I love Joe Calzaghe!

[Fenster]

I'll defend Pavlik's last two fights. Lockett, I'll give you, that was just a fight to keep Pavlik in the ring and in shape. Taylor the second time was an unavoidable fight. They previously both knocked each other down, the linear title switch hands, and went through arguably the fight of the year, a rematch was a no-brainer. With all those factors, like I said, the rematch was unavoidable not "a guy he previously blasted out in 7 rounds."

About facing Bernard Hopkins: First off, Pavlik never wanted this fight, his promotion company set this up and Kelly just went along with it. When it's all said and done, he just takes the fights that are given to him. NO ONE WANTS to fight Hopkins because he makes people look ugly. Abraham, Kessler, etc will still be there in a year so he's not ducking anyone. Hopkins and Calzaghe aren't going to be around for as long so why not fight them now while they're still here. Pavlik wants Calzaghe, and being impressive against Hopkins will make that fight closer to happening. PLUS! He makes way more money fighting Hopkins or Calzaghe than fighting Abraham and Kessler. Even though he initially didn't want the fight against Hopkins, looking at it this way makes sense in order to get Calzaghe in the ring.

If Kelly isn't a throwback fighter than I don't know who is. Like I said earlier, he doesn't choose his opponents, his promoter does and he just trains and fights. Look at De La Hoya, Mayweather, Pacquiao and other boxers of that stature. Those guys have a say in who they fight but Kelly doesn't deal with it that way. He's a fighter and nothing more...

Zertuche, Miranda, Taylor, Taylor, Lockett, Hopkins in two years is not "protected" if you ask me...

It's a fact Pavlik ko'd Taylor in 7 rounds. The reason for the second fight was Taylor invoked his 160+lbs rematch clause. Otherwise Pavlik would have been fighting Duddy.

So.. Pavlik didn't WANT to fight Hopkins, and has NO say in who he fights (have you got a link so i can read this)? Who did Pavlik WANT to fight?

And if that's the case.. it says EVERYTHING about the confidence his promotional team have in him. Since beating Taylor he has been linked with - Duddy, Lockett, Griffin, welterweight Williams, ancient Trinidad etc.. as I said previously, if he is CAREFULLY managed he may stay at the top for a while.

Abraham, Kessler and Bute are all, like Pavlik, young hungry guys in their PRIME. They are arguably far more dangerous opponents than 43 year-old no-legs Hopkins. And maybe even more dangerous than 37 year-old no-hands Calzaghe. BUT they don't offer the same MONEY rewards for the risk involved.

Fighters fight for MONEY! Pavlik is no different.

Oh that I agree with 100%. That is the main priority for all of them. It is just some of them also desire to be the top dog also. Pavlik probably did not want to fight Hopkins because Hopkins makes some lousy fights and was coming off a loss, but still took what was offered and he said himself Hopkins was the only guy available. Don't even mention Bute. His team has made a career of avoiding any live fighter and is only fighting Andrade because they are now forced to.

OK. Pavlik fights his silly gimme mismatch mandatory. Then fights a 43 year-old coming off a loss in a meaningless catchweight contest. Of course he'd much rather face a serious challenger but his promotional team wont let him... But you accuse Calzaghe of taking the safe route? Come on, behave.