Joe Calzaghe writes: Im no Stay at home fighter

I feel that this is it and that fight is on in soon:

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/spo...me_fighter.php


I’m no stay-at-home fighter
By Joe Calzaghe

IT NOW seems almost certain that my next opponent will be Mikkel Kessler, the WBA and WBC super middleweight champion.

The fight is one that excites me tremendously, Kessler has a faultless 39-0 record and I am unbeaten in 43 professional bouts, so something will have to give.

I understand from my promoter Frank Warren that negotiations are at an advanced stage to get the fight on, though when and where the fight will be are two questions I can't answer this week.

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My preference would be to fight in September, but I understand Kessler's camp want the fight for November and if I have to wait, I will.

Looking on the positive side, the longer we wait until the fight, the better my hand will be after I broke it in April - more on this later.

The bigger issue is the venue for the fight.

I have read plenty of speculation on this and would like to set the record straight.

Many times in my career I have been referred to as a stay at home fighter, a champion unwilling to be the guy being booed in someone else's backyard.

This is complete and utter nonsense.

In the past I have beaten Richie Woodhall and Mario Veit in their hometowns with the crowd desperate to see me lose and it didn't bother me a jot.

If the fight is made for Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium, then of course that is great for me.

I would imagine even more people will attend than the 35,000 who saw me batter Peter Manfredo, this is a super fight on a grand scale and having partisan support would be one of the highlights of my career.

However, if I get a call from Frank Warren in the next couple of days telling me we are going to Denmark, I will tell him I am more than ready.

A lot of boxing is politics and money is a huge factor, I am not going to pretend it isn't.

If the money is right for me to go to Copenhagen or wherever else, I will happily do it.

Fighting in Cardiff with a home support would be a huge bonus, but equally I will feed off the boos and jeers if I go to Denmark.

Once you get in the ring it is just you and the guy you are fighting, nothing else matters.

This is a fight I am desperate for, it will be one of the biggest of the year, it is so rare two undefeated world champions face one another.

I really hoped to fight American Jermain Taylor a while ago, but when he started saying he wanted $10 million despite not impressing in his previous two fights, I knew he didn't want to face me.

Talk of that fight died a death despite Frank Warren and I going to America to try and get it on.

It's a shame, but I feel the fight with Kessler will be a better spectacle anyway as Taylor is a negative kind of fighter, albeit with a great record and reputation.

Good news is that my hand - broken on Peter Manfredo's head - has healed nicely and I am almost at 100%.

I am back in training as I don't enjoy sitting on my backside for too long and I have been able to do some light sparring with Enzo Maccarinelli.

The injury could've been a lot more serious and I am pleased it is no longer any sort of concern.

It allows me to focus fully on my next fight.

Tonight is a pretty amazing evening for me as I am being inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame at a special presentation dinner.

Usually people don't get inducted until well after their career is done - sometimes not until they are six feet under - so I feel truly honoured to be inducted.

Finally I just want to wish good luck to my big mate Ricky Hatton, who fights Jose Luis Castillo for his IBO light welterweight title in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

It has been a while since I made a prediction in this column so I will today, I see Hatton winning pretty comfortably on points.

Castillo has a good record and deserves respect; no one will ever forget his two wars with the late, great Diego Corrales.

However, Castillo has had trouble making the weight recently and looked well shot against Herman Ngoudjo last time out, only winning by split decision.

He could rediscover his best form and cause Ricky problems, but I can't see it. For my money Hatton is younger, fitter, fresher and better than Castillo and I see him winning pretty comfortably over the 12 rounds, maybe even by way of stoppage before that.

I will certainly be watching.

O brother not another "The fight is almost done article" :-\

Can someone wake me up when both fighters are entering the ring. :(

Title: "Im no Stay at home fighter"


Uuuuummmm!!! out of 43 professional fights 40 have been in England/Wales/Your front porch and 3 were in another country.
No stay at home fighter.... hhhhmmm!!! Interesting.... :)

Yeah Mick, sod this shit just fight the fucking guy! Long drawn out bollocks all this, just get on with it we are all waiting..

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Originally Posted by Kel

Yeah Mick, sod this shit just fight the fucking guy! Long drawn out bollocks all this, just get on with it we are all waiting..

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by the time the fight happens we'll probably be exhausted/tired out of waiting for it that when it comes off were just gonna want them to get it over with already so whe can move on. ;D

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

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Originally Posted by Kel

Yeah Mick, sod this shit just fight the fucking guy! Long drawn out bollocks all this, just get on with it we are all waiting..

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by the time the fight happens we'll probably be exhausted/tired out of waiting for it that when it comes off were just gonna want them to get it over with already so whe can move on. ;D

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LOL, yeah probably. I'm just fed up hearing about Joe having to justify this and that. Just make sure you get the fucking fight and do your best and I'll cheer you on as a Brit. Your right though Mick I am already getting tired of waiting and reading Frank Warrens shit columns in 'The News of The World' claiming this and that.........I dont care for the excuses just make the mother-fucking fight so we can all lay this to rest. Too many peaple want it. Oh man! How much more can I take of this fucking garbage! ;D

I agree, but if the fight dosn´t happen they will all look like di.kheads, but they have pulled this far to long. I guess that Palle and Warren aren´t the best boddies in the world.

And I predict that the fight will take place at IM no Stay at home fighters home ::**

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Originally Posted by Kel

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

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Originally Posted by Kel

Yeah Mick, sod this shit just fight the fucking guy! Long drawn out bollocks all this, just get on with it we are all waiting..

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by the time the fight happens we'll probably be exhausted/tired out of waiting for it that when it comes off were just gonna want them to get it over with already so whe can move on. ;D

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LOL, yeah probably. I'm just fed up hearing about Joe having to justify this and that. Just make sure you get the fucking fight and do your best and I'll cheer you on as a Brit. Your right though Mick I am already getting tired of waiting and reading Frank Warrens shit columns in 'The News of The World' claiming this and that.........I dont care for the excuses just make the mother-fucking fight so we can all lay this to rest. Too many peaple want it. Oh man! How much more can I WE take of this fucking garbage! ;D

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Fixed it for you to better suit EVERYONE here. ;D

;D Perfect Mick

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Originally Posted by thewhale

I agree, but if the fight dosn´t happen they will all look like di.kheads, but they have pulled this far to long. I guess that Palle and Warren aren´t the best boddies in the world.

And I predict that the fight will take place at IM no Stay at home fighters home ::**

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Your right about that. After all this, they will ALL look stupid if the fight never comes off.

"This is a fight I am desperate for". After reading that. I doubt the fight happens now. Calzaghe-Veit 3 is probably in the works.

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

"This is a fight I am desperate for". After reading that. I doubt the fight happens now. Calzaghe-Veit 3 is probably in the works.

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"This is a fight I am desperate for" Yeah I get you. I hope not though.

Where did he write this at home ;D

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Originally Posted by TYSONBRUNO

Where did he write this at home ;D

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Well that's where columnists usually write their pieces, as opposed to journalists who usually have offices.

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Title: "Im no Stay at home fighter"


Uuuuummmm!!! out of 43 professional fights 40 have been in England/Wales/Your front porch and 3 were in another country.
No stay at home fighter.... hhhhmmm!!! Interesting.... :)

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And FFS when will you bloody realise that Wales and England are NOT the same countries and fighting in England is a bloody disadvantage, same as for an american fighting in Cuba, if that were ever allowed.

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Originally Posted by superheavyrhun

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Originally Posted by TYSONBRUNO

Where did he write this at home ;D

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Well that's where columnists usually write their pieces, as opposed to journalists who usually have offices.

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Title: "Im no Stay at home fighter"


Uuuuummmm!!! out of 43 professional fights 40 have been in England/Wales/Your front porch and 3 were in another country.
No stay at home fighter.... hhhhmmm!!! Interesting.... :)

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And FFS when will you bloody realise that Wales and England are NOT the same countries and fighting in England is a bloody disadvantage, same as for an american fighting in Cuba, if that were ever allowed.

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I know theres a difference...
Isn't he from England but resides in Wales?
I could be waaay off here.

Were he born in london

And the where did he write that at home comment was a joke

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

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Originally Posted by superheavyrhun

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Originally Posted by TYSONBRUNO

Where did he write this at home ;D

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Well that's where columnists usually write their pieces, as opposed to journalists who usually have offices.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Title: "Im no Stay at home fighter"


Uuuuummmm!!! out of 43 professional fights 40 have been in England/Wales/Your front porch and 3 were in another country.
No stay at home fighter.... hhhhmmm!!! Interesting.... :)

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And FFS when will you bloody realise that Wales and England are NOT the same countries and fighting in England is a bloody disadvantage, same as for an american fighting in Cuba, if that were ever allowed.

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I know theres a difference...
Isn't he from England but resides in Wales?
I could be waaay off here.

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He left England when he was still a young kid, and grew up in Wales, so as far as I'm concerned, and as far as he is concerned in his autobiog, he's Welsh. I sympathise, as I did the same thing, and also consider myself Welsh. Trust me, when he fought in England against English fighters, he was the away fighter.

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

O brother not another "The fight is almost done article" :-\

Can someone wake me up when both fighters are entering the ring. :(

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Im no stay home fighter ? 20 defences how many locations hahahaha wot a load of Warren based bullshit :)

I wouldnt say fighting i England is a disadvantage for joe
why do u think that?
If that the case then is fighting in manchester a disadvantage if u a Londoner?

And Joe isnt the only boxer to have a majority of his fights at home

is it ok for american fighters to fight there whole careers on home soil?

granted its where most of the big fights happen, but dont slate Calzaghe where many others do the same!

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Originally Posted by katfight

I wouldnt say fighting i England is a disadvantage for joe
why do u think that?
If that the case then is fighting in manchester a disadvantage if u a Londoner?

And Joe isnt the only boxer to have a majority of his fights at home

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What I meant was that when Joe fought in England against Woodhall, Eubank, Starie and Reid, as well as many more as he was developing, he was the away fighter, rather than the one who all the fans would have been cheering. I remember the one against Delaney was an extremely hostile atmosphere.

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

O brother not another "The fight is almost done article" :-\

Can someone wake me up when both fighters are entering the ring. :(

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F*cking tedious ain't it ;D

So alot of you consider calzaghe going to england to fight eubank and reid as home town fights for joe? or neutral?

The Reid fight in Newcastle should also be considered hostile, the majority of the crowd were manc and there were very few Calzaghe supporters there.

The key thing is that calzghe is the man wid the world title nd has been rcognised as the no1 supermiddle for a long time now so y shouldnt most of his fights be in his backyard?

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Title: "Im no Stay at home fighter"


Uuuuummmm!!! out of 43 professional fights 40 have been in England/Wales/Your front porch and 3 were in another country.
No stay at home fighter.... hhhhmmm!!! Interesting.... :)

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it's a joke...now if like 25 of his fights were out of country or heck, even 15 I'd would agree....but that statement is a joke!!!!

is this one still rumbling on .. joe a home boy for sure..hes also the world champion in a similar fashion to the great bernard hopkins.. joes only got 2-3 more fight left in him

kessler is gonna be his toughest fight to date i dont wanna predict it tbh

however im setting my sights more on carl froch..... this guy will fill joes boots any how

Ok, here's my breakdown on Joe's career stats, in terms of home away fights:

From 43 fights we have:
17 fights taking place in Wales
in 27 of those he would be considered a home fighter, against someone from a foreign country, or in Wales,
8 would be considered as Calzaghe being the away fighter,
and 8 (mainly in his career build-up) where he appeared on the undercard on fights in England against an English fighter.

And during his reign as champion (including the fight where he won the title.)
10 fights took place in Wales.
2 fights were on neutral territory.
1 fight was outside of Britain.
4 fights took place in England, in or near the hometown of opposition fighters.
Therefore, in my breakdown I would say in 15 of 21 fights, he was the home fighter. 2 fights were on neutral territory, and in 4 fights he was the away fighter.

Considering that he is the champion, and naturally champions will make the majority of their defences in their homeland, as that is where the core support is, so I reckon Calzaghe hasn't done too badly.