By Dan Ambrose: Sounding a lot like the fox in Aesop’s fable of the “Fox and the grapes,” Joe Calzaghe recently said “I still don’t think Kelly Pavlik has really proven himself,” a comment made to Setanta Sports as a reason for Calzaghe to have bypassed Pavlik and instead choosing to fight the 39 year-old Roy Jones Jr. The comment seems rather disingenuous considering that Pavlik has recently beaten Jermain Taylor, not once, but twice in succession. Calzaghe himself recently defeated Bernard Hopkins, who was twice beaten by Taylor, which makes Calzaghe’s excuse seem a little more than unbelievable.
By seemingly downgrading Pavlik, Calzaghe appears to be denying his desire for something that he perhaps feels that may not have the ability to succeed at. In other words, if you he doesn’t think he could beat Pavlik, then why not fire away at him with comments about him not having proven himself in the past. The problem with that, however, is that few boxing fans appear to be buying what Calzaghe is saying. I can’t see too many people in agreement with Calzaghe on his views about Pavlik not having proven himself, since Pavlik did after all beat Taylor twice, and is about to likely beat Hopkins as well. It just seems like a sad excuse to me, one made in an effort to avoid a harsh reality. Calzaghe, if he truly believes that Pavlik hasn’t proven himself, then he seems to be somewhat deluded, a step behind what’s going on in boxing.
It matters little that he hasn’t fought every top fighter in the division, because he’s still young and at the early stages of his career. What matters, however, is that he’s beaten Taylor twice, and also beaten good fighters like Edison Miranda and Fulgencio Zuniga, both of which are better than a large percentage of the fighters that Calzaghe has faced in his career in my estimation. Calzaghe can continue to suggest that Pavlik hasn’t proven himself until he’s blue in the face, but I seriously doubt that he’ll get much support for his beliefs among boxing fans.
It’s unfortunate that Calzaghe has decided to end his career on such a sad note, facing a faded Jones rather than going on a more positive note by taking on a real threat like Pavlik. To try and make it seem as if Jones is the bigger threat than Pavlik, seems as if Calzaghe is trying to pull a cover over our eyes. It may work for some, but not for most boxing fans, who have seen Pavlik fight, and understand how good he really is.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
wot a d**k ‘ i cant see many people agreeing with calzaghe?’ i agree with him, lets c who else does - if u agree with calzaghe please leave a comment!
August 16th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
i agree, taylor was well past his best and he’s over-rated! i think its all about the age difference, y shouldnt calzaghe fight sum nearer his age and sum1 who was a pound 4 pound great at the same time as himself not sum1 who has only just made it
August 16th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Its all a bit of a muddle. On the one hand Calzaghe claims Pavlik has yet to prove himself, yet on the other hand, he was chasing Pavlik himself a few fights ago. So was Pavlik a “proven” fighter whe Joe was chaing him, but all of a sudden Pavlik no longer is “proven”? On the other hand, I still think Pavlik would get his ass kicked by Kessler. If Pavlik can beat Kessler, then Calzaghe would have NO excuse not to fight Kelly.
August 17th, 2008 at 5:06 am
I agree, Pavlik has only fought a shot Taylor, He has no defining win yet but he will someday. Its not a winning situation for Calzaghe, if he fights and wins they will say he beat a middleweight with lack of experience. Pavlik needs to clear up the middleweghts, and challenge some of the big guns at supermiddle before stepping up to light heavy. They are different era fighters. Anyway we all know it would be a tough fight, but a points win for JC
August 17th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Pavlik still has to make his way through a lot of fighters, time will tell but Calzagie is right on this one.
August 17th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
I keep saying calzaghe will win there is no way pavlik will beat kessler. I hope B-hop destroys Pavlik what will the excuse be by the american fans.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:38 am
Rememer Jeff Lacey? The next big American Thing? To all American fans. Please watch the 12 rounds.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:39 am
I totally agree with the Kessler comments also.
August 18th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
cheers for that kelly oops sorry dan! maybe if he does prove yourself best in the middleweight division by fighting and beating abrahams he might earn a crack at the higher weight.
September 1st, 2008 at 8:45 am
I’m not denying Pavlik has talent, or that he might (at this point in time) be more dangerous than RJJ, or even that he might go on to prove him self a true great (i’m sure Calzaghe himself wouldnt deny that either). But in the context of what Pavlik has achieved to date, Calzaghe is absolutely right. Beating Talyor twice (and being knocked down in the first fight) does not a great fighter make, especially when Taylor himself is only defined as a decent (note: decent, not great) fighter by beating Hopkins. Miranda and Zuniga better than the majority of Calzaghe’s opponents? Please.
At this point in his career, Calzaghe has earnt the right to choose who he fights. When you are 45 and 0, a reigning champion for over ten years and ring magazine belt holder in two weight classes, and number 2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, you EARN that right. Pavlik is an up and comer, nothing more. He’s no more dangerous than Lacy or Kessler were (before Calzaghe destroyed them both) and thats the truth. Calzaghe doesnt need to fight the up and comers, he’s already been there, done that, his whole career (read his record). Pavlik deserves credit, but JC simply doesnt have to fight him (whether he could beat him or not).
Why doesnt Pavlik go after Abraham if he wants to fight the best? Or is it really Pavlik who is avoiding the dangerous fights in order to get a big name on his record and establish a legacy before his time has come? If so, its him who should wake up. Because he has most definately NOT earnt the right to do that.
September 27th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
pavlik needs to fight kessler first (he would lose).
October 20th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Funny, pavlik lost to hopkins who JC beat and Kessler would kill pavlik no worries maybe you need to stay up later to actually watch the fights “