Thanks: 
Likes: 
Dislikes: 
Re: Calzaghe says the Froch fight May happen
Froch: It won't be easy for Joe
Published: Sunday, 2 November 2008, 2:10PM
Unbeaten Nottingham star Carl Froch goes for WBC world super-middleweight title glory live on ITV 1 in December when he meets Canadian slickster Jean Pascal.
However 'The Cobra' took time out from his own busy training schedule in Ireland to give his feelings on how big domestic rival Joe Calzaghe's fight with Roy Jones will go in New York next week and also clarify his own position on a potential multi-million pound showdown with the Welshman in 2009.
ITV: Joe Calzaghe is boxing Roy Jones in New York next weekend. The bout is getting the big build up in the media right now but is it a fight that really excites you as a boxing fan?
CF: It's an exciting fight. It's happening a bit late in their respective careers I suppose definitely but it is still Roy Jones Jnr we are talking about. If he can pull back at least 50% of his old skill and that magic he used to have Calzaghe will be in a lot of trouble. It's an interesting fight because I think that Calzaghe is past his best as well. He struggled against Hopkins. I'm not impressed by his work in his last couple of fights I think he has struggled. That fight was close and I felt the judge that gave it to Hopkins was the correct judge. It's still a decent enough fight for the fans though as you've got an old legend fighting against someone who is looking to hang the gloves up so it's one that I'm definitely going to be watching with interest.
ITV: Roy was a wonderful athlete in his prime but he is admittedly a few years removed from his best now. What does the 39-year-old version of Roy Jones have to do to get his hand raised in New York?
CF: He has got to keep himself out of range. Calzaghe is not a devastating puncher. He just has a good engine and throws lots of shots. When he is in range he just throws a hundred shots and he batters the life out of you. Critics say that he slaps and while I don't totally agree with that I don't think Joe is a big puncher now because of all the problems he has had with his hands. But he throws a lot of shots when he is in range. He works in close and peppers his opponents, tries to overwhelm them and catch the judges eye. Roy has got to try and control the fight from the outside with his jab. He's done this for most of his career and I think Roy is a genius in the ring but it's all about what he has left. You said he is 39 but I'm sure he is 40 or 41 because I know he used to train with Robert McCracken. But you know if Roy Jones can produce just 50% of what he used to, and I mean just 50%, and he can maintain it, then I think he's got a great chance on the night.
ITV: The Welshman reckons he'll stop Jones but do you honestly feel he punches hard enough to become just the third man after Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson and KO the American?
CF: I can't see that no. I don't think he hits hard enough. If it was a younger Calzaghe then maybe he might have stopped an old Roy Jones but my money wouldn't be on that. Although of course you never know in boxing do you?
ITV: Calzaghe had said this will be his final fight but he has dropped one or two hints in the media just recently that we might see him again in 2009. He claims there are no challenges out there but provided you do the business and win the WBC super-middleweight title against Jean Pascal surely a fight between you two could be absolutely mega for next year?
CF: Too right. It's definitely a valid fight. I'd have his old belt. Everyone knows I've been trying to get a fight with Calzaghe for the past 18 months. I'd be the WBC champion. We'd both be unbeaten and what better way for him to end it that a fight against a young gun coming through who is now at the very top of his game? It's a fight people want to see. Honestly it's all people talk about when I walk around Nottingham. It's the first question they ask. It's a massive, massive fight going back to the Benn and Eubank days. It's on that type of scale
ITV: There were even reports in the media this week suggesting your promoter Mick Hennessy has offered Joe £5million to box you. What can you tell us about those rumours?
CF: If you have read something saying that Mick says he has put down a £5million offer for me to fight Calzaghe then he has obviously sat down with the TV companies and discussed it. Nothing has been made totally official at this stage but the conversation has taken place and it's all about getting the finances in place to make this fight happen. A fight between me and Calzaghe would definitely generate massive revenue. Gate receipts alone would be huge. Then you have got the TV revenue coming in. All the advertising on top of that. You know it's realistic, a £5million offer. Although it's not been put down on paper yet it's a genuine offer that he worked out and will hopefully be put to Calzaghe after he does his job against Roy Jones.
ITV: Joe admits it's all about the cash for him at this stage of his career but I get the impression that the money is secondary for you at this stage and you just genuinely want to test yourself and prove to the world you are the real deal?
CF: Of course. That's exactly what it is. Becoming undisputed champion and beating the best means the money comes with that anyway but I'm not motivated by that. I just want to be recognized internationally by all the other top fighters and the fans. I want the world's best to be saying 'Yeah that Froch's a decent fighter', gain their respect and get my 'pound-for-pound' ranking up. When a man starts talking about how much money he is earning before he fights and that he is fighting for this amount and that amount then for me you can tell he is getting towards the end of his career. You can't blame him though. He has been a good servant to the game. A pro for 11 or 12 years and I guess he just wants to get what he can. He's made some good money from the sport but I don't think he is a multi-millionaire in the way say a 'Prince' Naseem Hamed was so I guess he's looking at banking a few quid and turning it in.
 |
|
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Tam Seddon
Bookmarks