Schedule, pay demands keep Kessler and Calzaghe apart

[Elephant Beer]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/...he-Kessler.php

CARDIFF, Wales: A super middleweight fight to unify Joe Calzaghe's WBO and Mikkel Kessler's WBC and WBA belts looks further off than ever.

After Calzaghe had stopped Peter Manfredo, star of The Contender reality TV show, to retain his title for the 20th time, promoter Frank Warren said Kessler's camp wouldn't meet the proposed July date.

Warren also claimed that Kessler — who said he wanted to fight Calzaghe after beating Miguel Andrade on March 24 to improve to 39-0 — wanted equal billing and parity on financial terms in any future bout.

"I've got it in writing from (promoter) Mogens Palle that Kessler won't be ready by July and can we do it later in the year," Warren said Saturday. "And he (Kessler) called out Joe after his last fight, he said: 'I want Joe Calzaghe next.' What are you going to do? You can't force him to fight."

Keen to put on a show with HBO broadcasting the fight in the United States, Calzaghe's whirlwind combinations had Manfredo under pressure from the start before referee Terry O'Connor contentiously stopped it in the third round.

Warren said he wanted Kessler to be Calzaghe's next opponent but criticized the delay.

"What's the point of saying you can't be ready in four months? It's crazy. How many more months does he want?" Warren said. "I would personally love Kessler to be the next fight, I think Kessler's style would really suit Joe."

Warren will instead contact rival promoter Lou DiBella with a US$3 million (€2.24 million) offer for middleweight super champion Jermain Taylor to step up and fight Calzaghe in July — unless Kessler has a change of heart.

"Let's see if Mogens Palle has a rethink or whether Jermain Taylor will take it and is really serious about fighting Joe," Warren said.

Bernard Hopkins fights Winky Wright in July and the winner could be another option for Calzaghe.

"HBO also talked about fighting Bernard Hopkins in January, but that's a long way off," Warren said.

A British record 35,018 fans watched the Welshman beat Manfredo at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and Warren said fighting in the United States doesn't necessarily equate to the biggest pay day for fighters.

"If Joe fought Jermain Taylor in the States, would they get a bigger crowd than if he fought him here?" Warren asked. "I don't think so."

Calzaghe had only one preference to where he fights next.

"Obviously the one which is going to get me the most money," he said with a laugh.

Calzaghe's 20th defense took him within five of Joe Louis' all-time record. It also improved him to 43-0 and in sight of Rocky Marciano's 49-0.

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Why is Warren offering Kessler a fight in July, when HBO has already one major PPV event in (Wright vs. Hopkins) that month? HBO will of course not support a clash between Calzaghe and Kessler in the same month as Wright vs. Hopkins.

[SigmaMu]

Jermain Taylor could not draw flies if he was coverd in caca.

There is no way Taylor goes to Cardiff or anywhere else overseas to fight Joe 'The Angry Penguin' Calzaghe. It would be nice though but DiBully is a punk. I guess Miranda will have to take out the stuttering dohdoh.

Anyway.. This is all getting kind of full of funny business.

I am out.

Joe 'The Angry Penguin' Calzaghe can beat Kessler. No doubt in my mind.

Who the hell is Kessler anyway?

[Elephant Beer]

Who the hell is Kessler anyway?

Kessler is the guy who has met four opponents rated in The Ring's Top5 in his last five fights. They guy who went to OZ to make his first defence of his WBA title against Mundine. The guy who was already unified WBA and WBC - and the guy who already had two mandatory defences - all this in less than 30 months

Calzaghe was about 120 months to do the same

[Saddo]

Who the hell is Kessler anyway?

Kessler is the guy who has met four opponents rated in The Ring's Top5 in his last five fights. They guy who went to OZ to make his first defence of his WBA title against Mundine. The guy who was already unified WBA and WBC - and the guy who already had two mandatory defences - all this in less than 30 months

Calzaghe was about 120 months to do the same

he is the guys who struggled againt Mundine and is now calling out Joe and employing guys like Elephant Beer to make a name for himself and promote his name around the forums.

Problem is Joe has heard of him and offered him the fight.... so hes decided that he cant fight because he is having a break

Be careful what you wish for hahahaha

[dumdane]

Who the hell is Kessler anyway?

Kessler is the guy who has met four opponents rated in The Ring's Top5 in his last five fights. They guy who went to OZ to make his first defence of his WBA title against Mundine. The guy who was already unified WBA and WBC - and the guy who already had two mandatory defences - all this in less than 30 months

Calzaghe was about 120 months to do the same

he is the guys who struggled againt Mundine and is now calling out Joe and employing guys like Elephant Beer to make a name for himself and promote his name around the forums.

Problem is Joe has heard of him and offered him the fight.... so hes decided that he cant fight because he is having a break

Be careful what you wish for hahahaha

Saddo you gotta be the most clearly biased amnin of any forum i can think of.

As for Mundine he's also right now ranked no 3 by the ring - DESPITE losing to Kessler. So obviously someone sees some quality in him that you don't.

[Saddo]

Saddo you gotta be the most clearly biased amnin of any forum i can think of.

As for Mundine he's also right now ranked no 3 by the ring - DESPITE losing to Kessler. So obviously someone sees some quality in him that you don't.

no mate just jumping on the other side of the fence...

when i suspect Team Kessler are paying this guy to go around the forums an promote his name then it needs addressing.

i dont think i ever said Kessler was not quality... what i did say is the fight has been offered and he cant take it because he is having a break ... i got that info from one of Kesslers suspected employees

Kessler has long before that fight with Andrade stated that after the fight he was to take two months off to let his body recover and rest before going into camp again mid or late May, so June or July is just not an option. Warren suggests July not June but HBO already has one PPV event (Hopkins vs. Wright) in July and Warren knows this when offering Kessler a fight in July, so IMO this is just another shot of hot air from Warren.

so when the fans of Kessler and Joe are moanig about the fight not happening maybe they need to address it with Team Kessler.

i want to see this fight and was of the view Warren was the stumbling block but reading that quoted post above it looks like team kessler are also to blame

hope that clears it up for you

[thewhale]

AS a real Kessler fan I too think that the date in July should not be an issue, can they get the deal together then hey June could work for me.

Kessler says he is in the best shape ever, so clearly he should take advantage of that and take the break after Calzaghe. If Joe can be ready so can Kessler

[Saddo]

AS a real Kessler fan I too think that the date in July should not be an issue, can they get the deal together then hey June could work for me.

Kessler says he is in the best shape ever, so clearly he should take advantage of that and take the break after Calzaghe. If Joe can be ready so can Kessler

have a cool click mate you explained that as a Kessler fan far better than me