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Joe Calzaghe, “The
Italian Dragon” all smoke, no fire...By
Mike Cassell “The Philadelphia Boxing Report”
(DEC 20) Philadelphia -
You know the old saying,
you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him get in the boat,
and come to America to face real competition. I really have a hard time
with fighters like Joe Calzaghe 42 – 0 (31-KO’s), who claim to be
the best, yet in over forty professional fights, they have yet to step
on American soil, to face the best. I have absolutely no problem,
agreeing that the Heavyweight division in America is in something of a
sad state, however, the lower weight classes are brimming with talent,
and the best fighters fight here.
Calzaghe fought, and destroyed, American hopeful Jeff
Lacey. I gave him a tremendous amount of credit for taking that fight,
and for beating him soundly, but Lacey was hardly a “proven” champion.
If Calzaghe would have faced Glen Johnson in 2006, as he was supposed
to, I believe he would have lost. Lets take a look at least three
fighters, I am sure could also beat him.
1. Ronald “Winky” Wright – Winky is a skilled veteran,
and a proven Champion, who would out hit, and out box Calzaghe easily.
2. Jermain Taylor – Taylor would be able to use his brute
strength, and granite chin, to frustrate Calzaghe into throwing less
punches, and covering up.
3. Bernard Hopkins – Even at Bernard’s ripe old age of
42, he would defeat Calzaghe with his superior ring generalship, and his
gritty fight style on the inside.
All fighters are available, and ready, but whom does he
choose to fight? Yes, that guy who lost on “The Contender”,
Peter Manfredo Jr.
The same guy, who lost to Sergio Mora, not once, but twice. This is a
paragraph from Calzaghe’s website.
“The Americans
thought Joe was washed up and his WBO title was ready for the taking.
They could not have been more wrong, Jeff Lacey was given a 12 round
beating during which Joe threw and landed over 1,000 punches.”
For the record, how can you be washed up, when you
haven’t really gotten dirty yet? Why was it all right to bash Roy Jones
Jr., and Floyd Mayweather Jr., for not fighting the best, but for some
reason, we have to tip toe around Calzaghe, like he is some kind boxing
god. Is it a race thing? I do know, but I will tell you this. Until
Calzaghe comes to America, and fights real competition on our soil, he
will never be anything but an overpriced Prince Naseem Hamed. Moreover,
we all know what happened to the sweet prince, once he fought real
competition. |
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