"Ive been speaking to former middleweight world champ and light-heavyweight No 1 Bernard Hopkins and Im confident I can get that fight for the Welshman. Theres been talk that Golden Boy, Hopkins promoters, offered Calzaghe a career-high purse to fight The Executioner in the US. But I can reveal that the money on the table was not as much as Joe took home for toppling Kessler. Im more than happy to pay Hopkins the same to come to the UK. Ive also been in contact with Bob Arum about Calzaghe fighting big-punching Kelly Pavlik, a fight I really fancy for Joe."
No. Joe doesn't need to fight in the U.S. As long as we americans get to see joe fight it doesn't matter where he fights. It doesn't make too much financial sense for joe to fight in america. Bernard isn't a household name like most think. He can't draw flies to ****, and joe brings them in herds to cardiff. What happens if the fight b/n hops and calz only draws 10000 fans to a stadium and only does like 300K buys on PPV. Then joe doesn't even get the payday he wants. Well guess what? This is exactly what will happen when the fight is made. This fight won't have the buzz that a cotto/mosley or delahoya/mayweather had. It will be, outside of hardcore fans, an ordinary PPV fight. Joe could unify the title and go down as a 2 division champ by beating woods in wales, and then luring dawson for a big payday to defend his title against joe in cardiff. Joe would draw massive crowds to both events and be fighting world champs both times to truly unify the titles. Nard might wear the ring belt, but at this point he's just holding it hostage. Nard needs joe more than joe needs nard. There's other ways to the undisputed championship than thru X.
warren has a boxing column (biased rant propaganda every time) in the uk`s biggest newspaper and this was in it today.
Should Mayweather have taken a within reason paycut to fight Hatton in the venue of Hatton's choice on account of having something to prove to the rest of the World?
That cherry picking Hopkins is not fighting him under ANY circumstance and while Hopkins should get the bigger cut by default, Calzaghe should not have to take a substantial pay cut just to sign some past prime big name who will do nothing for his legacy at this point. You all act as if Joe has to do **** that other fighters in his position would never do, we only expect reasonable things. Pac and Hopkins on the other hand are doing cherry pikcing, when there are GOOD fights within reason that could be otherwise made, they both are content with just money fights.
Warren is willing to pay Hopkins the same amount GBP is offering Joe. Why if Joe is so confident he can beat him anywhere on planet earth?
I want to see Joe up close and personal without using MY passport. Now that he's put on a huge show on HBO Americans love Joe and want to see him. He has now worked his way into the "circle jerk" of elite fighters that Cal fans always complained about (i.e. Hopkins, Wright, Jones, etc..), now Joe is a welcome to the circle. He just needs to come over here and do it. IMO, the only really challenge over here for Joe is Dawson. He deserves the Hopkins payday and I hope he gets it.
Calzaghe has shown he's a big boy now and ready to leave the crib after defeating Kessler. Let him go Frank.