By Michael Lieberman: As much as boxing fans may want to see a potential bout between the undefeated WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs) and equally undefeated super middleweight/light heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe (45-0, 32 KOs), it may not come about judging from the recent comments of the 36 year-old Calzaghe’s promoter Frank Warren. So far, he’s held off making a commitment for Calzaghe to take on Pavlik for a bout that would mean a huge payday for bout, likely eclipsing anything that either fighter has done previously by far. There was talk of Pavlik wanting to get back into the ring as early as October for a bout with Calzaghe, or possibly Jones. Apparently, Calzaghe’s camp isn’t interested in that date, and prefers Nov 15th.
Besides dates that still need to be worked over, there’s also a question whether Calzaghe would rather prefer to fight Roy Jones Jr. instead. Calzaghe’s own views have seemed to have been lost in all of the hoopla with the recent talks of Pavlik’s promoter Bob Arum meeting with Frank Warren, the promoter of Calzaghe. In the past, Calzaghe has made it clear that he prefers to fight Roy Jones Jr., a fighter obviously on the downside of his career at age 39.
Being old and very beatable, Jones isn’t likely to win that fight, which would tarnish any potential fight Calzaghe could make with him following such a defeat especially if it’s another knockout loss for Jones like the ones he’s experienced in the past to Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson. The second reason is that Calzaghe will very likely lose to Pavlik, the much younger and stronger fighter. No matter how you want to twist things, Pavlik is a fearsome destroyer, has looked excellent in his last four fights and is at the top of the boxing world right now.
Unfortunately, you can’t say the same thing for Calzaghe, who looked poor against a 43 year-old Bernard Hopkins in their April 19th bout. Indeed, Calzaghe appeared very lucky to escape with a victory over the aging Hopkins. It wasn’t just a question of Hopkins’ style being all wrong for Calzaghe; it was the fact that Calzaghe suddenly seemed to have aged as a fighter. He looked slower, weaker and not particularly skillful in any way in that fight. It’s sad but it’s the fact of life in boxing.
A fighter does well for awhile, maybe gets lucky and wins a championship, then either gets beaten by a better fighter or - in the case of Calzaghe - gets old and then beaten. This is why it’s important for Calzaghe to take the smart choice and choose the easier option of facing Jones. Believe me, Calzaghe is thinking these same things about his options, for he knows that if he takes on the much tougher Pavlik, he could very well be fighting his last fight. There’s nothing wrong with fighting Pavlik when the time is right, but it isn’t now, not with Jones still there for an easy win.
June 11th, 2008 at 3:04 am
Calzaghe has already said he is having 1 more fight, so win or loose next up is last up.
Its a bit presumptious to asy he will almost certainly loose, I would think he would win
June 11th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Im from cardiff and i hope Pavlik knocks out the misery.
June 14th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Ha ha Joe is having the last laugh here, its good to see the rest of the world having to sit and try and contenplate his next move - after all he had to do it for long enough and now he’s the man all the americans can finally see just how frustrating it is to sit and wait for that distant opportunity.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:23 am
pavlik, tghis guy makes me laugh, you talk of a guy with a 33-0 record and make out hes the second coming or some sh*t. whos he fought? jermain taylor twice, recognized now as over rated and robbed hopkins blind. edison miranda, miranda got beat twice by arthur abraham, the same arthur abraham that americans say is another overhyped european?? pavlik has fought NOBODIES until miranda. so he’s had 3 fights of genuine class opponents, see any resemblance. calzaghe has beaten 45 fighters across 2 weights and his recent opponents i.e. hopkins and kessler are ten times tougher than miranda and over rated jermain taylor. want to know what the hypes about?? its coz hes WHITE, its a well known fact he punches in straight lines and defensively aint great. what u think calzaghe never come up against someone who hits as hard as pavlik?? kessler hits harder than pavlik and you even argue jeff lacy a natural light heavyweight could hit harder. pavlik aint ready, i dont even think he reign that long and if it does come down to calzaghe to beat him, itll be a walk in the park.