29.03.08 – by James Slater: Joe Calzaghe, who boxes his light-heavyweight debut in less than a month’s time, has made it clear his days as a super-middleweight are pretty much over. With just one possible concession. In a recent interview with Setanta Sports, the unbeaten Welshman stated that a super fight with the also unbeaten Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik is the only fight out there that would make him want to reduce back down to 168 pounds. Of course, making such a fight would mean that the big punching Pavlik would have to move up from 160, but in time the reigning WBC and WBO middleweight king would more than likely want to do so anyway..
Therefore, should Calzaghe get past Bernard Hopkins on April 19th (and even if he doesn’t, for that matter) a mega Calzaghe-Pavlik clash could well be upon us in the coming months. Now doesn’t the idea of that fight get the pulses racing!
These are the type of match-ups that help make boxing the great sport it is: two unbeaten, top of their game and exciting warriors meeting head-to-head at an arena near you. Who doesn’t want the fight to come off? Not too many fans would be against it happening, that’s for sure.
“I’m probably finished with [boxing at] super-middleweight,” Calzaghe told Setanta. “I’m still the super-middleweight champion of the world, but realistically, the only fight I’d consider coming back down for would be one against Kelly Pavlik.” The Welshman added.
Joe, it seems, realises how good and how popular the Youngstown fighter is. Indeed, it is a great credit to Pavlik that a fight with he and he alone is the sole challenge out there in his old weight class that Calzaghe can get himself motivated for. To bulk up to a new poundage takes some work. To be willing to work equally hard to shed that added weight simply because the thought of a fight with one guy in particular so thrills you means that guy must be someone special. Well, special Kelly Pavlik definitely is. Joe knows this and wants to fight him. Let’s all hope both men remain unbeaten and keep the prospect of a Pavlik-Calzaghe showdown as appealing as possible.
The best 168 pounder in the world, as proven Vs. the best 160 pounder in the world, as proven. What’s not to get excited about!