By Jonathan Watkins: To become a renowned champion, you must fight your way to the top and then maintain the skills and consistency to stay there. Once accomplished you then have the luxury of sitting at the top of your division and being sought after by up and coming boxers. These fighters, aspiring to become better than the best fighter, have something to prove, unlike the title-holder who has already proven his worth.
A current champion who has come under scrutiny about his choice in fights is one Joseph Calzaghe, the Welshman who boasts a record of 45-0-0. Along with this impressive record, he has held the WBO Super-middleweight title for an astonishing ten years. On the way to earning these credentials he has beaten such fighters as Chris Eubank, Jeff Lacy, Mikkel Kessler, and Bernard Hopkins. Joe Calzaghe’s record speaks for itself.
So now enter the repetitive criticism of Calzaghe. Apparently the undefeated Welshman is avoiding the challenge of young American talent Kelly Pavlik. Calzaghe is allegedly afraid of losing his unbeaten record against the middleweight fighter. But where is the evidence that Pavlik would defeat Calzaghe, a statement that many have made without really having much to back their claim.
According to critics, Calzaghe hasn’t proved himself by defeating Hopkins, Lacy and Kessler; how then has Pavlik become so supreme after defeating Edison Miranda and Jermain Taylor, who, might I add caused Pavlik more than a few problems in both fights.
Granted, Pavlik is an undeniable talent who currently possesses an undefeated record, but this still doesn’t lead him to be categorized in the same league as Calzaghe who has disposed of the many proven fighters that have come his way. Let us also remember that he emerged victorious against Jeff Lacy, again a fight that many believed he would lose. With his history, record and reputation, I find it hard to believe that Calzaghe should be the one chasing after a fight with Pavlik, as if he has something to prove. Calzaghe has said his next fight will be his last, so it is not a case of Calzaghe being afraid of the young Pavlik, it’s a matter of how the he wants to end his career.
Calzaghe has opted for a final fight against Roy Jones Jr. to take place at Madison Square Garden, New York on November 8th. These two fighters have established themselves as boxing greats throughout their careers, and it seems a fitting end to a fine career for Calzaghe to face a boxing great such as Jones Jr. Calzaghe is a champion, an impressive one at that, and if he wishes to bow out of the sport by facing a fighter with an established reputation, then he has earnt the right to make that decision.
On October 18th Pavlik is due to fight Bernard Hopkins, Calzaghe’s previous opponent. If he is successful in this, he should continue to prove himself against decent fighters, dominating the middleweight division, and then concentrate on becoming a candidate for the best pound-for-pound fighter. If, after both of the fights, Calzaghe deems it necessary to square up against Pavlik, then that will be his decision. But if not, for critics to then make subjective claims about the reasons behind Calzaghe not taking the fight, is unfair on a fighter who has shown bravery throughout his career. To tarnish his legacy by calling him a coward shows a real lack of knowledge on Calzaghe as a fighter.
His bout against Roy Jones Jr. is said be his last, meaning he will be departing from the world of professional boxing at the top of his game, with the dignity and respect he deserves and most likely maintaining an undefeated record. But for now my message to Kelly Pavlik is stay away from Joe or lose your 0.
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