Quote Originally Posted by dumdane
Quote Originally Posted by NuthaPug
Seems one of the common complaints about most any fighter, especially those at the top, that they
- are running from the best competition
- are handpicking their fights
- fought other greats past their prime or after someone else beat them down

PBF gets it, RJJ got it, Hopkins from some fans, Hatton gets it, Calzaghe is getting it. ODLH gets it!

If Kessler-Calzaghe never gets made, it will leave a question mark for Kessler even if he is never again defeated. "Yeah, but he never fought the best."

I know, Joe doesn't look like the best right now, but that's largely down-hype. He sure looked good against Lacy - better than expected - and all it takes is for him to do the same again, and he'll be at the top for a month or two. Until the boxing fans start to dismantle him once again.

The boxers live in their fantasy world, and we in ours.
I think you got it mixed up - who will be left with the bigger questionmark over their careers if Calzaghe-Kessler doesn't happen.
At least Kessler has been pushing for it to happen. Calzaghe/Warren have been shunning it like the plague.

Add to that that Kessler has time ahead of him to make a noteworthy career - Whereas Calzaghe is almost done for and really hasn't achieved much, except to hang on to that WBO-strap for 9 years, fighting only handpicked opposition.

Actually Calzaghe is the one who NEEDS the fight the most (quickest way to do something noteworthy with his career - complete unification of SMW). He just hasn't realized yet, so strangely Kessler is the one who WANTS it the most.
No, I don't have it mixed up - I agree with what you are saying here. I think Joe should make this fight, and if he doesn't, he is avoiding an obvious fight to take - a unification fight. It will leave question marks for Joe if he doesn't.

But if he doesn't - it will also end up leaving a question mark for Kessler - through no fault of his own. You can be sure that someone will say "Yeah, but he never fought Joe, so we will never know." Kessler will inherit the doubt regardless of the fact that he was willing to take the fight.