Calzaghe refuses Pavlik fight..............?

Question

Just read it on Fightnews.com.............he prefers a fight with Roy Jones Jr. instead.............I don't know about anyone else but this rubs me the wrong way..........how can you claim to be that good but choose to face another past his prime fighter instead of a fellow top 10 P4P fighter?? I think Joe is going to take alot of heat if he doesn't go back and try to renegotiate a deal with Pavlik............Just makes me appreciate how Miguel Cotto goes about his business even more now...........just fight the best............i'm really tired of fighters avoiding fights............if everyone handled their business like Cotto than boxing would be cured of alot of what ails it...........what do you guys think of this decision by Calzaghe??

Answer 1

Wow- DLH fight Pavlik?  I would love to see that.  Pavlik would put a beat down on him that would be talked about for ages to come.

Seriously- about Calzaghe, he barely got past a very old BHop (but he looked really sharp towards the end of that fight), I think it would be high risk and no possible reward for him to fight Pavlik.

Pavlik is not the best boxer today, and he has a lot to work on to be top 5 p4p, but he destroys just about everyone you can put him in a ring with (with all due respect to those who disagree- he schooled JT in the first fight, then beat JT in the second fight at JT's own game- that to me is a comprehensive beat down).  He is however improving and looking better each fight.

But I completely agree, Calz's refusal to fight him says a lot more about his record than the 0 in the loss column does...

There are 5 fighters at the lower weights that I have a lot of respect for because they take every fight Cotto, Diaz x 2 and Marquez X 2 ... I know they are all mexicans, but they don't turn down fights and they all have losses on their records (except Cotto) but I have a lot more respect for the way they conduct themselves in the boxing business than I do Calz...

Answer 2

Calzaghe has been wanting to fight Jones Jr. for a while. And not only that Roy is the bigger name. Calzaghe right now is fighting the guys his fans want to see and right now many have never even heard of Pavlik. And yes we can expect that to change soon!

   I don't think its fair to compare him to Mayweather since none of Mayweathers fans where telling him to duck Margarito or Cotto! Calzaghe is simply in a different situation where the bigger fight is against a lesser skilled boxer.

Answer 3

obviously joe calzaghe is following floyd mayweathers footsteps,joe is gonna fight past prime opponents that have household names with a low risk and big reward...pavlik is high risk and low reward...if joe calzaghe pulls a fraud gayweather i will lose all respect for him...hopkins in his 40's put calzaghe on his a$$,pavlik would knock him out and joe knows this and thats why he is being a coward and avoiding pavlik!when i heard pbf retired i thought all the cherrypicking was over but we have a new coward!

Answer 4

Keithinator, you make a great point. I agree 100 percent that if a fighter claims to be or wants to be the best in the world, he should fight the best when the opportunity comes.  But, there is one thing about the fight with Jones - its a very, very winnable fight for Jones.  Yes, Roy is not anywhere near what he used to be, not even close. However, he still has good skill, and maybe with the right motivation and good training camp, he can summon the old magic one more time.  Remember, Joe is a slapper more than a puncher; he gets his wins from his work rate and southpaw slickness.  Roy has the type of style and ability to neutralize all that, even at this stage of his career.  And Roy also still has his power. You saw  B-Hop put Calzaghe down with a straight right at the beginning of their fight (but I'm not gonna go into that, I'm a big B-hop fan, and i was thoroughly disappointed in him that fight), And Roy has much more power than B-Hop.  Also, Roy is not gonna go into a mode where he is not punching and just hold like Hopkins did.  No, this is going to be a tough fight for Calzaghe, and if he wins, it makes the fight with Pavlik that much more important.  If he gets past Jones and Pavlik, all thats left is for him to fight the Dawson/Tarver winner, and then he can retire a true #1, having beaten everyone he needed to beat.  

And yes, I also agree with what you said about Cotto. The kid just wants to fight, and will take on all comers. Thats refreshing indeed, and more people do need to be that way.

Finally, De La Hoya wants fights he thinks he can win to finish his career.  He wants no part of moving up in weight to fight a naturally bigger, stronger, more durable fighter.  Remember last time he tried to move up to 160? Not only did he look awful, he got destroyed (okay, yes, that was a prime Hopkins, but De La Hoya looked like he was trying to move in mud).  Not only would be a major underdog in that fight, he would end his career on a low note, because he doesnt make it past round 6 of that fight, even if he ran and/or held the first 5.

No, Oscar wants nothing to do with Pavlik, not at this stage.

Answer 5

Give him a break joe has 1 or 2 fights left he feels he has achieved what he set out to. Unbeaton undisputed Super middleweight & ring champ at light heavy so he is cashing in now for his retirement. I bet u would all do the same. Also personally i think he would beat Pavlik the same way he did Kessler

Answer 6

I think Joe Calzaghe is scared of Kelly Pavlik because his punches will land into his face and get knocked out !

Answer 7

I think Calz is dodging Pavlik.  I know for sure that he saw the Pavlik/Lockett fight and I am sure he wouldnt want to gamble his winning strick.  I dont really like fighters that  dodge good fighters and perfer to fight washed out fighters.

Answer 8

Roy Jones Jr. will KO Calzaghe I want to hear what all the people will have to say after this fight the media treys to tell us who is over the hill did you see Roy's last fight he looked great Roy is a proud champion and he will come to fight

Answer 9

I don't see this as a necessary fight.  Calz has no chance.  The outcome is as certain Pavlik's fight with Lockett was.  Pavlik is the welshman assassin.

Answer 10

Look Joe is being very smart right now...after he seen the beating of the guy his daddy was training...I wouldnt wont Pavlik either.....He better fight Jones instead...He has a better chance. And he's lucky Jones is old.....

Answer 11

ok

Answer 12

of course he refused, pavlik would crush him. its over, nobody listens to techno

Answer 13

I am a HUGE!! Joe Calzaghe fan, and i think him passing a fight with a prime middleweight, for an over the hill burnout Roy Jones, i think personally Calzaghe would beat Jones, but would be an awesome fight with Pavlik!

I also think a MEGA fight would be.. Calzaghe-Mayweather!