Quote Originally Posted by CutMeMicK
It's very simple...

Why Manfredo?
When it first came out i was thinking Manfredo camp was talking crap, Kessler was the right move.. but after reading and eharing alot this is what i broken it down to...

(like anyhting there are 2 sides to stroys, and what is in the papers isn't always True..)

1. Kessler offerd Calzaghe $3.4 to fight in DENMARK, now hand on heart can anyone one of you honestly say you would be pissed if hopkins had turned down his biggest payday to fight his 20th def out side the US? Calzaghe is a very proud fighter - his 20th def would be in and only in Wales... its not even in england who have much mcuh better boxing venues (ask anyone whos been to the Melenium stadium - its a rugy/footy pitch..)

2. HBO told him they want him to fight an american... he has already lost 2 HBO contracts by braking his hands in the past with fights agasint people liek reid, back when HBO wanted to build him up to fight RJJ, now he has a Mega fight in the states with Taylor almost in his grasp, i highly doubt he is going to piss off HBO and say he wants Kessler...

3. Calzaghe could only fight one person to keep his IBF belt and that wasn't Kessler. The $3.4M deal with Kessler was for Joe and Him to fight holding all 4 belts... Joe couldn't do that, and neither could Kessler as they both had mandetories that had been put off already by the sounds of it... again hard to seperate truth from rumors here, or what warren and palle have said to the truth...

4. Even if Calzaghe did go on to beat Kessler, he would have to vacate 3 of the 4 belts before he could fight taylor...

5. Team Kessler offerd Calzaghe $3.4m - yes... but even asking for the fight to be over there was a joke and wasn't a case of warren being in the driving seat. No dissrespect but Kessler is a very small name... he has had 30 seconds on HBO thats it, he gets about 7k people at his fights at home, and HBO just don't seem interested in him 'coz he aint gunna be champ for long. Calzaghe on the other hand will be well in with HBO after this fight, should sell around 30-40 K tickets in a country like Wales, that is tiny, i mean our country is smaller than 90% of the states alone in the Us lol... after sales, TV rights and what nots Calzaghe should make somewhere close to the $3m march the third...

6. Lets say Kessler is actualy one of the Elite. Now Calzaghe and kessler get in the ring, It goes 12 rounds, calzaghe wins a 7-5 say UD simply because Kessler is that good.. unless its an exciting fight the US people watching will put both fighters down leadingot his dream Mega match witha Taylor/hopkins looking slimer or on a lesser stage...

For those 6 reasons and my opinion of Kessler being way overrated, and with the talent in there i think he gets beat, and fairly soon - i back Calzaghe for this decision. Hes never ducked a fighter before, he took on Lacy, constently called out Hopkins and RJJ and made it crystal clear he would take the fight there, so if people think hes scared of Kessler and ducking him, then you must think kessler beats Hopkins and RJJ in the us