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BBC Report: Calzaghe won't fight Pavlik, but read why
TweetJoe Calzaghe has ruled out fighting America's WBC and WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik this year.
The Welshman had been tipped to fight Pavlik, who eased to a third-round defeat of Calzaghe's stable-mate Gary Lockett in Atlantic City last week.
But the 36-year-old Calzaghe told the South Wales Argus: "A lot of people would love to see it.
"However, at this point, I think it's unlikely. I'm not sure if Pavlik really wants to face me at the moment."
Calzaghe, the world's best at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, added: "He would have little to gain because I believe I would definitely beat him and, with respect to Gary Lockett, I would be a step-up too far for Pavlik."
However, after the victory over Lockett - his 30th career knockout in 34 victories - the 26-year-old Pavlik said: "Joe Calzaghe would be a great fight for me."
A showdown between power-puncher Pavlik and Calzaghe, boxing's longest-reigning world champion, would excite the sport's fans on both sides of the Atlantic.
"It would be a great fight for Joe," admitted Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren. "But it's up to Joe, not Kelly Pavlik, whether the fight will happen."
And the dismissal of Pavlik would suggest that a deal for Calzaghe to fight American legend Roy Jones is close to being sealed.
"Talks are ongoing about me facing Roy Jones, a genuine legend of boxing and a previous four-weight world champion," said Calzaghe. "That is a fight that I think can be made.
"Pavlik's got the world at his feet at middleweight or super-middleweight and will want to build his unbeaten record, rather than stepping up at least one weight category to face me.
"It's not beyond the realms of possibility that we will face each other, but I think Jones is the right fight for me at the moment."
Comments
It's the right fight because it is a guarenteed win for the same purse for JC. There is no guarentee that he would beat Pavlik. JC has to do everything he can to stay undefeated.
LOL,
Look, Calzaghe (aka "Slappy") isn't stupid, he knows DAMN WELL that he's the one who isn't ready to fight Kelly. He can come up with any excuse he wants to, but at the end of the day, the whole boxing world knows, and even he knows in his heart that if he fights KP, he will no longer be undefeated. He doesn't have the size, reach, power, stamina or chin to handle the onslaught of the perfectly placed power punches from Kelly.
It's the SAME EXACT tactic that Mayweather keeps using to avoid Cotto, because Mayweather knows Cotto would put him to sleep and tarnish his "perfect" record. If Mayweather TRULY believed he can beat Cotto, he would have already fought him, end of story. There's something about Cotto that Mayweather wants absolutely no part of. It's the same thing with Calzaghe, he wants no part of Pavlik right now.
That's the difference between TRUE warriors of the sport like Pavlik, Hopkins and Cotto who have NEVER and will never duck any fighter, and the prima donnas of the sport like Calzaghe and Mayweather, who have CAREFULLY hand picked all or most of their opponents. The only reason Calzaghe agreed to fight Hopkins and Jones is because both are WAAAYYY over the hill and WAY past their prime, which provides a safe opportunity for JC to pad his overrated, WELL PROTECTED undefeated record.
Sorry mate but the whole boxing world doesn't know that he would lose to KP, are you american per chance? Anyhow, I'm british and before you say i'm biased let me tell you, yes i am a fan of Calzaghe, I have seen nearly all of his fights throughout his career. However, I have lost a lot of respect for him because I think he should have chosen to fight KP instaed of RJJ as his final fight. He's gone for a big pay day but he's loaded anyway so what does it matter? Calzaghe realises KP is up and coming and yes, he probably thinks, why bother risking my undefeated record against him when I can make megabucks and defeat RJJ. However I am 99% confident he would beat Pavlik anyway and this fight would have made americans finally give him some credit as a truly great boxer.
Also how can you say that pavlik will NEVER duck anyone? What about when he approaches the end of his career and theres younger guys coming through?
End of the day I agree with you that Calzaghe is taking the easier option but KP would not beat him. Joe would outbox and outmanoevre him throughout, simple as- anybody remember jeff lacy?!