Backlash for Calzaghe

24.06.08

A feeling of disappointment is swelling amongst the boxing community as Joe Calzaghe swerves the first top 5 'pound for pound' unbeaten opponent of his career in Kelly Pavlik.

Pavlik, the 26 year old blue collar fighter from Youngstown Ohio, is regarded as one of the biggest middleweights of all time. Kelly stands at nearly 6'3 and is unbeaten in his 34 fight career, with 30 of those wins coming by bonecrushing knockout. Those wins include a points win and a devastating knockout, of Bernard Hopkin's nemesis and former WBC champion Jermain Taylor.

Joe Calzaghe has long since maintained that he craves the big fights with the big American names, citing that they all avoided him and his offer's of a fight in his hometown of Cardiff over the years. Now it would appear that his split decision win over Bernard Hopkins has made him more marketable to the USA and subsequently offers from the likes of Antonio Tarver and now Kelly Pavlik have landed on Calzaghe's doorstep.

However, rather than delight in the fact that Calzaghe's 'dreams' are materialising at last - it would appear that it was all a bluff. Joe has gone on record to state that he will not fight Kelly Pavlik and has turned down his offer of travelling to Cardiff to fight the Welshman in his hometown. This turn of events has rattled even the most staunchest of Calzaghe fans.

To compound the situation further, Calzaghe has highlighted his desire to fight Roy Jones Junior, a former star from late 1990's and who has lost 3 of his last 6 fights. Of those 3 losses he suffered, 2 were by KO by Antonio Tarver and Glencoffe Johnson respectively.

Roy Jones will have almost a year of rust to shake off should he step in the ring in November as proposed. His last victory was at the weight of 170lb against a Welterweight star in Felix Trinidad who himself was having only his 2nd fight in 4 years.

"Talks are ongoing about me facing Roy Jones, a genuine legend of boxing and a previous four-weight world champion. That is a fight that I think can be made. I think Jones is the right fight for me at the moment." Joe recently stated to the press.

However, in Calzaghe's autobiography, he is reported as speaking truthfully about a potential Roy Jones match up. Talking frankly about Jones, he states that he is now a 'shadow of his former self' and that he stands to gain nothing from a fight now.

Calzaghe mentions how Jones was a great fighter in his day, but that he's been knocked out twice and he would prove nothing new to the boxing world by knocking him for a third time as everyone knows he is now shot.

Pavlik's trainer has also been miffed by the suggestion that their fighter does not really want to fight Calzaghe in another attempt to derail the fight that the public clamour for :-

"I'm ticked off as he's telling us that we don't want to fight him. But yes, we do want to fight Joe Calzaghe. He doesn't want to fight Kelly Pavlik." Lowe Stated.

"There's no way he'd beat Kelly, he's just a slap-happy Welshman."

Gary Lockett, trained by Calzaghe's father Enzo, was destroyed by Pavlik inside three rounds earlier this month, and Loew said "Jones Jnr is a smarter fight for Calzaghe.

"This is what happened: his dad went back and said 'don't fight this killer, he is gonna knock you out'.

Perhaps this is all a ruse to hype the fight up? in the same way that David Haye denounced a fight with Enxo Macarinelli ealier this year. Haye stated he could no longer make the weight, when in reality he could and was setting a trap to get Big Mac into the ring. However Pavlik has not shirked the challenge at any point and has made it clear he wants the fight and wants talk to take place.

It would seem the ball is firmly now in Joe's court.

Does he fight a true pound for pound opponent in unbeaten Pavlik? or does he choose the shot fighter in Roy Jones, a man in his own words he states that 'he would prove absolutely nothing by beating ?

Jones knocked out over 4 years ago by Glen Johnson :-



discuss in FORUM HERE