Boxing Analysis: What’s Next For Joe Calzaghe?

For a man who supposedly just had his career defining fight, Joe Calzaghe now has the chance to make perhaps any fight in the world at super middleweight or light heavyweight,
if he wishes. Fresh off the back of one of the most stunning performances ever to have been witnessed by a terrestrial audience, Calzaghe now faces the challenge of who to fight next. He has had the offer from current IBF Light Heavy Champion Clinton Woods that would no doubt be a thriller if the fight were to be made.

Unfortunately, in the US, where it appears that Calzaghe and his prompter Frank Warren are most keen on impressing, Clinton is only known as the man who lost to the legend Roy Jones Jnr and ex-IBF Champ Glencoffe Johnson. Therefore, a Woods matchup seems unlikely as it won’t bring in the dollars that Calzaghe will now be looking for after his recent victory over Jeff Lacy.

Another possible opponent being considered is Roy Jones Junior himself. This would definitely bring the big money Calzaghe will yearn however, it is unlikely this could build upon the legacy he will hope to leave when he retires from boxing as Jones has lost his previous three outings in the ring. Due to this, if a loss was suffered, all Calzaghe’s hard work would immediately be undone and therefore it would be a risky fight.

A third scenario, which after the Lacy fight seemed the most unlikely, is now coming into most people’s minds as a serious possibility. That is to stay at super middleweight and challenge the other two belt holders in the division, unbeaten WBA Champion Mikkel Kessler and WBC Champion Marcus Beyer. If Calzaghe were to totally unify the division, it would surely elevate him in the all time rankings as one of the greats, but again, money and fame issues will perhaps pose a problem.

Warren has already expressed his view on the fight with Woods as “a step backwards” after the Lacy win and neither Beyer nor Kessler can claim to have the crowd pulling power of Roy Jones, Glen Johnson or Antonio Tarver.

Whatever choice the Welshman will make, it’s likely that he will be criticized. With the time remaining in his career, Calzaghe won’t be able to fit most of these fights into his schedule unless he is prepared to have back to back fights with legends of the ring, something which not even Roy Jones and other champions have done. All that can be said for sure is the “Pride of Wales” has the boxing world at his feet and is sure not to disappoint!