Calzaghe - Woods "as good as done"?

[rooq]

from britishboxing . net

IBF light-heavyweight champion Clinton Woods has sensationally claimed that a super fight between himself and super-middleweight supremo Joe Calzaghe is as good as a done deal that will be announced some time next week.

"It's going to happen, I know it's going to happen," said Sheffield man Woods.

"The promoters are getting together and we should know something by the end of next week.

"It's the fight British fans are looking forward to. England vs Wales!"
Woods, speaking at the English Institute of Sport in his home city made the shock announcement while publicising the fantastic facilities at the venue where the GB boxing team is starting its preparations for the Beijing Olympics next year.

British fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of seeing Joe and Clinton locking horns at light-heavyweight. The British boxing scene just keeps getting hotter and hotter.

Also at the English institute today was WBC light-welterweight champion Junior Witter and his great friend former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson. The godfather of the Sheffield fight scene, Brendan Ingle was also on hand to pass on his pearls of wisdom to the amateur team that is buzzing on the back of the success of Frankie Gavin's amazing victory at the recent World championships in Chicago.
Woods commented, “These facilities are like Buckingham Palace compared to where I have trained in the past, this place gives the team a great chance of success.” These sentiments were echoed by the other world champions on hand who gladly gave up their time to support the team that is probably going to be one of the best prepared teams we have ever sent to the Olympics.

[rooq]

ah well. i'm not that bothered about this fight, but if it gets joe the ibf belt, maybe he can find a suitable american opponent for a "superfight" at lhw?

[SevenSamurai]

Its a good stepping stone for Calzaghe at this weight. The fight itself will be a massacre. I predict this does not go more than 8 rounds, with Calzaghe holding his head high after a complete domination.

[Bluenose]

Any idea if this fight will be in Cardiff if it gets the go ahead?

[pecks]

Its a good stepping stone for Calzaghe at this weight. The fight itself will be a massacre. I predict this does not go more than 8 rounds, with Calzaghe holding his head high after a complete domination.Agreed about it being a good stepping stone. I think the fight itself will be a bit closer, although Calzaghe will win it in good fashion.

I'd love to see him fight Dawson, but Dawson isn't an established big name yet, and I'm suspecting he'll target Hopkins. Less risk, more reward in that fight I think, and it'll probably make more coin as well.

[pecks]

I couldn't give a shit about Dawson. I don't see any upside to joe taking it except to keep a few people in a minority happy.Thats true, he hasn't established a good enough rep yet to make it worthwhile for joe to choose him as one of his last few fights. But he would be a much harder opponent than Woods.

[Taffyy]

Woods is a good solid fighter & a handfull , Granted he's not a name to propel Joe into the Yanks view of a "great" but its a belt & then the tempter for a big name fight to which Joe can end his career on......Pavlik/Dawson or even Hopkins as a last hurrah for both.

[Max Molyneux]

Woods Is as good as arse whooped If It's done.

[Amsterdam]

This is what Joe needs, a belt to negotiate his room into the top LHW's.

Realistically, I am hoping Joe feels excellent at his new weight and gives us a few more fights than expected because of that. Maybe his speed will be more apparant at LHW and the extra weight will be less harsch on him to make, thus giving him a refreshed feeling.

A longtime Calzaghe fan can only hope. Joe's great for boxing.

[TFFP]

This is what Joe needs, a belt to negotiate his room into the top LHW's.

Realistically, I am hoping Joe feels excellent at his new weight and gives us a few more fights than expected because of that. Maybe his speed will be more apparant at LHW and the extra weight will be less harsch on him to make, thus giving him a refreshed feeling.

A longtime Calzaghe fan can only hope. Joe's great for boxing.

Aye

I have a feeling Joe will be even better at LHW at this stage of his career. He seems to think so

[Dunky McCafferty]

If the fight comes off, I have to take my hat off to Woods & admit I was wrong about him, as I always said here Woods would never fight Calzaghe as he was frightened of the welshman. I still think he is right enough, but its amazing how a few more 000's on a paycheque can entice almost anyone, frightened or not!

So Clinton Woods calls it 'England vv Wales'...

Im just wondering how the english Calzaghe fans feel bout this fight, will you all still be cheering on Joe? Or will there be divided loyalties? An interesting question, even if I do say so myself:D

[rooq]

Im just wondering how the english Calzaghe fans feel bout this fight, will you all still be cheering on Joe? Or will there be divided loyalties? An interesting question, even if I do say so myself:D

i don't really support boxers depending on what part of the uk they come from. i'll be supporting joe in this one just in the hope that it'll lead to a big fight later in the year.

[Boro chris]

If the fight comes off, I have to take my hat off to Woods & admit I was wrong about him, as I always said here Woods would never fight Calzaghe as he was frightened of the welshman. I still think he is right enough, but its amazing how a few more 000's on a paycheque can entice almost anyone, frightened or not!

So Clinton Woods calls it 'England vv Wales'...

Im just wondering how the english Calzaghe fans feel bout this fight, will you all still be cheering on Joe? Or will there be divided loyalties? An interesting question, even if I do say so myself:D

I'm English but will be supporting Calzaghe. He's got a chance to make quite a legacy for himself in his next two fights.
Also I prefer his fighting style.

[safe_pa]

It shouldn't be classed as England V Wales it should be Champion V Champion. This isn't Rugby or Football so we have no need for the national pride IMO. If the fight happens respect to Clinton for taking it.

[Decebal]

It shouldn't be classed as England V Wales it should be Champion V Champion. This isn't Rugby or Football so we have no need for the national pride IMO. If the fight happens respect to Clinton for taking it.

:good

[Dunky McCafferty]

I'm English but will be supporting Calzaghe. He's got a chance to make quite a legacy for himself in his next two fights.
Also I prefer his fighting style.

So if big Clint lands clean on Calzaghe & Joes legs dip you wont be shouting at the TV "Go on my son!"???

I dont believe you!

Come on, some of you englanders must admit that you will want to see Woods win, after all, hes english & theres no more patriotic nation than the english, as much as it pains me to say it. The one thing that I admire about the english is how they stick together when it comes to their own, in ANY sport. So I dont buy the "I will be cheering Joe against Woods" comments.

No way. I know the english too well.

[stuey]

woods is better than this thread gives him credit for, he will present joe with a fight, dont worry about that

[Max Molyneux]

So if big Clint lands clean on Calzaghe & Joes legs dip you wont be shouting at the TV "Go on my son!"???

I dont believe you!

Come on, some of you englanders must admit that you will want to see Woods win, after all, hes english & theres no more patriotic nation than the english, as much as it pains me to say it. The one thing that I admire about the english is how they stick together when it comes to their own, in ANY sport. So I dont buy the "I will be cheering Joe against Woods" comments.

No way. I know the english too well.

Calzaghe Is my favourite fighter though so I will be cheering him although I like Woods.

[the beaver]

This is a good fight for both.

Good payday for Woods and the chance to beat a UK legend, and a good stepping stone for Calzaghe and a belt to neg at LHW in his nxt fight in the states.

[Strike]

I will support Calzaghe. Basically if Calzaghe lost all the yanks would say he was a shit Euro bum exposed for what he is, as Woods was a nobody who got raped by RJJ etc etc.

Woods is not good enough to make a name as one of the best, Calzaghe has a chance to beat Hopkins or Dawson etc and shut up the delusional yanks talking crap about British boxers.

[Boro chris]

So if big Clint lands clean on Calzaghe & Joes legs dip you wont be shouting at the TV "Go on my son!"???

I dont believe you!

Come on, some of you englanders must admit that you will want to see Woods win, after all, hes english & theres no more patriotic nation than the english, as much as it pains me to say it. The one thing that I admire about the english is how they stick together when it comes to their own, in ANY sport. So I dont buy the "I will be cheering Joe against Woods" comments.

No way. I know the english too well.

Absolute crap! You don't know me from Adam mate so don't lump me in as part of some congealed english mass.
You say you know the english too well! What are we some single entity!?
As for Calzaghe, well I've been a fan since he beat Eubank when I recognised something special about this 'British' fighter!
If I state an opinion it will always be an honest one.

[achillesthegreat]

Quality fighter. Calzaghe has dominated 168 and his real biggest rival is a middleweight who is tied up in a rematch.

If Joe wants to go to 175 I think Woods is a good bet. He is as strong a titlist as any.

Joe can get a lot from this fight. Woods will come to fight him too. Woods will be valiant but he can't beat Joe. He'll put up a good scrap but he'll be overmatched.

Joe can then look to one or two more fights with the likes of Tarver, Hopkins etc Not sure if they'll want it though.

[robpalmer135]

Calzaghe said he wont be fighting woods as the Yanks dotn give a shit about him.

I think he will wait as long as he has to for Hopkins or Taylor vs Pavlik winner!

[Decebal]

Why would Calzaghe want to fight Tarver? He wouldn't even get the respect he would get for fighting Hopkins. Anyway, I don't think there would be much money in it at all. The Woods fight is much more likely than the Tarver fight, in my opinion.

[Strike]

The best fights for Calzaghes legacy and for the US recognition are Hopkins, Dawson and Pavlik.
Pavlik would be perfect, the yanks think he is the next coming and about 70% of them predict a brutal KO win for Pavlik, and it would be a piece of piss for Joe. Lacy style.

Dawson is a much toughter prospect due to actually having speed and footwork, but he can be hurt and Hopkins would be easily outworked and outsped.

Those 3 then retire.

[Decebal]

Hopkins, Dawson and Pavlik, like the previous poster said. But can Calzaghe stretch to three? An will any of these three face him? I don't think Dawson and Pavlik would and it looks like Hopkins might not either.

[robpalmer135]

Dawson and Pavlik are the same as Lacy, overhyped Yanks. Dawson doesnt even fight on HBO.

I think Taylor will beat Pavlik 2nd time round.

[Strike]

Dawson and Pavlik are the same as Lacy, overhyped Yanks. Dawson doesnt even fight on HBO.

I think Taylor will beat Pavlik 2nd time round.

Dawson looks pretty good to me. I don't think he is anything like Lacy, he has genuine speed and throws decent combinations, he goes to the body and throws the lead uppercut (from what I have seen) with a decent amount of disguise. And he is not flat footed.

He is being overrated because of course the US contingent are making out he is incredible based on beating the poldder Adamek and old man Harding.

[Decebal]

He is being overrated because of course the US contingent are making out he is incredible based on beating the poldder Adamek and old man Harding.

Dawson is not being overrated in the US one bit! In fact, no one has heard of him in the US...when they talk about the best at 175, the Americans talk Hopkins, Tarver and Johnson...

Americans generally only overrate have-been NAMES or young fighters who beat one of their stars - like Pavlik...had Pavlik beaten a fighter as good as Taylor who wasn't American...they wouldn't have taken that much of an interest, generally.

This is why Dawson would rather beat shot Tarver than hungry live prime Diaconu - Diaconu who?? He looks a bit like Pavlik...but he ain't American, is he?

[Decebal]

Which is why we should ignore all american posters henceforth when they claim that someone is a bum for no other reason than they're from Europe.

.

None of the very good American posters on this site would claim anything close to that...it doesn't really apply...and yes, many of the very best of the very best posters on this site are American...:yep

[Decebal]

But I am getting angry at the constant "Joe's ducking Hopkins because he's fighting Woods" stuff that comes up.

Well...you've got to let people have their fun!;)

[rooq]

Come on, some of you englanders must admit that you will want to see Woods win, after all, hes english & theres no more patriotic nation than the english, as much as it pains me to say it. The one thing that I admire about the english is how they stick together when it comes to their own, in ANY sport. So I dont buy the "I will be cheering Joe against Woods" comments.

No way. I know the english too well.

nah.

tbh i think this applies more to team sports at national level. obviously if it was wales vs england football or rugby, the english would be supporting england. i don't know anyone who would support woods against calzaghe just because he's english, and thats not an exageration.

[Words]

This is a great fight, and its only being derided because the Americans only saw Clinton Woods get murdered by Roy Jones.

The Woods - Johnson trilogy is one of the most under-appreciated trilogies of modern boxing, they were three very even, exciting and to-and-fro contests. Clinton Woods has a massive heart and plenty of world-class experience. He's also got fast hands and an iron chin. Of all the light-heavyweight champions at the moment, Woods is the one who's been at the top of division longest, even if he isn't a better fighter than Hopkins and Dawson (which is debatable btw). Its a good fight for Joe, and for Clinton. Woods is just as tough an opponent as Mikkel Kessler, infact Woods is probably tougher just due to his greater experience.

I would expect this to be a tough and exciting 12 rounder which Calzaghe will win 8-4 rather like the Kessler fight. Dont ignore it coz it could be a great fight. It'd be more entertaining that Hopkins, thats for sure.

[Danny]

Calzaghe will outbox Woods if the fight happens. In my view, it does little, if anything at all, for Calzaghe in terms of legacy, beating the best, etc.

Woods has done well for himself, but he's not that special type of boxer Calzaghe is. Joe would throw & land much more punches than Woods.

I'd rather see Calzaghe-Dawson or Calzaghe-Pavlik for that matter. Dawson is young, hungry, has solid skills, etc.

Me thinks Dawson-Calzaghe would be a good fight! Agree or not?

[Fat Tony]

Calzaghe TKO9 Wright

Seems like Joe will retire without having faced a single LHW younger than 43.