Calzaghe throws a long jab at Jermain from across the Atlantic
Call it the Edison Miranda ripple effect…
Joe Calzaghe, the Wales whaler who’s set to defend his WBO title on April 7 against Contender Peter Manfredo, is trying to protect a 2007 showdown with Jermain Taylor. After Miranda got everyone in a tizzy with his one-round demolition of Willie Gibbs, and said he’d like a crack at JT, Calzaghe was moved to remind everyone that he has dibs.
“I would love to defend my title against Jermain Taylor,â€? says Calzaghe. “Not only is he a terrific middleweight champion, he’s the man who beat the man—Bernard Hopkins—TWICE.
“Perhaps in another year Jermain will be ready to step up and challenge me and we can have a fight between two belt holders. I just don’t think it’s fair to push him up to my level yet. It’s frustrating for me because it would be a big money fight, but it’s obvious he’s just not ready.â€?
The vet apparently thinks that it’s smartest to nudge Taylor into sticking with the original plan by gently insulting him…
What do you guys think?
Would you rather see Taylor meet the power-punching Colombian Edison Miranda rather than Calzaghe, who’s chasing his 20th straight title defense?
either or would be welcome…taylor has been mostly unimpressive during his reign as a champion. he failed to knock down (let alone hurt) hopkins, wright, or ouma…all men that he is physically bigger than. he’s also failed to really put on any sort of boxing exhibition against any of those opponents (you could argue he did against ouma, but ouma doesn’t belong in that weight class in the first place). i like jermain, i think he’s a good guy and is obviously one of the 5 most talented fighters that’s active in the world today…he just fails to impress. if he fights miranda, he has to deal with someone who is known for the k.o….hopkins, wright, and ouma aren’t those types of fighters. if he fights calzaghe he has to face a boxer who is not primarily of the classic defensive sort (of course, ouma isn’t…again…didn’t belong there)…calzaghe is a pressure fighter who is bigger than he is. i probably wouldn’t pay to watch jermain fight anyone (outside of my hbo subscription)…but if i had to choose the first fight between the two, i’d like to see miranda.
I would rather see Joe fight Bernard Hopkins and Jermaine fight Miranda. And let Winky chase the scraps.
Miranda would slaughter Taylor. And as for Joe and Bernard…Tough to call, but I’m slightly leaning towards Bernard because he has size and experience on his side.
Calzaghe to fight whoever has the balls,,,not meaning to disrespect the American fighters but no one ever comes out and states they wish to fight Calzaghe and follows it up.Its getting tedious,,the only one was Manfredo whos trying to make a name for himself but was crap on the reality show and yes has improved but not enough to fight a Calzaghe contender let alone Joe himself. Well Joes doing this because he believes in America and knows thats where he can reach the superstar status he wants but its looking to me like America is doing its best to shut out and prolong the wait of a fighter renound to be THE MAN,even Winkys,Taylors and Hopkins camps believe this because they would be wanting the fights for the titles alone if they thought their men could win. Hopkins is sensible though,if he fights and loses,,,so what hes in his 40s fighting the current worlds best nothing to be ashamed of,however should he win then he propells himself above Roy Jones and other greats as for what hes achieved into middle age. I hope America does give Joe the recognition he deserves when he wins his fights but i dont hold my breath,,Europeans get a tough deal in the states and struggle to get full recognition,,its a shame because better fights could be made if this perception changed.
who did that ballsy calzaghe fight before he fought jeff lacy? oh yea…nobody.
Matt is the perfect example of why Calzaghe needs these fights, i wont disrespect somone elses opinion but America doesnt know Joe (or is that ,doesnt want to know) either way the only person making any effort to find out who is the best is Calzaghe. Jeff Lacy is mentioned way too much,he was a typical over hyped american, nothing special just a freak creation of the media and under knowledged boxing fans, there was never any doubt that Joe would beat him. Kessler is the next best European fighter who if he doesnt fight Joe will struggle to make it in the states because putting it bluntly hes too dangerous, admittedly television networks in America have a lot to do with the problem because they dont want their man to have signed up for 5 fights and have 4 of them having lost their titles,its not good for business,tv ratings and the hype train. Matt im in awe of your knowledge, i just hope you get the chance to see how good Joe is, win or lose hes better than what hes given credit for.
Taylor will turn around and fight someone half his size, He looked bad against Wright and hopkins by far not a champion. The Ooma fight he was just unimpressive, People think lacy been exposed but he would still knockout Taylor. Calzaghe would beat on taylor worst probaly getting a few knockdowns, taylor was hurt by hopkins who isnt that powerful. I think b-bop would just dance around and confuse Joe.
bulldog…name another guy on calzaghe’s win list that is the sort of guy you have to fight to make a name for yourself as a great champion, i’m not saying it’s all joe’s fault. he’s at a weird weight, and is a perfect fighter for that weight. it’s almost how rjj’s career path was, where no one wanted to move up or down to fight the dude…but really it’s not like a guy like miguel angel jimenez (or anyone else) really strikes fear in anyone’s heart.
I cant honestly say for the last 5 years Joe has had anyone to fight who would make him sound like a true great(in america),but to hold a title you gotta fight the mandatorys,are they all bums???maybe not always well heard of, Cotto and Taylor (to name just a couple for example)have both fought many recent opponents rated in the states but who outside have never been heard of.So for that case alone there is no reason why Joe shouldnt get a shot at the likes of Taylor because he is far more rated and well known than his last opponents (or are you saying you have to be a great to fight Taylor? was Ouma). Whatever your perspective is on this Joe is doing all he can to get Americans interested and to get the fights he needs to cement a legacy,it isnt a case of America vs Rest of the World its just that true boxing fans want to see the best fights made and American tv networks dont help the cause unless your stateside. A long time ago maybe but Joe whooped Eubank,the same man who destroyed Benn who in turn destroyed McClellan (in tragic circumstances). Eubank,Watson,Benn and Collins were all greats outside America but struggled to get their acknowledgement from Americans,,its sad but the same situation continues, it would help though if the American fighters didnt avoid the fights. And in all honesty Matt,outside the states Jimenez is hardly heard of,,only beacuse i follow religously the sport world wide i have and at that ive never had the chance to see him fight,,but like i said before (but about Joe) it doesnt make him a poor fighter.
i’m not saying he’s a poor fighter, and about having to be great to fight jermain…no…you don’t, but at least he fought hopkins 2x and winky…which are about 50 times more credible (each) than anyone that calzaghe’s fought.
Calzaghe only big win was against a very over rated fighter name Jeff Lacy. He has the nerve to say Jermaine Taylor is not ready but he is fighting Peter Manfredo who looked awful on the reality show (The Contender). This guy is a bum. Winky, Taylor, Hopkins, and Miranda would knock Calzaghe into next week. I do recall him struggling badly in his last fight agast Bika.
I guess Taylor did a number on Ouma,,oh no,,it were the same result as Calzaghe v Bika but Calzaghe fought a man the same weight where as Taylor went for the smaller opponent,,nuff said.
As for my previous remarks about Taylors camp knowing Calzaghes too good,,,all you need to do is read the latest article on Calzaghe/ Taylor to see Lou Di Bell agrees that his man is not ready YET. Im not saying this to disrespect Taylor,,,just stating facts.