Calzaghe says Hopkins has to wait

[skel1983]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/6913431.stm


Calzaghe set to make Hopkins wait

Hopkins wants to fight Calzaghe at Yankee Stadium next spring
Joe Calzaghe says Bernard Hopkins will have to "get in line" after the American issued a challenge.
"I agreed a fight with him a couple of years ago then he doubled the demands, now he must wait," said Calzaghe.

Light heavyweight king Hopkins said after Saturday's win over Ronald Wright that he wants to face Calzaghe at New York's Yankee Stadium next spring.

"They talk of me not fighting in the US but not why Hopkins or Roy Jones don't leave their backyard," said Calzaghe.

I want Joe Calzaghe in the Yankee Stadium in the spring

Bernard Hopkins

"Why should I go to America when if we do the fight in the UK we can make far more money in front of a bigger crowd?

"Hopkins and Wright are supposed to be two of the top pound-for-pound fighters yet their fight didn't even sell out the Mandalay Bay, it drew something like 9,000 people.

"I'm focusing on a real fight against Mikkel Kessler, but once that is done I'm willing to go to the States if that is where the best deal is.

"I will look at Ol' Popkins, but judging by his performance against Wright there isn't much competition there for me anyway."

Calzaghe faces Mikkel Kessler at 168lbs in Cardiff on 3 November.

The eagerly awaited super middleweight unification bout could be in front of a world indoor record crowd of 70,000 at the Millennium Stadium.

I'm going to have to lean toward Kessler

Lacy on Calzaghe v Kessler

The sign of Calzaghe's burgeoning profile came in Hopkins' post-fight interview live on US TV.

"I'm back, it was a great performance and I'll fight anyone out there," said Hopkins.

"I want Joe Calzaghe in the Yankee Stadium in the spring and I'll knock him out, he won't be undefeated any more."

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya added: "If Bernard wants Calzaghe, then it's our duty to go make that fight."

606: DEBATE
I might be being naive but I really think Calzaghe v Hopkins can be made now

snelly1986

Welshman Calzaghe, 35, is undefeated in 43 fights and is the world's longest-reigning world champion, having made 21 defences of the WBO crown over 10 years.

But WBC and WBA champion Kessler promises to be one of his stiffest tests, the 28-year-old Dane undefeated in 28 fights.

The bout will be Calzaghe's biggest since he took Jeff Lacy's IBF title in March 2006, and Lacy believes that his conqueror could struggle.

"I'm going to have to lean toward Kessler," Lacy told the Boxing Talk website.

"He's more of a puncher, I think Calzaghe is more of a hype-type puncher.

"He needs to put his punches together, and I don't think he's going to be able to do that against a taller, lankier opponent like Kessler."

Calzaghe has said that the bout will be his last at super middleweight, although that could change if big names like Wright or Jermain Taylor could be tempted into a match-up.

[LeftHookToTheBody]

If Calzaghe plans to move up after the Kessler bout, who else is there to fight but Hopkins? Chad Dawkins? No one wants to see him against Tarver or Glenn Johnson. I guess a bout with Clinton Woods would be big in the UK, but who would give a damn about it here? With Taylor about to make the jump to 168, it makes sense for Calzaghe to stay put for the time being.

[danchar123]

Agreed, i think he should face the winner of Pavlick and Taylor (assuming they will move up to 168lbs). I don't think fighting a 40+ year old hopkins will do anything for joes resume, if he beats him (i think he will) people will say Hopkins was over the Hill.

[Fenster]

Wonder if Calzaghe's been reading THIS forum?

[Preme]

Wonder if Calzaghe's been reading THIS forum?

he used too...

him and dawson is in the pipeline tho... said ages ago that he was looking at that fight...

tbh he would be better off fighting dawson than hopkins anyhow,..

[skel1983]

Wonder if Calzaghe's been reading THIS forum?

he used too...

him and dawson is in the pipeline tho... said ages ago that he was looking at that fight...

tbh he would be better off fighting dawson than hopkins anyhow,..

No way? Dawson? Theres no money in that fight? Big risk little reward, it has to be Hopkins or Taylor next for me if he beats Kessler.

[danchar123]

Wonder if Calzaghe's been reading THIS forum?

he used too...

him and dawson is in the pipeline tho... said ages ago that he was looking at that fight...

tbh he would be better off fighting dawson than hopkins anyhow,..

I agree. If B hop was younger i wouldn't but beating the up and coming Dawson would prove more than beating an old Hopkins (at least thats what i think)

[Fenster]

Wonder if Calzaghe's been reading THIS forum?

he used too...

him and dawson is in the pipeline tho... said ages ago that he was looking at that fight...

tbh he would be better off fighting dawson than hopkins anyhow,..

No way? Dawson? Theres no money in that fight? Big risk little reward, it has to be Hopkins or Taylor next for me if he beats Kessler.

Yeah Calzaghe probably don't even know who Dawson is.

If it's not Hopkins (wont be) it'll be someone like Woods if he moves up. Calzaghe's getting to old to keep risking duffing up the young uns.

[Trainer Monkey]

"They talk of me not fighting in the US but not why Hopkins or Roy Jones don't leave their backyard," said Calzaghe.
The interesting part of that quote?
Its a longer flight Philly to LA,where Bernard has fought repeatedly

[Gandalf]

Calzaghe is right to tell Hopkins to wait. Calzaghe has a tough job on his hands already.

Kessler needs to be seen off first. Hopkins shouldnt even be considered until this is done.

[killersheep]

Kudos to Joe for this, he is earning more and more respect from me.

[Fenster]

"They talk of me not fighting in the US but not why Hopkins or Roy Jones don't leave their backyard," said Calzaghe.
The interesting part of that quote?
Its a longer flight Philly to LA,where Bernard has fought repeatedly

Interesting

America is a pretty big place

Woulda never of guessed.

[Landon]

Kudos to Joe for this, he is earning more and more respect from me.

100% AGREED .Why should he fight in the States when he can make more money where he is. If somebody offered yo a job overseas doing the ssame thing you are doing now for less money would you do it?

Maybe he will fight in Yankee stadium just so I can drive up and see him. Thanks Joe.LOL

[RP33]

Kudos to Joe for this, he is earning more and more respect from me.

100% AGREED .Why should he fight in the States when he can make more money where he is. If somebody offered yo a job overseas doing the ssame thing you are doing now for less money would you do it?

Maybe he will fight in Yankee stadium just so I can drive up and see him. Thanks Joe.LOL

When a basketball/baseball/hockey/football player starts nearing the end of his career, and he doesn't have a championship, what does he do?
He takes a pay cut and goes to the team that is most likely to win a championship! WHY? because at that point it isn't about money, it's about being a champion in everyones eyes, and getting that championship ring or cup.

This is the point in Calzaghe's career where he shouldn't be AS worried about money, and he should take the big name fights regardless of where they are. THEN he can be the champion he THINKS he is already.

You can't make the comparison that you made about someone offering you a job overseas for less money, simply because you're comparing two different classes of people. If you're referring to someone who has to raise a family, then no they wouldn't take a pay cut, AND travel overseas, it wouldn't make any sense.
But when you're referring to a world boxing champ who is on national TV, has fans and PLENTY of critics watching him, and should already have LOADS of money, you're in a completely different conversation.

[Fenster]

Kudos to Joe for this, he is earning more and more respect from me.

100% AGREED .Why should he fight in the States when he can make more money where he is. If somebody offered yo a job overseas doing the ssame thing you are doing now for less money would you do it?

Maybe he will fight in Yankee stadium just so I can drive up and see him. Thanks Joe.LOL

When a basketball/baseball/hockey/football player starts nearing the end of his career, and he doesn't have a championship, what does he do?
He takes a pay cut and goes to the team that is most likely to win a championship! WHY? because at that point it isn't about money, it's about being a champion in everyones eyes, and getting that championship ring or cup.

This is the point in Calzaghe's career where he shouldn't be AS worried about money, and he should take the big name fights regardless of where they are. THEN he can be the champion he THINKS he is already.

You can't make the comparison that you made about someone offering you a job overseas for less money, simply because you're comparing two different classes of people. If you're referring to someone who has to raise a family, then no they wouldn't take a pay cut, AND travel overseas, it wouldn't make any sense.
But when you're referring to a world boxing champ who is on national TV, has fans and PLENTY of critics watching him, and should already have LOADS of money, you're in a completely different conversation.

So using that logic why should Calzaghe be the one expected to travel?