If Joe Calzaghe wins Saturday, is Kelly Pavlik a likely opponent?

Question

And How does Calzaghe match up against a young heavy-hitter like Pavlik?

Answer 1

i hope so, kelly would need to move up in weight though.  but if they want to make more money, they should fight in wales where joe can command up to about 60.000 fans to come and watch.  kelly isn't much of a draw yet, and joe is quite unknown ouside of the u.s.

Answer 2

I don't think it will happen because Calzaghe has a SERIOUS chance of losing. Unlike Hopkins-43, Pavlik-26 is much younger and has far superior power over Calzaghe. I mean of all the fighters Calzaghe could have fought he chose the 43 old man who is closing the end of his career. After this fight i don't believe Calzaghe will fight any other big time american fighters, but I hope he proves me wrong.

Answer 3

First of all, I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with the guy that posted above saying how Hopkins will be Calzaghe's first real test. Hopkins is 43, too old, too slow, and doesn't have devastating power. Let's not forget he's a middlweight that skipped a weightclass to go up to light heavy, while Calzaghe, who is faster, has better footwork, and can adjust to his opponent's a lot easier, has fought at super middle his entire career and light heavy will suit him well. It's gonna be an interesting fight, but I think Calzaghe pulls of the W.

I also guess he's forgetting that when Calzaghe beat the snot out of Lacy, Lacy was considered one of the best in the division. Kessler was also considered a top talent, and still is.

Going on to your question...I doubt that this fight would happen, mainly because it would mean that Pavlik would have to vacate his title and move up and because Calzaghe would have to come down a weight class after this fight. Also, I don't think Pavlik's handlers want to take a real risk at Pavlik suffering his first loss, and I don't think Calzaghe wants to risk losing for the first time just as he's about to go out of the game.

If the fight did happen, I picture it at a catchweight of about 166 pounds. Calzaghe would use his speed, footwork, and slapping punches to outhustle Pavlik en route to a decision victory. The only way I see Pavlik winning is if he betters his handspeed and can somehow land that right.

I'd rather watch Pavlik fight Abraham.

Answer 4

JOE CALZAGHE SUCKS!

Answer 5

Kelly Pavlik is the middleweight champion of the world, not an opponent.  Calzaghe is questionable against a 43 year old former champion, Joe has never really been tested and outside of Kessler, never actually fought a young prime top ten contender.  If Calzaghe survives Hopkins, maybe Pavlik will consider giving Joe a shot, but Calzaghe would have to drop 15-20 lbs to get down to the middleweight limit for it to even be a possibility.  Calzaghe is 36 years old and has never really been tested by world class competition, Saturday is Joe's graduation to the big leagues.  If he beats Hopkins, even a 43 year old Hopkins, then the last of Joe's critics will at the very least be less vocal.  Until then, Joe Calzaghe, undefeated European star, is still at best questionable.

Pavlik has proven over his last 4 or 5 fights that he is a legitimate world class champion.  Calzaghe has yet to do this outside Europe, this Saturday will be Joe's first fight in America.  It means more if Joe loses than if he wins, in fact Joe is expected to win.  If Hopkins beats Calzaghe, the damage to Joe's legacy will be all but irreparable.  Claiming Pavlik is a potential opponent for Joe is premature, insulting and demeaning to Pavlik's accomplishments.  Clearly Pavlik has done much more, a lot faster than Calzaghe, and Calzaghe is the "opponent" in the Hopkins fight.  Joe would also be the "opponent" if Pavlik gave HIM a title shot.

Answer 6

q uite possibly but i think more likely is Roy Jones

Answer 7

I'm not sure if the matchup is right for Calzaghe:

1. he may have to fly again (so scary);

2. Pavlik is an excellent fighter right around the same weight-class;

3. Pavlik is not 43;

4. Pavlik BEAT Taylor;

5. Pavlik is in his prime and a legitimate pound for pound guy...

I don't know, I guess its just another casualty of wrong place, wrong time...I mean it would be great if Pavlik were an unproven guy like Lacy or Kessler, or an 43 year old with a 2-2 record over his last 4 fights then things may be different...but I'm sure that if Calzaghe wins saturday he and his crazy fans will feel his legacy is more than cemented with 3 such sterling victories to hang his entire career's reputation on - he doesn't need the hassle of actually fighting a legitimate top guy during his undefeated streak.

Answer 8

I saw an interview where he said if he wins he would like to fight Jones or Pavlik

Answer 9

I really don't see Calzaghe and Pavlik getting into the ring in the near future, assuming Joe gets by Hopkins. I think Pavlik is comfortable at middleweight for the moment and with Calzaghe moving up to light heavyweight, I can't see him going back down anytime soon. Though it would be a fight that I would love to see, if Calzaghe got by Hopkins, I think Joe would probably seek another light heavyweight titlist or top contender.