Calzaghe relinquishes IBF title

[ICB]

WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe has given up his IBF title to fight Peter Manfredo in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday 3 March.
The Welshman, 34, has chosen to meet US TV boxing reality show star Manfredo, 26, rather than IBF mandatory challenger Robert Stieglitz.

"It's disappointing to give up the IBF but Stieglitz doesn't mean anything outside of Germany," said Calzaghe.


full article here...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/6175236.stm

[Rotten Apple]

To say Calzaghe is nearing Louis record is an insult to Louis.

[Lance Uppercut]

To say Calzaghe is nearing Louis record is an insult to Louis.

CC
I agree. I like Calzaghe, but there is a difference between defending a World Title 25 times, and a Alphabet title 25 times.

[dumdane]

To say Calzaghe is nearing Louis record is an insult to Louis.

CC
I agree. I like Calzaghe, but there is a difference between defending a World Title 25 times, and a Alphabet title 25 times.

Especially an alphabet-title where he's been allowed to pick and choose every single opponent. (WBO will never insist on a mandatory Warren hasn't OK'ed)

[Memphis]

"It's disappointing to give up the IBF but Stieglitz doesn't mean anything outside of Germany," said Calzaghe.

Whereas Sakio Bika means something where?

Same could be said of Mario Veit. Didnt stop Joe fighting him twice.

Pathetic.

[Majesty]

"It's disappointing to give up the IBF but Stieglitz doesn't mean anything outside of Germany," said Calzaghe.

Whereas Sakio Bika means something where?

Same could be said of Mario Veit. Didnt stop Joe fighting him twice.

Pathetic.

No, Calzaghe says that NOW he wants to be known in the USA and doesn't care about German mandatories anymore right?

[Preme]

Veint was coming into the first fight pretty highly regarded, although unproven he was ranked very highly and was thought to be one of the best availible atm, so lets get some facts right. Calzaghe had ONE belt then, not 2, he refuses, he losses his belt.

As for WBO giving calzaghe mantetories warren aproves, why exagurate for? he hada got to gemrany to fight veint the second time 'coz warren was to cheap to buy the rights.

"Calzaghe says that NOW he wnats to be known in then USA" - ha, that one actualy made me laugh. You have selected reading or something? how many times do you need to read about how calzaghe has wanted a hopkins or Jones jr for the past 5 or so years, blame warren for not offering enough or blame hopkins or jons jr for constently pricing them selvs out, but why blame someone whos job it is just to fight?

I don't understand why all the hate. If you didn't think his skills wre great fair enough, but it seems you do respect his talents, thats why you have to try and take cheap shots at things that he doesn't or can't controll.

[ricky_hitman]

To say Calzaghe is nearing Louis record is an insult to Louis.

Yes that why he said "lets forget about louis' record" because he understands that JL' achievement means far more than his own and he would probably be embarrassed to take that record off him. I cant believe that people start slagging him off for taking the record when he clearly stated he doesnt want to!!!!!.

[CityOfGod]

To say Calzaghe is nearing Louis record is an insult to Louis.

Yes that why he said "lets forget about louis' record" because he understands that JL' achievement means far more than his own and he would probably be embarrassed to take that record off him. I cant believe that people start slagging him off for taking the record when he clearly stated he doesnt want to!!!!!.

Valid point dude.

CC

[Tam Seddon]

I read this before and its all a mystery to me tbh JC needs to go looking for Kessler NOW! not in a years time......another hand injury will probs pop up and then he will be fucked. what will joes last fight record say UD against Manfredo! it wont be good for him.but if he fights kessler it will not only add another 2 belts to his name (IF! he won) but it would also prove he was the best at 168! imo he could happily retire after that. Dont get me wrong a fight with BHop would be good to see and one against roy jones jr as well but i doubt it will happen. A fight with Woods would be a good one as well. Imo he beasts every1 at lightheavy!

[Violent Bob]

I don't understand why all the hate. If you didn't think his skills wre great fair enough, but it seems you do respect his talents, thats why you have to try and take cheap shots at things that he doesn't or can't controll.

I've seen you do the same thing about PBF, who's faced much better competition in his career than Calzaghe. It's also complete bullshit that Calzaghe has no control over who he fights. You think he couldn't demand things from Warren? You think someone forced him to keep renewing his contract with Warren? I agree that Warren's a shithold who overprotects his fighters, but he couldn't do it if they weren't down with the program. This fight is a disgrace--Calzaghe should be fighting Kessler. The only other fights he should consider at this stage are Wright, Taylor and B-Hop. Period. Not some clown who couldn't even win a reality show about boxing.

[Rotten Apple]

To say Calzaghe is nearing Louis record is an insult to Louis.

Yes that why he said \"lets forget about louis\' record\" because he understands that JL\' achievement means far more than his own and he would probably be embarrassed to take that record off him. I cant believe that people start slagging him off for taking the record when he clearly stated he doesnt want to!!!!!.

Because it shouldn\'t even be brought up. Calzaghe should say I defend the WBO title not the world title

[Memphis]

Veint was coming into the first fight pretty highly regarded, although unproven he was ranked very highly and was thought to be one of the best availible atm, so lets get some facts right. Calzaghe had ONE belt then, not 2, he refuses, he losses his belt.

As for WBO giving calzaghe mantetories warren aproves, why exagurate for? he hada got to gemrany to fight veint the second time 'coz warren was to cheap to buy the rights.

"Calzaghe says that NOW he wnats to be known in then USA" - ha, that one actualy made me laugh. You have selected reading or something? how many times do you need to read about how calzaghe has wanted a hopkins or Jones jr for the past 5 or so years, blame warren for not offering enough or blame hopkins or jons jr for constently pricing them selvs out, but why blame someone whos job it is just to fight?

I don't understand why all the hate. If you didn't think his skills wre great fair enough, but it seems you do respect his talents, thats why you have to try and take cheap shots at things that he doesn't or can't controll.

I think your giving Joe an awfully easy ride. I dont think for a minute he has ever put the kind of pressure on Warren that Hatton did to deliver Tszyu. If the fights didnt come he could have left FW, he didnt therefor has to shoulder some of the blame himself.

[Preme]

I don't understand why all the hate. If you didn't think his skills wre great fair enough, but it seems you do respect his talents, thats why you have to try and take cheap shots at things that he doesn't or can't controll.

I've seen you do the same thing about PBF, who's faced much better competition in his career than Calzaghe. It's also complete bullshit that Calzaghe has no control over who he fights. You think he couldn't demand things from Warren? You think someone forced him to keep renewing his contract with Warren? I agree that Warren's a shithold who overprotects his fighters, but he couldn't do it if they weren't down with the program. This fight is a disgrace--Calzaghe should be fighting Kessler. The only other fights he should consider at this stage are Wright, Taylor and B-Hop. Period. Not some clown who couldn't even win a reality show about boxing.

would like to see a post where i have taken a shot at PBF simply out of dislike to him... Never made it a secret that i don't like mayweather, but i defended him in the way he fought baldi, and defended him when people were saying he was a coward for not taking the toni fight

Manfredo = Mega fight with Taylor, posted to many times on this, if people can't understand the logic of what hes doing now, then meh i give up.

[Preme]

Veint was coming into the first fight pretty highly regarded, although unproven he was ranked very highly and was thought to be one of the best available atm, so lets get some facts right. Calzaghe had ONE belt then, not 2, he refuses, he losses his belt.

As for WBO giving calzaghe mandatories warren approves, why exaggerate for? he hada got to Germany to fight veint the second time 'coz warren was to cheap to buy the rights.

"Calzaghe says that NOW he wants to be known in then USA" - ha, that one actually made me laugh. You have selected reading or something? how many times do you need to read about how calzaghe has wanted a hopkins or Jones Jr for the past 5 or so years, blame warren for not offering enough or blame hopkins or jones Jr for constantly pricing them selves out, but why blame someone who's job it is just to fight?

I don't understand why all the hate. If you didn't think his skills are great fair enough, but it seems you do respect his talents, thats why you have to try and take cheap shots at things that he doesn't or can't controll.

I think your giving Joe an awfully easy ride. I don't think for a minute he has ever put the kind of pressure on Warren that Hatton did to deliver Tszyu. If the fights didnt come he could have left FW, he didnt therefor has to shoulder some of the blame himself.

I understand that my views might be biased 'coz i am a massive calzaghe fan, i honestly try to give an unbiased opinion though, and i will try to now...

there are what, 3 people who calzaghe hasn't fought and people would of liked to seen him fight.. Otte, Hopkins, and Jones Jr?

No way in hell was Otte ever going to fight out in germany, he lost about 2-3 fights there and was gifted a win (one against a guy calzaghe fought 6 rounds with with one hand robin Reid) - I don't blame warren for that.

Hopkins wanted $6million, the greediest bastard of all time don king had accepted $3m for hopkins to take the fight in the US, but hopkins personally totally priced him self out, Warren made numerous more attempts to make the fight without any luck - you tell me honestly what warren could of done? paid $6m for that fight? fk that its ball's and you know it

Roy Jones Jr - Can't be sure on this one 'coz from money offered iv only seen what warren says he offered, and well i don't believe to much of what he says. But Joes was supposedly offered around $5m and upwards to fight Calzaghe int he us back when he was in his prime. I know HBO wanted to build Joe up to fight Jones Jr not long after he dethroned Eubank, but unfortunately for Joe he bust his hand in the Reid fight, fought 6 rounds with one hand and HBO lost all interest in him. They later renewed their interest, only for Joe to bust his hand again with starie and look crap in the ring, where basically HBO lost all interest up until the lacy fight - So how do you blame warren for that?

Warren has gotten Glen Johnson to agree to fight calzaghe, i think 3 times now. Each time calzaghe had pulled out due to injury, the first 2 times h agreed were pre-lacy and a good performace would of been a step into the US market. I rate johnson somewhat, don't think he would of been able to do much to trouble Joe, and think Joe did pull out with a genuinely hand injury - your free to come to your own conclusion tho

As for hatton, well look where hes gone to since he left warren - yeah he picked up 2 titales, by beating 2 fighters i believe warren could of gotten him, but look how much he's been slagged off for the fights, how much sh*t he's gotten for the guy he is fighting next...