Calzaghe: i want Pavlik after Jones

[Kirkland Laing]

Following breaking news of Calzaghe's intent to stick around for more fights at the 168lb Super Middleweight division, Calzaghe has given his first interview with The Times since his break up with long time promoter Frank Warren and has openly mentioned the potential match-up against Kelly Pavlik :-

“There is no way I am going to give up my WBO title,” Calzaghe announced to The Time's Ron Lewis “I do not have a mandatory (to his WBO title) at the moment so I do not have to defend my title and if I beat Jones, Im going to move back down to super middleweight to face Kelly Pavlik"

“I still feel young,” Calzaghe stated “...It all depends on how I perform against Jones. There's a good possibility I may fight on. I need fights that motivate me. Kessler motivated me, Hopkins motivated me, Jones motivates me. And Kelly Pavlik has been hanging around.”

“It took me eight years [as WBO champion] to get a unification fight - I was becoming a laughing stock with some of the people I was fighting,” he said. “I was chasing guys like Jones and now they are chasing me.”

That belt is crap

I'm surprised to see a fellow Calzaghe fan knocking Joe's belt.

[boozeboxer]

I do find that a stupid reason to take a fight (or not) at this point in Joe's career. For one, he is very established, has limited fights, and he can buy him another belt from a website in any color he wants.

[Violent Demise]

Following breaking news of Calzaghe's intent to stick around for more fights at the 168lb Super Middleweight division, Calzaghe has given his first interview with The Times since his break up with long time promoter Frank Warren and has openly mentioned the potential match-up against Kelly Pavlik :-

“There is no way I am going to give up my WBO title,” Calzaghe announced to The Time's Ron Lewis “I do not have a mandatory (to his WBO title) at the moment so I do not have to defend my title and if I beat Jones, Im going to move back down to super middleweight to face Kelly Pavlik"

“I still feel young,” Calzaghe stated “...It all depends on how I perform against Jones. There's a good possibility I may fight on. I need fights that motivate me. Kessler motivated me, Hopkins motivated me, Jones motivates me. And Kelly Pavlik has been hanging around.”

“It took me eight years [as WBO champion] to get a unification fight - I was becoming a laughing stock with some of the people I was fighting,” he said. “I was chasing guys like Jones and now they are chasing me.”

That belt is crap

I'm surprised to see a fellow Calzaghe fan knocking Joe's belt.

Can't believe the WBO has a fan

[Kirkland Laing]

That belt is crap

I'm surprised to see a fellow Calzaghe fan knocking Joe's belt.

Can't believe the WBO has a fan

It's the fighter that makes the belt though isn't it? Calzaghe has beaten the WBC/WBA supermiddle champ and of course the IBF champ in a bout we both favoured Joe to win, so the WBO supermiddle belt has the respect due to the guy who currently holds it.

[Violent Demise]

I'm surprised to see a fellow Calzaghe fan knocking Joe's belt.

Can't believe the WBO has a fan

It's the fighter that makes the belt though isn't it? Calzaghe has beaten the WBC/WBA supermiddle champ and of course the IBF champ in a bout we both favoured Joe to win, so the WBO supermiddle belt has the respect due to the guy who currently holds it.

Why would you want to represent a belt in which a dead man can literally move up in the rankings? The WBO has always been equal to the WBU and the IBO. It's a minor league belt.

[Markusdarkus]

Can't believe the WBO has a fan

It's the fighter that makes the belt though isn't it? Calzaghe has beaten the WBC/WBA supermiddle champ and of course the IBF champ in a bout we both favoured Joe to win, so the WBO supermiddle belt has the respect due to the guy who currently holds it.

Why would you want to represent a belt in which a dead man can literally move up in the rankings? The WBO has always been equal to the WBU and the IBO. It's a minor league belt.

I think the WBO is a better org now that the WBA and maybe even the WBC ok it doesnt have the history but it only has one champion per weight. None of this regular champion crap just one champ and an interim champ if needed.

Anyway im not sure Calderon,Campbell,Williams,Pavlik,Calzaghe or Klithscko would agree.

[saturday_kid]

I hope Joe does stick to this IF he beats RJJ. It would prove that he hasn't lost his bottle and would restore my faith in him. But I do feel announcing this now not long after the fight with RJJ has been sorted is a bad move, I hope he's not overlooking Roy. yes he's past his best but we've seen in the past fighters pull out one last big performance out of nowhere.

[rjj tszyu]

I hope Joe does stick to this IF he beats RJJ. It would prove that he hasn't lost his bottle and would restore my faith in him. But I do feel announcing this now not long after the fight with RJJ has been sorted is a bad move, I hope he's not overlooking Roy. yes he's past his best but we've seen in the past fighters pull out one last big performance out of nowhere.

Yes I agree if he overlooks Roy he is in serious trouble. But if Roy has 50% of what he had 10 years ago left it doesn't matter he will destroy Joe!

[Kirkland Laing]

Can't believe the WBO has a fan

It's the fighter that makes the belt though isn't it? Calzaghe has beaten the WBC/WBA supermiddle champ and of course the IBF champ in a bout we both favoured Joe to win, so the WBO supermiddle belt has the respect due to the guy who currently holds it.

Why would you want to represent a belt in which a dead man can literally move up in the rankings? The WBO has always been equal to the WBU and the IBO. It's a minor league belt.

But the WBO super middle belt is owned by the undisputed best 168 fighter. All the alphabet belts are bs with their super champions and champions emeritus nonsense. They do help sell fights though so you can't blame Calzaghe for wanting to keep it because as far as selling future Calzaghe 168 fights goes it's worth money to him.