Firstly, I have to say that Joe Calzaghe was awesome on Saturday night. There was just that first minute of the fight, when I think we all got a bit worried. He lost a bit of concentration. It was more like a forearm shot, but he walked straight onto it he didn’t even seem to move his head.
I think he was just a bit over-excited, but the great thing about Joe is his recovery powers. It didn’t hurt him. He got hit with the forearm, but he just got up and put on a dazzling display. He has no fear.
Get your hands up
Then there was the showboating that came a bit later. At the time I was screaming “Joe, get your hands up, stop showboating!” Someone like Jones can knock you out with one punch, so we didn’t need as much of the dancing, but Joe was obviously very comfortable in what he was doing, and he came through in the end.
It was only Joe’s second fight in America, and a lot of people were tipping Jones to win, but Calzaghe totally outclassed him. It could even be said that this was one of Joe’s best fights yet.
Now it just remains to be seen whether he’ll be hanging his gloves up for good. Some will say “why not get out now?” Forty six straight wins! It’s a phenomenal record and he’s left a great legacy, but I’ve got a feeling you might see him at the millennium stadium next Spring.
It won’t be about the money, I think it’s more of a pride thing with Joe. Of course the money helps, but how much money do you actually need? He might want a homecoming, but if he did call it a day now he can relax in the knowledge that he’s had a great career.
Re-match clause
There was a rematch clause in the contract for the fight with Roy Jones, but Jones didn’t give the game away too much after the fight. But Joe totally outclassed Jones so I don’t know how much that one would sell. Then you’ve also got the wiley old Bernard Hopkins who has come back with a massive win against Pavlik, so there’s a few in the mix if Joe were to take the option of another fight, but I can only really see him going for Jones again or maybe Kessler.
I’m also looking forward to seeing David Haye take on Monte Barrett in his first fight as a heavyweight this weekend. He’ll be looking to make some big steps forward in that division. Haye is Mr Excitement, so I think he’ll be good for the division.
The fight will be explosive. Barrett is a big puncher himself, so it will be an exciting fight for the fans, but I think Haye will prevail, and he could even be world heavyweight champion of the world next year. I think that because of his speed, his agility and his punching power.
He brings a certain glamour to the sport. He’s a good looking young man, he’s got power in his hands and he talks it like it should be. The heavyweight division is dominated by the Russians these days. We need that British element that we haven’t really had since the days of Lennox Lewis.
Haye might be that man. You know with him that it will usually end in a KO. He will either get knocked out or knock his opponent out, and hopefully it’s the latter on Saturday.
Talk of Klitschko
If he does get through this fight then there’s talk of Klitschko, but I’m not sure he’s ready yet. He needs to grow into the division, with maybe for two or three fights to get used to the heavier weight. However, David is the sort of person that would throw caution to the wind and I’m sure if the opportunity to fight Klitschko came about then he would take it. He’s still relatively young but he doesn’t like hanging about.
I think Haye will beat Audley in the race to challenge for the title of world heavyweight champion of the world. The two could even meet on the way there. They’re good friends, but money talks. It would be a great fight for Great Britain if it happened. It might even be good for it to happen before then in order to get Haye used to the heavier weight, but I think they would only really want to fight for the main prize, and such a fight would suit them both.
Yet another big match for British boxing takes place in two weeks time, when Ricky Hatton takes on Paulie Malignaggi in Vegas.
I spoke to Ricky on the texts recently. He’s enjoying the mountain running in Vegas, something a little different. His training is going well with both the weights and the sparring. He said it’s been a long camp, but an exciting one. He’s never felt so good before a fight, and that Floyd Mayweather Senior is an amazing trainer. He’s gone back to school in a way now with Floyd. He’s got Ricky doing things he hasn’t done for years.
It would be interesting if Hatton gets a rematch with Floyd junior, it would be strange to see the two Mayweathers in opposing corners. Mayweather Senior’s relationship with his son has always been rocky. They haven’t spoken for about 3 years apparently. He used to train his son, and he’s a big part in his success.
I didn’t realise how good a trainer Floyd Senior was until I saw him with my own eyes. His hand speed is still amazing and he’s 60-odd years old! You can tell with some of the stuff he’s got Ricky doing that it’s the same as he’s taught his son.
I think Ricky will win. It’ll be a tough fight as you would expect, but I think Ricky will stop Malignaggi. I’ve never seen Ricky so vibrant before a fight and, if he can perform anywhere near the level shown by Calzaghe on Saturday, he will roll Malignaggi over.