Ant Evan's take on Calzaghe's career...nice read in Wacko's opinion.

Ant Evans' article on Calzaghe to inform people about his career or to make him look bad?

After reading the Joe Calzaghe's legacy and career defining fights article by Ant Evans; I wonder was this article to give people an in-depth look at the career of Calzaghe, or a sneaky way to maliciously attack the great welsh man and a true elite fighter?

First off the 'career defining fight' Calza was given very little credit in the US, thought to be a home town boy who wouldn't leave the UK in fear of losing. Classed as overrated, a 'paper' champion by many experts in the US. Then he gets his 'career defining fight' and is instantly launched into the super elite of today’s boxers... Take Sven Ottke, IBF/WBA SMW champion, 19 defences, 39 fights undefeated. Sounds good right? ask the 'general' boxing public about him and outside of Germany no one would know of him, maybe if he had a 'Jeff lacy career defining fight' On his record he would be a widely known boxer...
“The result salvaged Calzaghe's career and transformed the Welshman from world boxing laughing stock to pound-for-pound over night...” – sounds like it was a “career defining fight” after all then?

Next major point is about Calzaghe NOW being touted as the best British boxer in history, claiming it is nonsense, and that in his "8 years of penning articles about him" that this is first time people are saying this because of the Jeff lacy win. But let’s look at what the British experts have to say shall we?

John Rawling: Saturday July 12, 2003
Jim Watt, Richie Woodhall, Duke McKenzie, Glenn McCrory all discus the best British boxer and why. The result? A then 31 year old WBO super- middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe!
[Source from http://sport.guardian.co.uk/boxing/s...96634,00.html]

Let’s look at how the Editor viewed the lacy fight. Before the fight he was saying things like...
“"Joe Calzaghe is an outstanding talent - but this fight has come two years too late for him. Physically, Calzaghe still has the tools to win but psychologically I think Lacy has him at a disadvantage. The endless injuries, the pull-outs, years of dream fights getting snatched away, and the very public divorce which robbed him of much of his earnings... he's had to contend with a lot. Meanwhile, Lacy, improving with every fight, is frighteningly focused and has never entertained a moment's self-doubt. Lacy on a late stoppage or close points victory."- Ant Evans (Editor)”

and another shared opinion…
“"Joe Calzaghe has been a good super middleweight world champion for a long time, but he has left it too late in his career to step up a level. Jeff Lacy is the future and he is only going to get better under trainer Dan Birmingham, who is one of the sport's most underrated. Lacy's work with Birmingham, and Winky Wright, who Dan also trains, is going to see Lacy even better for this fight. I don't think the 2am start will affect Lacy, he is the younger of the two. Lacy wants to really prove himself, hence him willing to travel to the UK for this fight. He is younger, stronger and hits harder than Lacy. Calzaghe's history of hand problems could also work against him. In a thrilling fight while it lasts, Lacy will win by stoppage. Lacy KO4." - Paul Upham (Contributing Editor)”

And after the fight (in hindsight) he now rates lacy as a B class fighter, yet another way to discredit Calzaghe by discrediting his opponent.

Where is the mention of his 18 month divorce that clashed with many big fights?

It's easy to demote the Byron Mitchell win because he was coming off a loss to Sven Ottke - controversial SD - but you can equally point out the positive that Calzaghe destroyed him in 2 and was the first and only man to stop him.

It’s the same as he rightly points out Pudwill and Ashira were crap opponents, but Pudwill was a last minute stand in that got spanked in two - as he should of been, by any world class fighter - and Calzaghe beats Ashira with one hand, again proving what a world class fighter he is.

One must wonder if Calzaghe is not the best British boxer, then just who is? Where is the mention of how very little sparring Calzaghe done before a lot of his fights due to the continuous hand injuries he picks up? Since when was blowing a way a fighter like Mario Veit inside one round only worthy of a B?

Maybe of Ant Evans wasn’t PR for Fight Academy he wouldn’t have such a problem with his employers biggest rivals [Frank Warrens sports network] star Joe Calzaghe…

Overall some very fair points made, but too many key points conveniently missed out that would explain a lot more to you about certain fights, certain performances.


my post back to him:p