Would Calzaghe return for...

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10 million pounds?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh6q5wNkIss

Interesting in this little interview that he says "of course I would". Just for a bit of fun, who could a) generate that sort of purse in a fight with Calzaghe (I suspect no one)? And b) would he be able to beat the opponent at forty years of age?

Lewis barely got past one of those giant Russians whilst still fighting, however am sure at near to 50 year old and after 9 years on a Jamaican beach working on his Stevie Wonder impression he will have no such trouble should he try again.

George Foreman?? The big fat guy who markets grills? Surely not!?

On a serious note, the Foreman comeback was different in a whole host of ways. Foreman retired when he was in his 20s and came back in his late 30s. A big difference from late 40s.

He also must have had 15 or 20 low key fights as he built back towards the title picture. He didnt just return straight into a title match.

Winning the title at 45 was a great accomplishment but it was against a weakish heavyweight all things considered who was well ahead on points at the time. If you look at his overall record and performances in the top end of his comeback its patchy. Losses to Holfield and Morrison and struggles with some fairly average fighters.

Its actually a far cry from a 47 year old Lennox Lewis returning immediately to conquer fighters of the calibre of the Klitschkos.

I have to say Calzaghe (the italian fella born in London) v Ward would be a great fight. Obviously have to be a prime Calzaghe, the won who had got the decisions against Thornberry and Starie.

Steffan wrote:Watch yourself there Super D Boon. You know how defensive they get over their wonderfull Cobra Carl. Funniest one I read was when someone (who I will keep un-named) said that Froch had a better list of opponents since 2000 than Mayweather

I know. I love it how they can't use Froch anymore to bash Calzaghe so use Ward instead.

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:I have to say Calzaghe (the italian fella born in London) v Ward would be a great fight. Obviously have to be a prime Calzaghe, the won who had got the decisions against Thornberry and Starie.

Yes, the same fighter who has a Welsh mother and has lived in Wales all his life. Well, if we're gonna be like that you do at least have your Polish Jew Carl froch to support!

Super D Boon wrote:

J.Benson II wrote:

Super D Boon wrote:

J.Benson II wrote:

Super D Boon wrote:

J.Benson II wrote:

Super D Boon wrote:

J.Benson II wrote:

Super D Boon wrote:

Herman Jaggery wrote:
I happen to believe that any version of Ward beats any version of Calzaghe. Same Dawson. But I'd love to see Calzaghe prove me wrong. Who wouldn't want to see him fight Ward? Dawson a light heavy, so don't really need to see that one.

Ha ha I suppose you "happen to believe" that because Ward made a clown out of your hero Carl Froch eh?

Too be fair, I'd agree with Herman on that one. I'd favour Ward over Calzaghe as I think his inside game and nullifying style would counter Calzaghe's workrate. Could see Ward taking a competitive decision in a fairly tedious fight.
I tend to think that Calzaghe was fairly fortunate that a fighter of Ward's quality wasnt around at SMW when he was active. After all, we all saw Ward making mince-meat of Kessler, who was considered to be Calzaghe's best and toughest opponent at that weight.
However, I'd certainly take Calzaghe over Dawson though.

In the same way you could say Ward was lucky that a fighter of Calzaghe's calibre was already retired. Who has Ward beaten that is anything like as good as Calzaghe...um..........?

The same could be said vice versa. Besides, I'm not sure wheather Calzaghe would have even faced Ward had they both been active at the same time.

You're right. Ward would have wanted no part of him. Afterall, he wants no part of Bute.

Yeah, Ward is clearly a man who avoids top competition

Yeah like Bute offered Ward a fight in New York and Ward said No. Ward has not beaten a top level fighter that hasn't already been found out. I suppose that's why he's trying to drain a light heavyweight.

You're not Welsh by any chance?

If Bute clocks Froch than I'm sure Ward will face him. It will be the biggest, most lucrative fight out there for him. Either way, I can't see Ward spending the next 10 years in the wilderness fighting opponents that are several levels below him.

As for Ward not beating a fighter that already hasnt been found out. What you're basically saying is that any fighter that has lost a fight has been "found out" and therefore any subsequent victory over that fighter is insignificant?

You're not English by any chance are you?

Well we'll have to see if Ward faces Bute or not, but with Bute offering Ward the chance of another belt and a fight in his home country, Ward passes over on it. Strange decision that.

Well, it's the truth about Ward so far in that a broken-hearted Kessler is his best win, a damaged Abraham and a battle weary Froch are all also good wins but a win over Bute will launch him into territory where no one can deny his greatness.

And as for 10 years in the wilderness for Calzaghe that may well be the case as the division was partly being held to ransom by a certain Sven Ottke at the time and the was a general dearth of talent in a division which has until recently been dominated in the main by European fighters. Despite that, Calzaghe will always be better than Carl Froch.

Broken-hearted Kessler? Awwww. What happened? Did his childhood sweetheart dump him before the fight?

Look, I don't blame Calzaghe for not securing a fight with Ottke.

However, what I do believe is that due to the Ottke situation and the lack of talent at SMW, he should have moved up to LH alot earlier and chased the bigger names rather than doing what he did.

For me, it shows a serious lack of ambition and self-belief.

If Calzaghe was just your average Euro level operator than I'd be more understanding, but he wasnt. Calzaghe was a genuine talent which made his career choices even more unforgiven.

Anway, I agree with your last point. Calzaghe was alot better than Froch. I've never said that he wasnt.

Haha it doesn't take much to spark a reaction

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:Haha it doesn't take much to spark a reaction

Im sure it wouldnt take much for SDB to spark you out either

manos de piedra wrote:George Foreman?? The big fat guy who markets grills? Surely not!?

On a serious note, the Foreman comeback was different in a whole host of ways. Foreman retired when he was in his 20s and came back in his late 30s. A big difference from late 40s.

He also must have had 15 or 20 low key fights as he built back towards the title picture. He didnt just return straight into a title match.

Winning the title at 45 was a great accomplishment but it was against a weakish heavyweight all things considered who was well ahead on points at the time. If you look at his overall record and performances in the top end of his comeback its patchy. Losses to Holfield and Morrison and struggles with some fairly average fighters.

Its actually a far cry from a 47 year old Lennox Lewis returning immediately to conquer fighters of the calibre of the Klitschkos.

I believe you are missing the point, which is that class is permanent. Foreman showed the world this when he came back and won the heavyweight championship at 45. Lewis has more talent than all the heavyweights out there combined at the moment. There nothing stopping him emulating what Foreman did other than motivation or possibly needing the money. But there is no need to comeback, he has nothing to prove and should enjoy his retirement.

I believe there is a certain timezone for fighters to return before they lose their ability to keep their ability to be dedicated again and even more problematic they forget what it's like to take punches......Lose that body hardening you get (If you pardon the expression)!!

Calzaghe has become too domesticated.........

Forget about him coming back......

Gordy wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:George Foreman?? The big fat guy who markets grills? Surely not!?

On a serious note, the Foreman comeback was different in a whole host of ways. Foreman retired when he was in his 20s and came back in his late 30s. A big difference from late 40s.

He also must have had 15 or 20 low key fights as he built back towards the title picture. He didnt just return straight into a title match.

Winning the title at 45 was a great accomplishment but it was against a weakish heavyweight all things considered who was well ahead on points at the time. If you look at his overall record and performances in the top end of his comeback its patchy. Losses to Holfield and Morrison and struggles with some fairly average fighters.

Its actually a far cry from a 47 year old Lennox Lewis returning immediately to conquer fighters of the calibre of the Klitschkos.

I believe you are missing the point, which is that class is permanent. Foreman showed the world this when he came back and won the heavyweight championship at 45. Lewis has more talent than all the heavyweights out there combined at the moment. There nothing stopping him emulating what Foreman did other than motivation or possibly needing the money. But there is no need to comeback, he has nothing to prove and should enjoy his retirement.

Im not sure I am missing the point. "Class is permanent"? It isnt if you are talking about a 47 year old, decade long retired, out of condition boxer no matter how good he was in his prime.

Ive outlined the reasons above why I think the circumstances are different, very different and also while Foremans comeback was impressive in the context of his age he was clearly an obviously lesser fighter than he had been first time around.

Had Lewis retired and come back in the same circumstances and fashion Foreman did, then I would give him a decent chance of recapturing a title off an averange heavyweight like Moorer. But to try, at the age of 47 to mount a comeback and topple one of two very good heavyweights is extremelly implausable in my opinion.

wow Steffan you really are bitter on the Froch/Calzaghe issue.

And yet you have no leg to stand on as Calzaghe ran away just before the super six!

He also lost to old man Hopkins despite bhop holding back

Josiah Maiestas wrote:wow Steffan you really are bitter on the Froch/Calzaghe issue.

And yet you have no leg to stand on as Calzaghe ran away just before the super six!

He also lost to old man Hopkins despite bhop holding back

Nice try pal

Steffan wrote:

Josiah Maiestas wrote:wow Steffan you really are bitter on the Froch/Calzaghe issue.

And yet you have no leg to stand on as Calzaghe ran away just before the super six!

He also lost to old man Hopkins despite bhop holding back

Nice try pal

Mate you know I'm not a fan of either so I'm sort of impartial. Calzaghe would win comfortably. He would have boxed Frochs ears off.