Oh this is such a good thread...

Anywho, while I do not think that Joe is scared of Kess...he is indeed avoiding him & that is the smart thing to do.

If you look at Joe's record & try to tear it apart fighter by fighter...you may think that you have a case...but Joe has fought some good fighters & made them look bad...just as Kessler has.

The thing with both men's records is that a lot of people England & the U.S. either don't know the fighters or they just want to hate for the sake of hating on Calzaghe because he is a backyard champion...I totally disagree with that due to the fact that many other fighters stay in their homeland & never get scolded for the same faults that they lash Joe with. Sit down & scan Joe's career. Watch him work. Those losses didn't just climb through the ropes & happen...he made them drop & stop.

As far as Kessler goes...I say that he has the tools to beat Joe & if he's gonna do it...now might be the time...but I doubt the fight get's made unless HBO takes a shine to Kessler. Joe's fight against Manfredo (hate it as much as I do) was a smart marketing ploy...but it does little for his career...in fact...as little as it does...it does more than a fight with Kessler.

No one really REALLY knows Kessler & those that do don't rate him...which is the same error that they make with Joe & based on the same grounds...most have never seen him or have seen to little.

Anywho...I say that Kessler could beat Calzaghe at this time. Joe's hands are going & they are going fast. If he doesn't make short work of Manfredo...it could ruin his chances in the future & fighting once a year does little for Joe all the way around. Kessler is younger, stronger, & more active...Joe's advantage lies in his speed & reflexes.

I honestly think that Kessler would be the fight of Joe's career & would be more defining than the Lacy win. Laugh all you want...but a win & an explosive/competitive fight would speak bounds for Calzaghe. The question remains...could he win against Kessler?