Calzaghe: The Jones fight could still be in Cardiff

JOE CALZAGHE insists the final fight of his career against Roy Jones Jr could still take place at the Millennium Stadium.

Calzaghe wants to bow out of boxing on home soil and would love to face Jones in front of more than 60,000 fans in Cardiff.

And while Jones claims the bout will take place in New York at Madison Square Garden on September 20, Calzaghe has revealed neither the venue or date have been confirmed.
The Welshman, who is currently in Sardinia before returning to training, said: "Speculation about me this week has been amazing.

"First and foremost, let me give you the latest on my fight with Roy Jones Jr. My position is simple, it's the fight I want and it's going to happen.

"I do not wish to fight again in Las Vegas if at all possible. We've been to Vegas, we beat Bernard Hopkins and it was a brilliant experience.

"It's a big ask for my fans to go all the way to Vegas as generally it involves connecting flights and isn't exactly an easy place to go to on a budget!

"But nothing is signed and sealed, obviously that would be impossible because I haven't even been in the country.

"My first choice is to fight in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium, in front of my home supporters who I believe would fill the entire stadium. I can't be much clearer on that.

"A gate of 60,000 plus would be phenomenal for my last ever fight. Again, I can only repeat this really is it for me, I want to bow out at the top.
"My second choice is to fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, the Manhattan arena famed around the world as a venue of champions.

"It's been called the 'Mecca' of sport and it would be an honour to fight there.

"I have expressed my desire to fight in NYC for many years. I also think I would be very well received in the Big Apple.
"It is far easier, and a bit cheaper as well, to get to New York rather than Vegas. The flight is shorter and accommodation ranges in price to a bigger degree.

"If the date of September 20 turns out to be correct, it's also not set in stone, then of course I will be ready and in the best possible shape."
Calzaghe, 36, stepped up to light-heavyweight for the first time in April when he picked up a split-points decision over Hopkins.

The clash in Las Vegas was widely regarded as Calzaghe's toughest but the undefeated ace insists Jones will provide an even stiffer test.
He added: "Roy Jones is a much harder fight than Hopkins.

"People might think Jones is past his best but he beat Felix Trinidad in January and for me he looked incredibly sharp.

"The guy is a four-weight world champion, formerly the No1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.

"I can see no more fitting way to end my career than to go in with a great champion.

"But as yet I still can't confirm a date or a venue — and neither can anyone else."





"People might think Jones is past his best but he beat Felix Trinidad in January and for me he looked incredibly sharpe"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AWDtzdAYTOA Skip to 6:30

Calzaghe says it far cheaper to go to New York.
Hatton says its far cheaper to go to Vegas.

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Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Calzaghe says it far cheaper to go to New York.
Hatton says its far cheaper to go to Vegas.

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Im a Calzaghe fan but if i was to believe one its Hatton all the way he speaks the truth and is ultra fan friendly.

Still cant get my head around Joe fighting Jones in his last fight its beyond depressing.

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Originally Posted by Markusdarkus

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Calzaghe says it far cheaper to go to New York.
Hatton says its far cheaper to go to Vegas.

---

Im a Calzaghe fan but if i was to believe one its Hatton all the way he speaks the truth and is ultra fan friendly.

Still cant get my head around Joe fighting Jones in his last fight its beyond depressing.

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I really don't know, I've never thought Joe to be deceptive either.


Well he stepped up to fight Hopkins, I firmly believe that was because he was having difficulty making the weight.
He didn't look spectacular at LH.
So a big name with less risk would be Jones....I can see Calzaghe's logic.

But I just considered if Jones beat Calzaghe. Not only would it be devastating for Calzaghe it would be excellent for Jones. He'd not only be elevated back inot the P4P rankings he'd also be elevated in terms of ATG, so we could get a surprise and be tretaed to a hungry RJJ.

I can't belive he bigged up Roy Jones looking good against Tito.......That fight was a joke IMO...other than that I would Be so happy to see the fight in cardiff. Joe get a real send- off and we could see Jones in the flesh

Calzaghe has little to gain and the whole world to lose in my opinion... The publics perception is Jones is shot(I think thats horseshit) so a Calzaghe win means little at this point, but a loss to a perceived old shot RJJ would be devastating since most considered Calzaghe ovverrated and sheltered and a loss would pick those old scabs again.

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Originally Posted by JT Rock

Calzaghe has little to gain and the whole world to lose in my opinion... The publics perception is Jones is shot(I think thats horseshit) so a Calzaghe win means little at this point, but a loss to a perceived old shot RJJ would be devastating since most considered Calzaghe ovverrated and sheltered and a loss would pick those old scabs again.

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what is Jones now? 45? older? I don't think RJJ has it in him to hang with Joe C. Joe C has really proved himself to me with his last 5 fights.

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Originally Posted by bigragu

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Originally Posted by JT Rock

Calzaghe has little to gain and the whole world to lose in my opinion... The publics perception is Jones is shot(I think thats horseshit) so a Calzaghe win means little at this point, but a loss to a perceived old shot RJJ would be devastating since most considered Calzaghe ovverrated and sheltered and a loss would pick those old scabs again.

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what is Jones now? 45? older? I don't think RJJ has it in him to hang with Joe C. Joe C has really proved himself to me with his last 5 fights.

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44 I believe, One year Older than Hopkins, so he should be 45 soon.

What were you guys smoking this morning... Jones is 39 for chrisesakes

Hatton and Calzaghe are competing for British fight fans to go to their US shows. Hatton's dad hilariously claimed last week that Ricky was going to Vegas, a more expensive/time-taking destination, "for the fans" when in reality he's fighting in Vegas "for the money." Calzaghe took advantage of this to point out that he was fighting in NY because it was cheaper than Vegas and the thing about the fight possibly being in Cardiff is to cover his arse should the Hattons fire back at him for having his last fight abroad.


There's no economic sense in fighting in a 19 000 capacity arena for Calzaghe/Jones when they could sell 70 000 tickets in Wales and it's two dollars to the pound. I heard Steve Bunce claim that MSG are offering a site fee but even if they offered $100 a seat that's only a million quid, peanuts versus 50 000 extra seats in Wales and why would they do that anyway, they're not philanthropists. I think it's because HBO think they need to turn this fight into an "event" with a 24/7 show and everything and need to hold it at the Mecca of boxing to make a lot of US PPV buys. I think they looked at the Jones vs. Trinidad numbers and thought that for their potential customers the names sell the fight even if they're past it, hence Calzaghe versus Jones at MSG.

I'd prefer a fair fight in cardiff, the amount of people and the enviroment over there would be crazy. I just don't think you could get one. But since roy said he'd have no problem going i'd like to see it over there. Especially if jones could go over there and pull a bradley. Just watch your belt at the airport.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Markusdarkus

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Calzaghe says it far cheaper to go to New York.
Hatton says its far cheaper to go to Vegas.

---

Im a Calzaghe fan but if i was to believe one its Hatton all the way he speaks the truth and is ultra fan friendly.

Still cant get my head around Joe fighting Jones in his last fight its beyond depressing.

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Without checking I'd guess it'd be cheaper to get to Vegas simply because it's a destination city. There are flights constantly going to Las Vegas simply because they want to get you there so they can get your money and they'll take a hit on the plane ticket. New York is, well, New York and I imagine cost of living there is a helluva lot more than in Vegas. The only thing you're saving by going to NYC is travel time.