CALZAGHE v MANFREDO -It's official- 3/03/07 Millenium Stadium-Wales

[AdamGB]

Simply because Joe took this fight instead of fighting Kessler - I hope Manfredo batters him... not that it will happen... but it's what he deserves. I stuck up for him for fighting Bika to stay active because their wasn't an opponent ready... but loads of guys are free for thisdate... why manfredo?

[smashup]

It is a strange choice as there are bigger household name US fighters out there surely round about that date

[Memphis]

Someone should start a freewebs page protesting about this fight, spam every boxing site on the web and out-boxed.com and get tonnes of names on a guest book displaying their disgust.

I'd do it but just cant be arsed. Ive got a load of ironing to do as well.

[Wacko3205]

i've said it before , Joe should be going after the marquee names at his stage in his career

stepping stone fights to promote him in USA ? after Lacy win and being in top ten in The Ring p4p he doesn't need it.

we all saw what joe could do when up against a fighter regarded as highly as Lacy and we want more whilst he can still do it

Manfredo is not in that bracket and fights like this bring that other invincible opponent who goes by the name of Father Time looming towards Joe

Disappointed

Bra-fwockin-vo!!! Very well stated.

[p4pking]

Thing is i'd bet the AVERAGE American fight fan would know Manfredo way more than Kessler so in that respect i can see what i mean
It's all about $$$ at this stage of Joe's Career And going the Manfredo route would probably be better in the long run (Moneywise)!!

Dont even kid yourself. Seriously. THere is no way in hell this would make Joe more money than a fight with Kessler, long or short term.. He was offered around 3 million to fight Kessler, how much do you think he'll get for this fight?? And if he were to beat Kessler, which he would be more certain to do if he took the fight sooner rather then later, he could fight all the soft touches he want's to wind down his career and make far more money doing so than he would fighting them now.. And like someone else very appropriately stated, if this is just about winning over US fans or getting exposure there... THEN LEAVE WALES FOR FUCKS SAKE!!!!

[Memphis]

I hear on the same night U2 are having a battle of the bands with G4.

Dont know if its true or not?

[Big_Deuce]

this might go down as one of the biggest flops in boxing history.
Seriously, after putting such whippin on lacy, you would think he would start attacking the big names out there. But yet he continues to fight prospects, not #1 contenders.
Sick,

[Kel]

Im gutted he's not going after Kessler too mate
I just feel this is all part of a master plan that revolves around pushing his profile stateside and with HBO.

You could be right...but if he breaks his hands on Man's melon head & retires without Kessler on his record...win, lose, or draw...I'm pissed the fwock off.

LOL, your posts always make me laugh.

[smashup]

Seems like the majority on this thread are feeling that JC is ducking Kessler
Gonna be very interesting to see what sort of purse he's getting for fighting Manfredo

[Mrhung]

this is ganna be like Calzaghe-Lacy, except this time no one will be surprised of the outcome.

[El Gamo]

Regardless of the purse JC is getting for this fight,there is no way it'll be MUCH bigger than the Kessler $3.4 mill I think,secondly,Kessler is much more respected and a better name to have on the resume and third,JC would have like all 4 belts of the division? Anyway you look at it,this is not the fight to take and ok,if he fihgts Taylor afterwards,he'll atone for it somewhat but I still want to see the Kessler fight......


This is a lose lose fihgt for JC,he may get the $$$,but it does not look good on the resume and Kessler fans can say he is ducking Mikkel AND what if Mnafredo makes him look bad? He should have fought Manfredo first,forgotten Bika,fought Kessler,then JT. There was NO NEED to fight Bika,and Manfredo! Absolutely not and it's very dissappointing especially at this stage in his career.

[Wayne]

Wait a minute. How is this HBO's fault? I'm sorry, I never heard of Bika--it seems to me HBO just wanted him on no matter who he fought. Why would they want him to take on a lesser opponent? This is the doing of Joe and Joe's camp alone. Don't nail this on the network on foreign soil. I would imagine Sports Network would have more pull in that department if such a thing were possible.

[Preme]

Totally disgusted.

He had his gimmee with Bika.

Shoulda fought tooth & nail to unify against Kessler.

This has indeed dropped Joe down a notch...something that no hater has been able to do in over 4 years.

This makes no sense. The money & prestige lies at Kess's feet.

Still a fan...but totally disgusted.

I replaied ot a post the other day, but don't think it actualy posted 'coz the site was laggy as hell that day..

On telly text over here there was a page about calzaghe being stripped of his IBf belt... long story short calzaghe mantioned "TV giants HBO want me to fight an american next..." Calzaghe is a boxer and his job should be to do the job in the ring, and since hes turned pro hes done that.

If HBO have turned around and told Joe he fights an amerian such as manfredo next, they will try give him as much exposure in the states as pos all leading to what Joe has been wanting for years a MEGA FIGHT in the states and right now its looking like Taylor. He said he wants it next, Joe has spoken about him. Both have some what of 'hand picked' people for them to make themselves look great in the ring - leading up to what will, i would bet my house on, be one of the most talked about and exciting fights of next years Calzaghe V Taylor!

If HBO do their job right, and calzaghe doesn't get lazy, by the time hes done with manfeado and HBO start calzaghe v taylor promotions even the msot general boxing fan in the us will know of him and be looking forward to watching the fight. There is nothing to say calzaghe wont fight kessler after taylor (providing he gets through it) i think he will retire or move up tbh...

If you'r a real Calzaghe fan, ud know hes been chasing a mega fight in the US for the last 5-6 years, hes lsot out to HBO twice by braking his hands in the ring when HBo wanted to build calzaghe up to figth Jones Jr, i highly doubt it would be wise for him now to go and pi$$ them off by fighting kessler (who IMO doesn't want the fight as bad as his team claim) when they cleary want Calzaghe fighting taylor.

Another thin you gotta look at are his hands. Kessler fight most likly could be a long night, adleast a long 12 rounds, he could/shoud get manfredo out of that ring in under 5 rounds, minimul damage to his hands, lots of trianing for kessler.

[Tam Seddon]

What well kessler do now? do the easy option or maybe fight a top contender? if Froch wins on sat i want to see him fight Kessler! i know most of you wont agree with this but he is a top 10 fighter, undefeated and ready to fight most people. what do you think? kessler-Froch? winner takes JC?

[smashup]

Froch beats Kessler imo.

The Cobra is coming people
Love this guy's attitude and self belief