgrace if he retires after beating Jones. I'm fine with a Jones fight, I just think Pavlik deserves a bout too.

 

See this is why I never subscribe to the mobb mentality ..So if Joe retires after beating Jones he's a disgrace for not fighting 2 big wins Kelly Pavlik who is currently 2 divisons south of where he is at now ???


I pray and hope that one day Kelly doesn't get this same type of scrutiny ..But since boxing fans are so dammed fickle im sure he will get hated on as well !Its only a matter of time ..

Joe has solitified himself as one of the best super middle weights in the history of the game ..Kelly is still hoping to prove he is still the best middle weight right now !

 

It's reasonable to suggest that Joe has the right to pick his own last fight.

On the flip side, the fans have been shortchanged for virtually Calzaghe's entire career. They also have a right to demand a better opponent from him, such as a top flight Lightheavyweight who is not 43 years old (Chad Dawson), or a superstar Middleweight who is willing to move up to face him (Kelly Pavlik).

Both are reasonable points of view, imo. The bottom line is that his legacy will be looked at once the book closes on his career, and a final matchup that is competetive (on paper) will probably do more for his cause than fighting a faded legend, if he can win such a fight that is.

 

Joe really was ducking Kelly the whole time, he just wants to retire his whole career without challenging himself, shame

Damn you Calzaghe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Ever since Joe called Kelly out the day after Kelly won his title, the 168 crowd has said Kelly was in a weak division and that was the only reason he has done anything at all and have practically stated he wouldn't make top 20 at 168. So the hate is already there. Especially now that he answered Joe's call and Joe basically is retracting lots of his words right now they hate Kelly more for stepping up and showing what their great is made of.

 

For all I know Joe may have entertained the fight because of Warren ..I mean from what I hear it sounds more like Warren wanted more so
then Joe ..If Joe was really serious about making that fight it would of been made. I honestly think its was more of Warren's input ..But regradless if the fight doesn't happen so what I am content with what Joe has done up to this point with the Lacy,Kessler and the Hopkins fight ..

Kelly is teh future of the midle weight or super middle weight division ..If he can't fight Joe he can surpass him legacy wise .I just won't get all bent out of shape if Joe doesn't fight him ..

 

At the time everyone saw the Hopkins fight as a cashing in. Even Calzaghe fans before the fight were saying they'd rather see Joe fight a real live opponent then a grandpa.

Calzaghe was now supposed to be making up for lost time; we get hype job Lacy and a good win over Kessler, that's your lot!

Joes been talking about Pavlik for a long time, why the sudden change of heart.

 

Give the guy a break??? Why? When you are a top 2 p4p fighter you need to fight the best and that isn't RJJ. Hell. Tarver is a better fighter than RJJ at this point.

That's one of the things I like about Hopkins. At 43 years old, he fought Calzaghe (and won the fight IMO and many others as well), who was a top 3 p4p fighter and the best SMW in the world. I repeat at 43 years old, he fought the baddest dude at SMW and lost a controversial decision, whereas Calzaghe is aiming to fight RJJ, when there Pavlik, Tarver, Dawson, and even a rematch with Kessler (which would be much more competitive the second time around)...

So, NO break for Calzaghe, fight the top guys, not RJJ's shell. If he does, it will be one of the few times I have ever pulled for RJJ to win a fight.

 

I'd prefer he won a few more big fights as it feels a bit silly knowing the best super middleweight of all time has really only fought two great fights in a prime Kessler and an over the hill but still problematic Hopkins.

 

He can fight whomever but you judge fighters on performances against great fighters. Or at least very good fighters in their prime. A win against Pavilk does much more for his carrer than Roy now.

 

Yes, he has proven himself.

I have been a long time critic, but I now accept that he has proven himself and can meet whomever he wants.

My critique was warranted however because he did waste a lot of years. But yes - the Kessler fight was the crowning moment. It happened in Wales in front of 60.000 wild Calzaghe fans so obviously he was well backed up psychologically when he was in trouble in the first 5 rounds and it would have been good to see if it would have gone the same way in Copenhagen. However, all in all he proved he is a great fighter - not so much because he managed to win but because of the way he fought. The fight was at an extremely high level of skill from both.

Go earn some money Joe.

 

I'm finding that Joe says a lot of things that shouldn't be seen as serious. His saying it's Pavlik who doesn't want to fight, his flip-flopping on Jones, and his claims that 12K out of the 14K tickets sold for his fights w/ Hops were all bought by Brits. :huh

 

who's fault is it that he didn't get many real challenges til his early/mid 30's? he's not that old by the way, but if he can't hack it (which he can) then retire. fight fans shouldn't support these "cash in" fights, that's gay....