If Calzaghe vacates his three belts?

nahh - not in SMW - that would have to be in cruiserweight (even with a weightloss)

 

oh just and addition - I'm far from sure about Calzaghe dropping those belts - atleast no the WBO-one... he is so close to the record 25 defenses... if they do make the Hopkins-Calzaghe fight I'm sure the can get Hopkins to lose the two pounds - one easy defense (because the big fights couldn't be made) - Hopkins and then one more easy defense and retirement = record 25 defenses - retired undefeated -> legend... (?)

 

I like that thought...! If Kessler is ducked at SMW, he might as well try his luck at LHW...but will Woods want it, even for a lot of money?

 

I don't think Joe would want to defend a mandatory on any of his belts - in March, is it?? - so he will just drop them...he is looking for money+big name+resume at the moment, in my view...although he says legacy+money...:think

 

Thats what I hate about boxing, the best don't have to meet the best.
Kessler went for the higest in his division, look now! it's a disgrase!!!!
Everybody knows he's a top dog, and they can ignore him!
DISGUSTING!

 

It's got nothing to do with the belts...even if Kessler had all the belts, Bute wouldn't fight him...It's got nothing to do with Risk/Reward either! Bute is not delusional. He knows he needs more experience. But he WILL fight Kessler one day - when he feels he has reached his peak - then, may the best man win...but at the moment, Lucian would be crazy to fight Mikkel. Remember, Kessler didn't fight Calzaghe before he was ready either...

 

yep - that's why he keeps the WBO-belt - they don't use mandatory defenses that much. Until now Calzaghe made two mandatory defenses in 10 years.

Calzaghe has been talking money/legacy for ages and only done something about it twice...

I hope very much that I'm wrong - very much

 

Do you mean Bute should feel he needs to face Kessler? Why? Has he ever called out for Kessler? Remember for how long Kessler called out for Calzaghe? Lucian says he isn't ready for a fighter of Mikkel's class...the only one who says he would have a great chance against Kessler is Froch - let HIM take on Kessler if he is ready! Then, there is always Mundine - he has asked for a rematch since forever, saying he can do better. Let HIM take on Kessler...there you go, you have two good fights.

Mikkel did the right thing to go for the best = he was ready. His stock has risen after the fight. He is the second best my a mile...No need to prove it! Everyone except Froch would freely admit it...

Anyway, Mikkel WILL get great fights at SMW, if he wanted to...it's just that they wouldn't be against the best...but then, Andrade wasn't the third best in the division either...Mikkel needs to gain some confidence back against Top 10-15 opposition, and then, he will be ready for the top again, don't you worry!

 

WBO- Froch, FW will get his hands on Froch and he will suddenly shoot up the WBO rankings and fight some bum for the vacant title.

WBA- Mundine will be made full champion, hopefully he will stop fighting cab drivers and fight Kessler, that way we can all enjoy seeing him get KTFO:yep

IBF- Bute will keep on defending, hopefully against good opposition such as Andrade, Tsypko etc and hopefully he'll be looking to unify in 12-18 months or so.

WBC- Lacy could fight for this, GBP have the rights to him now and DLH has alot of influence in the WBC me thinks.

Ideally:
WBO- Froch vs. Inkin
WBA- Mundine vs. Kessler
IBF- Bute vs. Andrade
WBC- Lacy vs. Tsypko II

 

I disagree ... Calzaghe didn't fight Kessler before he was "worth" it - as in holding two belts. Kessler offered to fight Calzaghe long before that. If Kessler was holding the belts, then I'm sure Bute would risk it...

 

Lacy-Tsypko III

 

No, he wouldn't! He might be forced into it by pressure from fans who might want unification, but not because he thought it was a good idea! What would be the point of certainly losing to Kessler early 2008 - with or without the belts, even for a lot of money, when he could have a very good chance against Mikkel in 2009?

 

Bute has got the power to have a chance any day - and if he didn't hold a belt and Kessler did and he got the chance, then I'm pretty sure he'd take it. Worst case senario - he loses and learns.

Kessler learned more in the ring against Calzaghe than he would have defending his titles against medium/good boxers for years...

But now the case is that Bute holds the belt, and he is young and in no hurry ... so he should get a bit more rutine for sure - no need for Kessler just yet.

Futhermore I don't think Kessler would be aiming for Bute just yet - I think he would like a fight or two to get back on his feet before facing a top3 SMW. Bika seems perfect - he is well known in the US and he is pretty beatable - especially from what we saw in his sparring prior to the Andrade-fight.

 

Yeah, I vote for Bika too! Of course, Mikkel would look like **** against him, but then, who doesn't? Bika would teach Mikkel a lot about the dark arts - he could have used some of them against Joe...clearly, when they sparred last time, Bika was told to turn his dark side off...would have been better for Mikkel had he done it all, in sparring.

Sakio is Top 10...I don't think anyone would dispute that anymore...but he is not Top 8-9...He would lose to Kessler badly, worse than he lost to Joe who danced to his tune...if Mundine ducks Mikkel, he should go for Bika - Bika, dirty as he is, will fight anyone anywhere, and will put a hell of a lot of heart into it - we have to give him that at least!:good