Q&A with Joe Calzaghe - JHF Charity

606v2 Members

We are delighted to announce that as part of our ongoing support of the John Hartson Foundation we have managed to gain access to some of the stars taking part in the upcoming Wales Legends vs England Legends charity football match, to be held at Pride Park on the 8th September 2011 (details here - https://www.606v2.com/t12416-the-john-hartson-trophy-names-revealed).

The match is bringing fans from all over the UK to unite for one night in honour of the work that the John Hartson foundation is doing. If you haven't already donated to this fantastic cause, but would like to do so, please give here - 606v2 JHF Charity Page. Please remember, every donation, whether large or small, helps.

One such star taking part in this event is Joe Calzaghe, an all time great of British boxing, and arguably the greatest Super-Middleweight boxer there has ever been, holding the WBO Super-Middleweight title for over ten years before a late move to Light-Heavyweight, ultimately retiring in February 2009 undefeated with a perfect professional record of 46(32)-0-0.

Spoiler:

I'm sure you will be as pleased as we are that we have managed to secure a Q&A with an absolute legend of British boxing, and I'm certain you will have plenty of questions to put to him about his stellar boxing career, and maybe even his dancing one, too!

Many thanks to Joe for agreeing to take part, and we wish him all the best in the upcoming match, as well as in his future endeavours.

Fire away, ladies and gents, and we will put the best of your questions to Joe.

What do you consider to be the best victory on your record?

Are there any fights that you wish would have happened?

What really happened between you and Warren?

Do you wish you had gone stateside earlier in your career?

Who was the toughest opponent you have faced?

If you could get in the ring with any past fighter, who would it be?

What is your score prediction for the football match?

Do you feel that because he is American and the fight took place in America meant that Jeff Lacy made it to the end of your fight?

What is the strangest training technique you ever tried?

How do you feel you would have fared against the likes of Roy Jones Jr, Bernard Hopkins and James Toney had you met in the late 1990's?

Did you ever consider fighting Carl Froch, or was he really not on your radar at that point in your career, and how would you have seen that fight going?

Derbyblue wrote:Do you feel that because he is American and the fight took place in America meant that Jeff Lacy made it to the end of your fight?

That one took place in Manchester at the M.E.N Arena, mate.

Why didn't the Glen Johnson fight happen?

Did you ever get advise off other trainers?

Do you feel the Roy Jones fight added to your legacy?

Any plans for future duets with your dad?

Fists of Fury wrote:

Derbyblue wrote:Do you feel that because he is American and the fight took place in America meant that Jeff Lacy made it to the end of your fight?

That one took place in Manchester at the M.E.N Arena, mate.

Not actually sure how I managed to miss that as I managed to check wikipedia that I spelt the name right but not check the location.

New question: Do you think that reputation alone kept Jeff Lacy in the ring until the end of your fight?

Will scoring for Wales against England mean more than scoring for the Rest of the World against England?

Got one from Mark Bright on Twitter:

Mark__Bright Mark Bright
@
@606v2sportforum if he could have played any other sport professionally what would it have been & why? Everyspotsman has 1 regret, whats his

How far do you think fellow Welsh fighter Nathan Cleverly can go? In the future does he stand a chance against B-Hop?

You want some!?

Which light heavyweights in history would you most like to face and why?

Been on the sauce JBW?

Do you regret not going to Germany and smacking Ottke about? Even with suspect officiating no way does Ottke last the 12 rounds.

Why didn't you move up to light heavyweight earlier?

What is your father's wisest quote?

Do you regret what you said about RJJ in your autobiography and then proceed to fight him as if it could be deemed a legitimate challenge?

Having been at the Lacy and Kessler fights both were terrific atmospheres and performances, whihc night stands out as the highlight of your career?

How are things going in your legal fights with Frank Warren over the Hopkins money and is there a sense of disappointment such a long relationship ended in acrimony?

Would you have been willing to go over to Germany to fight Ottke, given this would have allowed you to unify the division much earlier and was a fight many, myself included though you would have won pretty comfortably?

No Ordinary Joe, Can I have my money back?

Would you ever think about promoting again and what do you think went wrong the first time?

Do you feel that too many titles are up for grabs and that the lack of competitive fights (people facing their biggest challenges/threats) is ruining the sport?

What do you think is required to improve the popularity of boxing?

why were my questions removed? You've now allowed rowley to think he got the first book put down.

What would be your own P4P top 10 at the current time?

I have said here before that Joe was the nicest famous person I've met,and hope he reads this...Anyway, your Statesides visits being late in your career, was this more down to money issues with various fighters ,or an aversion to travelling by plane(both of which I have heard).
Do you ever regret not pushing your career record to a nice round fifty and 0 ?

How do you rate the current crop of fighters in the s6 and would you have liked to of had a tournament like that to have brought you into the US public eye as it has Carl Froch?

How hard is it for a prime athlete like yourself to keep busy and remain happy now that there is no cause to train?

How much did your damaged hand's hinder you later in your career? Early on we saw you put down fighters like Chris Eubank. Do you think any of your fights would have been easier had you not had so many problems with your hands?

Any plans to get into commentating, very distinguishable voice and wide fanbase?

How do you feel about seeing Bernard Hopkins at 46 yrs old still being such a force in the sport? Just how difficult is it facing the excecutioner?

Great coup for the board this, say what you want about Calzaghe but he was a fantastic talent

Carl Froch v Andre Ward, who's gonna win?

Mayweather or Pacquiao?

What is your take on Olympic style drug testing in boxing?

What was the last album you bought?

What was the last book you read?

What did you find hardest about boxing?

What do you feel was your biggest strength?

A lot of boxers still active between the age of 35-45 state they are at the top of their game and in the best shape of their lives. Would the 35 year old Joe Calzaghe stand a chance against the 25 year old Joe Calzaghe.

Did your handlers ever to your knowledge keep you away from a certain fighter because he was deemed to dangerous?

If you could do it all over again what would you do differently?

Do you understand why some people think Hopkins beat you which their is no shame in or do you think you won that fight clearly?

Did you or your Dad ever think Enzo Mac or Gavin Rees would be World champions?

Were you ever offered the chance to fight for light-heavyweight titles while you were super middleweight champion ? if so why didn't they happen ?

What was your favourite punch you have thrown , and against who ?

Did you ever consider leaving your father and going with another trainer ?

should you of got more credit for your acheivements ?

Who out of the fighters involved in the super 6 do you think would have given you the most trouble in your prime? Had you still been fighting and entered do you think you could win it being as it would have occurred so late in your career?

If you were to compile a super 6 tournament of people you've faced who would make the list? Hardest puncher you've faced? Favourite boxer ever? Current favourite?

When you were a young prospect would you have considered taking part in a prizefighter style of tournament if it was around at the time?

What are your thoughts on the prizefighter concept?

If you had stayed with Frank Warren how did you see the rest of your career panning out?

Who is your favourite member of the beatles?

How much do you think Haye's to hindered him against Wlad?

What was your diet like during training camps and down-time?

Which modern training techniques stand out as being most beneficial to the current crop of boxers?

How would you have fared against John Conteh at Light-Heavyweight?

Scott - I will ask him your question but I am going to remove it from the board in case it puts him off answering any of the questions - it will be asked though.

You've expressed an interest in pursuing a film career, what type of roles would interest you?

Hobo wrote:Scott - I will ask him your question but I am going to remove it from the board in case it puts him off answering any of the questions - it will be asked though.

...aand yet there's no reprieve for my infinite monkey question!

Joe, do you believe modern boxers are generally superior to boxers of days gone by?

If you were matched up with a prime Ezzard Charles, what would be your gameplan to beat him?

Presumably you are still friends with Enzo Maccarinelli? From a professional and personal point of view, how do you feel about him continuing after a series of devastating KO losses?

Joe, you obviously have a very good boxing brain, its clear from watching your fights that you are able to make the necessary adjustments mid fight, clearly demonstrated vs Kessler round 5/6.
Have you ambitions / aspirations as a trainer?

what are your thoughts on enzo still fighting?

who do you think is the best british heavyweight at the moment?

how important do you think the loss column is on a fighters record?

some trainers are very calm, quite and dont talk much between rounds, while others like your dad are very loud, animated and talk alot. which method do you think is the best, and is it the same for every fighter?

If you hadn't have had hand problems (as most remember you being a KO specialist earlier on in your career) do you feel that your natural knockout power would've endeared you to the American public at an earlier stage? Thus opening the door wider for the bigger fighters to come over here/open up headline fights in Vegas at an earlier stage?