Calzaghe Tosses IBF Belt In Bin
By Michael Woods November 27th, 2006Joe Calzaghe drops IBF belt to fight Peter Manfredo
Here’s another example of the saying, “The man makes the belt, the belt doesn’t make the man.”
Welshman Joe Calzaghe has given up his IBF super-middleweight title rather than face mandatory contender Robert Stieglitz.
Who-glitz?
The 34-year-old southpaw will meet Contender Peter “The Pride of Providence” Manfredo in the 20th defense of his WBO title at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on March 3, 2007.
“It’s disappointing to give up the IBF title but Stieglitz doesn’t mean anything out of Germany,” said Calzaghe, who wrested the belt from Jeff Lacy in March, reported Eurosport.
Well worded, Joe.
A scan of Stieglitz’s record shows that his ranking looks unwarranted, as the recognizability quotient of his foes is negligible.
Good for Calzaghe – fight fans essentially dictate which fights should be made, and make their feelings felt on this fabulously democratic invention we call the Internet.
Sanctioning bodies are as relevant today as a marriage certificate is to Pam Anderson….
November 27th, 2006 at 5:57 pm
Just out of curiosity, Joe could have kept his IBF belt if he decided to fight Kessler in a unification bout instead of Manfredo, right? I hate the IBF, but at least, they defer their mandatories to allow a fighter to unify. Joe should be fighting Kessler as oppossed to Manfredo. That bout would be big enough to create a profile for Calzaghe and Kessler in America. Well, at least for boxing fans…
November 27th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
Manfredo has improved under the guidance of Boxing’s Best Trainer Freddie Roach. Although that might not be enough to beat a ring great in Joe Calzaghe.Hopefully the Boxing God’s can persuade Joe Calzaghe to fight on US Soil.
November 27th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
I think Calzaghe at this late stage of his career should be concentrating strictly on the big money fights. First, he needs to meet Kessler, who he’d beat on points. Then he should push for a fight with Adamek or RJJ which are both potential wins and big money fights plus Joe enhances his legacy by winning another world title (Adamek) in a higher weight class.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:48 pm
Good move! I was displeased to hear that there was a possibility between PM and RJ. I thought that RJ might be too much for Peter. I like PM a lot though. Now that this fight is taking place it will match up for something rather interesting if RJ DOES fight Clinton Woods (again) and wins!
November 28th, 2006 at 2:50 am
calzaghe doesn’t seem interested in fighting kessler or carrying the momentum gained after the lacy fight.
November 28th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
I have to say I am a bit annoyed with Joe. I understand that he has to look after number one and all that but surely becoming the unified champion would be great for him. Maybe he thinks Kessler will beat him - which I very much doubt!
November 28th, 2006 at 8:43 pm
Another belt fragmented. Boxing once again shooting itself in the foot. But maybe this is good in the long run. Perhaps boxing will force itself to come under one boxing body and make the most desirable matches. Oh sorry everyone - I dozed off and was dreaming.
November 29th, 2006 at 1:01 am
The poster that feels Calzaghe appears disinterested could be correct. One thing many of us may fail to take into consideration is that at this stage in his career, Joe’s brittle hands may be more problematic than his handlers are letting anyone know about. He’s always trouble with them, but who knows how much he may be having at this late point in his career?
November 29th, 2006 at 6:37 am
manfredo is a “publicity” fight for joe , it is a fight where he is highly favored to win for probally a decent amount of money and do to the
novelty fame of manfredo’s contender status it will attract alot of viewers perhaps even alot of casual fans that rarely watch boxing, the KEsslar fight would mean more to hardcore boxing fans , but nobody here aside from us knows who mikkell keslar is , to be honest i have not seen him fight but have seen clips of him and am aware of his status in boxing , if they were smart they would hold this in atlantic city NJ
manfredo is a household name in new england
December 1st, 2006 at 9:10 pm
I live in providence and saw Manfredo’s last two fights live. The kid is is on the up and up but this fight is way to soon. I would have liked to see PM vs. Allen Green who fought on that last card in Providence. JC is just too seasoned of a fighter to lose this one. I just hope PM makes it interesting by fighting hard for 12.
December 4th, 2006 at 2:39 am
I relly like Calzaghe but right now I’m not feelin dude what so ever. I hear what Jake said in the Response above about his hands but to me he was at a turrning point where he could have went for the mony or the legacy. If he beat Kesslar he jumps up the pound for pound rankings and will have pick of any big fight and pay day. The knock on him is thats we don’t know who he is over in the US. Calzaghe said “It’s disappointing to give up the IBF title but Stieglitz doesn’t mean anything out of Germany,â€? dog !!!!!! WHO THE HELL IS Manfredo. He’s gonna beat him up and we’re all gonna say he beat who this weekend? SOWHAT !!!!
if his hand are that bad he should make the most out of each fight manfredo’s good but he’s not ready. and when its all said an done we’re gonna say Calzaghe he was good but he only fought 1 or 2 good fighters not grate fighters but good ones!