Joe Calzaghe Not Into Jermain
By Robert Ecksel December 21st, 2006Calzaghe saw Taylor/Ouma, scratch Jermain Taylor
It looks like Joe Calzaghe’s planned stateside debut next summer will not be against middleweight king Jermain Taylor, who’s been itching to come up in weight, but not for the reason you might think.
The unbeaten WBO super middleweight Welsh sensation defends his crown on April 7 against Contender star, and Providence, RI native, Peter Manfredo, Jr. at the Millennium Stadium, and there’s been a ton of speculation as to who Calzaghe fights next.
But Calzaghe, according to informed sources, was extremely unimpressed by Jermain’s performance against Kassim Ouma.
“I don’t think it’s fair to push him (Taylor) up to my level yet. Maybe in another year,â€? said Calzaghe, reports the South Wales Echo. “It’s frustrating for me because it would be a big-money fight, but it’s obvious he’s just not ready.â€?
Even Lou DiBella, Taylor’s promoter, agrees: “I think he’s right. I think Jermain needs a couple more fights. I think he hasn’t looked as good in his last two fights as he did in the second Hopkins fight. I’m not going to push this kid beyond where he should be.â€?
If Calzaghe’s hands can withstand the hardheaded Manfredo’s skull, there’s still an opponent out there to be named, to be determined.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:32 am
Calzaghe TKO 8 Kessler
December 21st, 2006 at 10:43 am
Yeah, and his name is Mikkel KESSLER!!!!!!!
December 21st, 2006 at 12:38 pm
Joe should fight Mikkel Kessler but he’s afraid because, even though Kessler isn’t a big name in USA he know’s that he very well could end up losing!!! Look at Kessler’s(DK) record, it’s very impressing he might be the best danish boxer ever, even better than J.Bredahl who (maybe) deserved a win against Paulie Ayala a couple a years ago….hope this get’s to Joe because it would be one of the biggest fights of 2007.
He says J.Taylor isn’t ready, be serious Peter Mafredo Jr. is??? if it wasn’t for the contender nobody wolud know his name, and in Denmark we could see the show and let me remind you that Manfredo lost and had to leave the show, but came back because some typical realityshow reason I can’t remember……….COME TO DENMARK/OR DENMARK COMES TO MANCHESTER or wherever you fight Joe Calzaghe (by the way I got so much respect for Joe he’s a very underrated fighter outside of the states)-Stefan
December 21st, 2006 at 4:46 pm
I grow weary of Calzaghe and his tired excuses. I respect the fact he is undefeated and is a long reigning titleist, but as I’ve stated before on this BLOG, his 19 defenses are of a partial title. Furthermore, it’s not only the fault of the Americans who are unwilling to come to his side of the Atlantic, there have been plenty of non-American champions Joe also didn’t try to fight to unify. Joe isn’t mentioning the Dane, Kessler, and he never fought other European champions like Ottke or Beyer. There were also the Canadian Lucas and the Australian Mundine, whom were never sought out by Joe to unify. Instead, Joe has been content to stay home and fight names like Ashira, Veit (2Xs), Salem, Mkrtchian, Pudwill, McIntyre, et al. When Joe finally does get a career-defining and unifying win over Jeff Lacy, he blows all the momentum by fighting Bika and now Peter Manfredo.
December 21st, 2006 at 8:14 pm
kessler KO Calzaghe
December 21st, 2006 at 8:21 pm
I think Manfredo came back to the show because someone got the measles or something. Anyway G-Pal here I go agreeing with you again. Calzaghe seems like a reluctant warrior no matter how good he is and it will hurt his legacy when he leaves boxing. Fight the best, not too many years left in his career and don’t lose the momentum. No way can these modern fighters compare themselves to the fighters back when. Back then there were only eight champions and they would fight the best four, five, six times. Those were some hell of fighters back then. This current crop just like to run their mouths and just try to get reactions from the boxing community. I don’t think they are serious about half the stuff they say.
December 22nd, 2006 at 9:57 am
Respect to everyone wanting Kessler to fight Joe,,,it would make for a great fight but Joe would win, the downfall is Kessler is even less known than Calzaghe in the states and wont increase any fan base so there really isnt anything to gain for Joe to take this fight. It hurts to say but Manfredo is known enough to get a sniff of interest from americans….im as dissapointed as anyone to see Joe having to fight a reality show contestant (ill still be there in Cardiff though),what can Joe do when hes going to the States requesting the fights yet he is been avoided,,ive said before that Taylor Winky and Hopkinsons camps know Joes calibre and genuinely find him too dangerous (Lou DiBella is stating it himself about Taylor). Hopkins is in the best position to fight, nothing to lose because should he win he reaches status above every other p4p champ stretching his competitive career beyond the 40 mark against credible opponents, should he lose,so what hes old whos going to honestly bat an eye lid. I feel for Joe when there are champs out there that arent good enough to face him which overlaps what Gpal picks up on as partial champs (except discussed in Joes case),if Taylor isnt ready for Joe,is he really a champ????
Why isnt anyone suggesting Taylor v Kessler?? surely a good eliminator and warm up to face Calzaghe, for all parties,raising Kesslers fan base in America and making for a good opportunity to fight Joe should he win.
December 22nd, 2006 at 12:05 pm
Bulldog, respect to you brother, but the thing for Joe to gain by fighting Kessler is an UNDISPUTED, UNIFIED title.
DaveB, you’re exactly right about the old time fighters as well as the modern athlete. The modern fighter would rather posture and spew rhetoric than get in the ring and settle everything.
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:10 pm
I have not seen too much of Kessler, but the little bit I did see, although possibly misleading, leads me to conclude that he is the toughest challenge at present for Calzaghe. Kessler seems to have crushing power and can box, unlike Lacy. Yet, there are question marks since he has been taken the distance, so if others can do so, Calzaghe has to be given at least much credit also. Calzaghe is often awkward when he throws his combinations and can get caught, ergo, Kessler could catch him, and seemingly has the power to knock anyone at thte weight out, regardless of how good their chin is. I feel that Taylor is really not a great boxer, I mean all credit to him, and any one for that matter, who has the courage to get into the ring and box, but unless he improves technically, he will get beaten if/when a truly great boxer who is not up in years comes a long. I feel that Kessler VS Calzaghe will be more entertaining than a fight with Hopkins VS Calzaghe, but the latter is also one that I’d love to see happen. For me, Calzaghe is potentially one of the best fighters of his era, but unless he gets in the ring and proves it, I will never be sure. A bout with either Kessler or Hopkins should go a long way in defining Calzaghe’s legacy, and unveiling just how good he really is. Lacy was overrated and he was handed a gift the way the referee screwed Robin Reid. Lacy might have still won, but up until that disgraceful knockdown, Reid was confident, due to the fact that he had never been hurt in a fight before, and was giving Lacy a good competitive fight. Anyway, hopefully after this mismatch, between Calzaghe and Manfredo, Calzaghe will fight a fighter that, on paper at least, has a good chance of ending Calzaghe’s admirable unbeaten reign as Champion.
December 23rd, 2006 at 7:04 pm
I think the one who’s underrated is Manfredo .CalZaghe is a bum just like Maywether … To this day i hear talk about how Calzaghe beat on Lacy but , the truth is every time he hit him he held on for dear life untill he wore lace down . thats not Boxing ! Taylor vs Calzaghe wil be good because they both wrestle and hold . Example Bika was held the whole fight , Lacy the same . Taylor Hopkins 1 and 2 ,Winky the same .Quote me right now IF Calzaghe gets past Manfredo his best bet is to retire with a win over Taylor . Cause HE DONT WANT IT WITH BEHOPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S. as for maywether mabe one day he will fight someone that can expose HIS #1 WEEKNESS MAKE HIM FIGHT . Like ANTONIO MARGARITO ,OR COTTO OR EVEN PAUL WILLIAMS … CANT FORGET A REMATCH with Jose Luis CASTILLO something he will never do cause he’s a coward how dare he talk bad about Ali and Robinson,Marciano . ON QUITE FRANKLY he s luky he ran from Baldamire he new better than to trade with him. P.P.S.S.unifide undefeted middlewait champ prediction 2008 Meguel Cotto . Maywether vs DeLaHoya prediction delahoya KO win in th 10th round
December 24th, 2006 at 9:59 am
Calzaghe scratches Taylor like he scratched Clinton Woods. What’s really going on. I’d bet if a promoter offered Joe 10 million to fight some bum off the street
he’d do it. Bottom Line:Money Maybe.I don’t know since I thought fighters are supposed to fight anyone and everyone. For the right price of course.
December 26th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
Calzaghe sucks, Taylor sucks!!!!! both of them are pathetic in claiming to be top dog in the sport right now - Calzaghe acts like there is no one on his level after 1 good victory over a raw young kid in Lacy, Kessler is right there waiting to fight him to unify the titles - Taylor has been unimpressive in all of recent fights, also pathetic! Couldnt put away Ouma, drew with Wright, and really lost both fights to B-Hop, but what about Wright, Edison “Pantera” Miranda, and Kessler!!!!! All quality opposition that any Calzaghe/Taylor should be wanting to fight!!! Instead all we hear is hype, BS, and excuses from these guys and their management team!!! This is the reason for the sport being in the slums, the good fights arent made!!! Instead they choose the easy road and fight guys they want, making the sport less attractive and boring bc u have to wait for a good bout to come along because these a-holes dick around with each other