Calzaghe vs. Woods?

By Boxing News - 12/01/2007 - Comments

According to International Boxing Federation light heavyweight champion Clintron Woods, He has begun talks with super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe, perhaps for a bout in March, if everything goes as planned. In an interview with the BBC, Woods said “There’s been talks and money’s been offered. I could be ready in March or April. I’d be a massive underdog, but I’d fancy my chances against him. And for the British public, it’s far bigger than Calzaghe against Bernard Hopkins.” However, nothing has been confirmed by Calzaghe’s promoter Frank Warren, who feels that it’s too early after Calzaghe’s bout with Mikkel Kessler to make a decision as to future opponents.

Before this talk, Calzaghe had been focusing on attempting to land a mega-bout with 42 year-old Bernard Hopkins, whom he feels will enhance his legacy should he defeat him. Hopkins, however, has been elusive, acting as if he’s not particularly interested in fighting Calzaghe. More to the point, Hopkins’ trainer prefers that he fight the winner of Felix Trinidad vs. Roy Jones Jr., a bout that Hopkins would have an excellent chance at winning, considering that both Jones and Trinidad are pretty much shot as fighters. Hopkins has already easily beaten Trinidad in the past, so there’s little fear on Hopkins’ part for a bout with him.

Jones, however, is who Hopkins really wants, having been beaten by him in 1994 by unanimous decision. The loss has always bothered Hopkins, though not enough to work past financial stumbling blocks during the times they attempted to negotiate for a rematch. A bout against Calzaghe is a far less certain winner for Hopkins, mainly because Hopkins doesn’t have the handspeed or offensive skills that Calzaghe has, and would almost assuredly lose the fight.

If Hopkins were to lose to Calzaghe, a potential bout with the winner of Jones-Trinidad, would clearly be off the table. For this reason, perhaps this is why Hopkins seems to be looking more in the direction of Jones-Trinidad rather than Calzaghe.

For Calzaghe, it leaves very few options for the time being, because Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor, two fighters that Calzaghe would like to fight, are scheduled to fight each other in January. Minus those two, Woods is the most likely options, because of his popularity in England. It’s a fight that would make Calzaghe a lot of money with only a minimal amount of danger in the bout. However, it wouldn’t be of much interest to the American public, most of whom have never heard of Clinton Woods and would probably not be interested in watching the bout.