can't wait for kessler and calzhage

Anthony Mundine will have to wait until at least next year to get his rematch with Mikkel Kessler, with the Dane agreeing to fight Joe Calzaghe in a unification bout between super middleweight boxing's two unbeaten superstars.

WBO champion Calzaghe, boxing's longest reigning world champion, will have home advantage for the November 3 clash at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

The 35-year-old Welshman, (43-0, 32 KOs), has defended the title 20 times in 10 years, but faces a big test against Kessler, 28, (39-0, 29 KOS), who outpointed Mundine in a WBA title defence in June 2005 in Sydney.

Kessler was upgraded to the status of WBA super champion after he took the WBC title last October from Germany's Markus Beyer, who twice defeated Australia's Danny Green in world title bouts.

That left the regular WBA title vacant and Mundine won it in impressive fashion, with a ninth round stoppage of fellow Australian Sam Soliman in Sydney last March.

Provided he holds on to his title, Mundine is entitled to challenge Kessler within 18 months of the Dane winning the Super belt, which he did last October.

It is the second time in Mundine's career he has held the regular version of the WBA title behind a Super champion.

The first time was back in 2003-04 behind Sven Ottke, who retired before giving Mundine a chance to avenge his knockout loss to the German in an IBF world title fight in December 2001 in Dortmund.

Mundine subsequently lost his title in May 2004 to Puerto Rican Manny Siaca, who was dethroned in his first defence by Kessler six months later.

After sweeping aside Soliman, Mundine, 32, (29-3, 22 KOs) easily outpointed overmatched Argentinean Pablo Nievas on the Gold Coast last month.

The Australian has frequently talked about establishing himself as the top fighter in the division, but would have to defeat the winner of the Calzaghe-Kessler contest to achieve that aim.

Calzaghe, who briefly held and then vacated the IBF title, started his WBO reign in October 1997.

His lengthy list of victims in world title defences includes two Australians, Rick Thornberry and Sakio Bika, who dropped points decisions to the skilled southpaw in 1999 and 2006 respectively.

A win in November will allow Calzaghe to match Ottke's record of 21 successful defences and elevate the Briton to fourth on the all-time list for consecutive title defences.

Kessler has defended his WBA title four times and his IBF crown once.

Promoter Frank Warren anticipates a crowd of around 60,000 for the November bout, which he claims is "probably the biggest fight in the world at the moment.

"I can't think of two guys who are undefeated and both at the top of the game who are scheduled to meet each other," Warren said.

"The fight is very evenly balanced. I'm excited about it and think it's the best fight I've put together in the last 20 years - there's no doubt about it."

I don't think Mundine has a hope in hell against either Kessler or Calzhage.

I hope Danny Green can get his career back on track, it would be good to see him get another shot after that Beyer fiasco all those years ago.

Did you see Vic Darchinyan get KOed the other day? That must have been a big upset. I think he was undefeated before that. I hope he can bounce back.

I'm an unashamed fan of Joe and hopefully Nov 3 will cement his place in boxing history. Calzaghe's destruction of Lacy was simply awesome and his ability to turn it on against more fancied opponents, to win convincingly, bodes well for a clash against Kessler. Should be a cracker. Main Event better have it on.

60,000 mad Welshmen watching on should tip it in Calzaghe's favour.

Choc will have his work cut out against either of them, imho. To say the least.

A golden age for British boxing with the Hitman on fire and Khan progressing nicely. If only Scott Harrison could lay off the ale and bar room brawls.

What about Vargas vs Mayorga? Thats got my interest...

Check out Vargas' eye after the Mosely bout.

Boxing in the heavier divisions doesn't typically interest me, but I'll tune into this bout cos of he big-name factor

It looks like both a PBF - Hatton match-up is on the cards .....

Kessler v Calzaghe

FUCK YEH! De La Hoya v Mayweather can take a back seat to this shit

Although Mayweather v Hatton would be

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandmaster

Did you see Vic Darchinyan get KOed the other day? That must have been a big upset. I think he was undefeated before that. I hope he can bounce back.

it was a "lucky" KO

lucky in the way that Vic was being wayyyyy too cocky and just winding up to nail the guy. left himself wayyyyyy open and got caned by a very solid left

Good win by Danny Green last night.

Who did Danny Green box against ?

Ottis Griffin, the bloke who won Oscar De La Hoya's reality TV show, lol.

3rd round TKO. Probably not much of an opponent, but still, a good win.

Hopefully he can get another shot at a world title. Not sure if he can do it, but I'd still like to see him get a shot.

I still remember that first Beyer fight like it was yesterday. What an absolutely travesty of justice that was.

Pretty much ruined his career.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandmaster

I still remember that first Beyer fight like it was yesterday. What an absolutely travesty of justice that was.

Pretty much ruined his career.

yep

it affected his mentality so much

Hope he gets his mind right and concentrates on another title shot.

What about the Bernard Hopkins vs Winky Wright fight on this weekend ? What you thoughts on that fight ?

I don't know about Hopkins/Wright, but I love this excerpt from an interview with Hopkins.

"One, if you want to be champion, you have to be willing to sacrifice everything. Anything that interferes with your goals, and that includes sex, has to go. Or, number two, you can have your testicles out. Have your nuts removed. You'll have to learn that there are going to be women around, women who, before a fight, will say, "Oh, wow, look at your big muscles." I tell them the same thing: Just say no."

hahaha what a funny kient.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/blo...559961730.html

Amen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by weekender

Amen.

oath

Mundine will be soooooo cut about this!

p.s. Kessler is a bloody good bet at $2.35 (Calzaghe $1.58 )

Calzaghe: "Mundine isn't really a world champion anyway, not if you don't take all the bullshit politics and super champion stuff seriously."

A sad reflection on boxing nowadays with the multitude of world champions, intermediate belts and titles and other shizzle. Every man who gets in the ring appears to be two fights from a "world" title shot.

As for Kessler at $2.35..? It's a big ask to go to Cardiff and fight what appears to be a psyched Calzaghe. It's only July FFS, calm it.

$1.58 looks good value: when the odds by knockout come up, steam in.

^^ you'd have to assume either way it'll be a knock out. Neither man will leave anything in the tank...

Well said Mr Calzaghe.

I think chocca has the tools to beat kessler. Its just a matter of him pulling it off.

Australia's WBO interim lightweight boxing champion Michael Katsidis remained calm during a fiery and protracted weigh-in on the eve of his title defence against Filipino Czar Amonsot in Las Vegas.

Queenslander Katsidis was forced to wait his turn on the scales after a scuffle developed between the two main event fighters, light heavyweights Bernard Hopkins and Ronald "Winky" Wright.

The champion's camp moved him away from the massive crowd and the brouhaha, which started when Hopkins shoved Wright and both entourages got involved.

"They started whacking each other and there was an all in brawl," Katsidis' trainer Brendon Smith said.

"They were stampeding the place. We got Mick out of there and sat back and had to wait and that delayed them getting on the scales for a good 45 minutes.

"We really had to protect him. There were people coming through everywhere, so there was a fair bit of pushing and shoving to get him out of there.

"We just took a seat behind the curtain right out of orbit, and we just all sat back and relaxed while everyone else was jumping around."

While Katsidis stayed composed throughout Saturday's proceedings, Amonsot, who weighed in almost a kilo lighter than the champion, was "pumped up" according to Smith.

"The Filipino was very fired up at the weigh in.

They really had a bit of a glaring match when they were up on the scales and when they were taking the photos of them," Smith said.

"It's a psychological game and the good thing about Michael is he always holds great composure."

Playing the waiting game has become second nature for Katsidis, who will finally make his American debut after four false starts.

Twice he was stalled by visa problems, another time he pulled out of a fight to pursue the vacant WBO interim title in England, and most recently, his scheduled opponent Joan Guzman withdrew with an injury.

"It's all part of the game, these are the things that have made him a strong person," Smith said of Katsidis.

Laconic Aussie Katsidis was relaxed about the prospect of strutting his stuff for the first time on boxing's biggest stage in Las Vegas.

"It's another day at work, but it's a nicer office that I'm working in with more people around," Katsidis said.

"It's just one of those things where I take it in my stride."

Smith said the key to Sunday's fight for Katsidis was for him to take control from the start and stay composed.

He felt the bookies were doing southpaw Amonsot (18-2-1, 10 KOS) a disservice, with the challenger listed at between $5.00 and $6.00 for a win and Katsidis (22-0, 20 KOs) between $1.08 and $1.11.

"That's ridiculous odds for the Filipino, he's a good fighter and he's in a good camp, with one of the best trainers (Freddie Roach) in the world," Smith said.

"I can assure you this guy can fight and it will be a good hard fight.

"We're confident but not cocky."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/de-...042978342.html

Hatton v Mayweather would be

I hope it happens, although I think Mayweather would smash Hatton

no way

he might beat him but there is no way in hell he will smash him

I'd have my money on Hatton. Can dish it out but can also cop it

He did fairly demolish Kostya

Kostya was 36 at the time, and not in the best condition, and past his prime bit, just like Castillo.

Mayweather is just too quick, plus Hatton would have to fight at a heavier weight, and to tbh doesn't look too quick to begin with.

Mayweather has had some difficulty with similarly quick boxers in the past, like Sosa and also Castillo in his prime for example, which is probably what you need to beat him - ie. neautralise quickenss with quickness - cos Mayweather has faced slower, power punchers before and won convincingly every time, so I think it'll be the same story with Hatton.

I would like to see Hatton and Mayweather go at it, i think that would be quite an entertaing fight and i also think that Hatton could beat Mayweather.

Nice Thread.

My thoughts on some of the fighters/fights mentioned so far -

Danny Green - Great pressure boxer who is definitely more suited to Light Heavyweight than super middleweight. He absolutely hammered Otis Griffin and should probably do one more tune up fight with someone ranked outside the top 5 before he starts calling out guys like Antonio Tarver & Clinton Woods ...A fight with the other Australian LH Paul Briggs would be an absolute classic brawl - can't see it happening though.

Hatton vs Mayweather - Styles make fights and this would be a great one to watch..Hatton's pressure/grappling tactics vs Floyds defense and hand speed. IF they tried to make this happen, I can't see Hatton going back up to 147 pounds to fight mayweather. He went up after beating Kostya and was exposed (though he controversially won the fight). The 147 pound division is where all the great fighters are at the moment so if Hatton wants to be the best, he has to go up there and take on guys like Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Paul Williams etc

Kostya vs Hatton - Questionable win by Hatton, but he came in with a plan to tire the older Kostya down and it worked. I was a little pissed at the ref though as he gave Hatton a pass on two BLATANT low blows during the course of the fight. Having 20 000 Manchurian nutters cheering for you at 2am was an advantage as well.

Michael Katsidis is a pure brawler - seen his last two fights and he has a lot of heart and a solid chin. Just hope he picks up some defensive skills soon, because he leaves himself too open trying to bash his opponents with his right hand. The Mexicans will have a field day with him if he keeps to that style forever. That being said, I think he is our best chance in terms of an Aussie winning a major belt before the year is through.

Kessler vs Calzaghe will be a cracker. Promoters were trying to make this happen for months but negotiations over location, tv rights etc kept breaking things down. Glad they turned it around. Joe is going to be very tough to beat at home.

Mundine - great athlete and seems to be getting better with every fight. He really needs to start fighting some of the top ten guys in his weight class if he wants to get a shot at the likes of Kessler & Calzaghe. I want to see how good he really is.

my 2 cents...

Agreed on Mundine. Until he starts fighting guys on the radar of the rest of the boxing world, his braggadiccio will continue to ring hollow.

(nice to see we've steered clear of the pantomime of the Heavyweight division)

Quote:

Originally Posted by weekender

(nice to see we've steered clear of the pantomime of the Heavyweight division)

I didn't know the heavyweight division still existed

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beegie

I didn't know the heavyweight division still existed

Its still there but fights in that division have become rare.

Looks like Hatton vs Mayweather will happen in December -

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=11861&more=1

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/boxing/s...137713,00.html

Thats going to be one hell of an intresting fight. Alot of people already have there views about this fight and that it going to be what it seems. I still think we should have gotten Cotto vs Mayweather.

Katsidis almost killed Amonsot last week. Like, literally. I wish there were footage of it on Youtube.

signed
Ricky Hatton is set to fight Floyd Mayweather on December 8 after contracts confirming the bout were signed.

The 28-year-old Hatton will receive the biggest purse of his career for taking on the American, according to the undefeated Briton's father Ray.

"The contract provided what we wanted and we are officially signed up," Hatton Snr said.

"Now we are just waiting for the date and venue to be made official.

"Our lawyers have instructed us that the Mayweather camp have also signed at their end. We are delighted with the deal. Ricky's purse is higher than anything he has previously earned."

The MGM Grand in Las Vegas is expected to host the eagerly anticipated contest, with Hatton likely to be watched by over 10,000 fans from Britain.

But Mayweather, who came out of a short-lived retirement to take the fight, believes Hatton and his supporters will go home disappointed.

"I don't know who is the pound-for-pound number two in the world, but there is no fighter in the world like me," he said.

"Hatton is in for a rude awakening when we meet and he is in for a shock if he thinks I'm like any fighter he has ever faced.

"I'm in the business of blood, sweat and tears."

great round from kastidis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y17SkkmVQfg

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdoodle

signed
Ricky Hatton is set to fight Floyd Mayweather on December 8 after contracts confirming the bout were signed.

The 28-year-old Hatton will receive the biggest purse of his career for taking on the American, according to the undefeated Briton's father Ray.

"The contract provided what we wanted and we are officially signed up," Hatton Snr said.

"Now we are just waiting for the date and venue to be made official.

"Our lawyers have instructed us that the Mayweather camp have also signed at their end. We are delighted with the deal. Ricky's purse is higher than anything he has previously earned."

The MGM Grand in Las Vegas is expected to host the eagerly anticipated contest, with Hatton likely to be watched by over 10,000 fans from Britain.

But Mayweather, who came out of a short-lived retirement to take the fight, believes Hatton and his supporters will go home disappointed.

"I don't know who is the pound-for-pound number two in the world, but there is no fighter in the world like me," he said.

"Hatton is in for a rude awakening when we meet and he is in for a shock if he thinks I'm like any fighter he has ever faced.

"I'm in the business of blood, sweat and tears."

Now we await the showdown between the two...

This has the potential to be a great match, or an absolute fizzer...

Felix Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr., two of the era's greatest fighters, were on a collision course to meet in 2001, but Trinidad ran into Bernard Hopkins and was knocked out.

Up in smoke went one of the boxing's potential mega fights.

Fast forward to Monday, when promoter Don King announced plans to match the future Hall of Famers in a pay-per-view fight early next year, most likely Jan. 26 at New York's Madison Square Garden.

"We just made this fight. It's a fight made in boxing heaven," King crowed from his offices in Deerfield Beach, Fla., where he was joined by both fighters, who were there to talk to the media and sign their contracts. "We're gonna start the year off with a bang."

Trinidad, a former three-division champion, will be coming out of his second retirement for the fight against Jones, a former four-division champion.

Trinidad (42-2, 35 KOs), who has never fought above 160 pounds, will move up from middleweight and meet Jones at 170 for the scheduled 12-round bout.

"I'm going to feel very good at that weight," Trinidad said. "The night of the fight that weight will be right for me."

Jones (51-4, 38 KOs), who has fought in the 175-pound division since 1996, will come down to 170, which would be his lightest fighting weight since he was 167 pounds for his final super middleweight title defense in 1996.

"You don't like it, but you got to do it," said Jones, who weighed 193 when he dominated John Ruiz to win a heavyweight world title in 2003. "I'll sacrifice a few pounds to make the fight with Tito. Of course it will be difficult, but I'll do it. This is a fight worth getting up for."

In an unusual move, King said he made the fight without a television deal in place.

"The TV we have not got yet," King said. "We got to talk to HBO, talk to Showtime, got to talk to ESPN, talk to Rupert Murdoch, anyone who wants to broadcast it. You make the fight and figure it out, but the deal is real."

King, even more excitable than usual, was clearly overjoyed to have Trinidad out of retirement. Also coming out of retirement for the fight is Trinidad's father and trainer, Felix "Papa" Trinidad Sr.

King has worked feverishly behind the scenes for months to convince Trinidad, 34, to continue his career, and the Puerto Rican icon announced last month that he would come out of a second retirement.

His target was Jones, 38, the fighter he had hoped to fight six years ago.

"It's two titans, two legendary fighters coming together to fight," King said. "This is what the public has waited for a long time, and now they're going to have it. So, Tito is saying in the words of the inimitable and incomparable Cyrano de Bergerac, 'Don't bring me no mortal men, bring me giants.' And a giant is coming in Roy Jones Jr., one of the legends of our time, one of the greatest fighters in the world. So you got two of the greatest fighters in the world meeting each other."

Both genuinely seemed excited.

"I never avoided fighting great fighters," Trinidad said. "I am coming back to fight Roy Jones because he is one of the greatest fighters. It is true that I said in the past that I wasn't coming back, but I feel healthy and I have too much boxing inside of me that I can still show to the world, and show that I am still one of the greatest with this big challenge. I never refuse to fight great fighters. That's why me and my father decided to fight Roy Jones, a great fighter."

Said King, "Papa didn't want his son to come back unless he was going to fight someone who was a titan. He said right off the bat, 'Roy Jones.' Then my job was to get Roy Jones."

Jones was disappointed when the fight with Trinidad didn't come off because of Trinidad's loss to Hopkins. He even told King before that 2001 fight not to make the match because Trinidad would lose. At last, though, Jones has his fight with Trinidad.

"Tito is a great champion. He's built a great legacy and if someone like that challenges you, how can you turn that down," Jones said. "You make a big fight and give the fans something to watch.

"It ain't gonna be like [Floyd] Mayweather-[Oscar] De La Hoya. They gave the fans a dance. We'll give them a fight. We are both powerful punchers. It's a matter of who gets there first. And it won't be like Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright, two guys with no bombs in their tank. We got bombs in our tanks. You got two beautiful punchers, two beautiful boxers. It will be a great fight."

The fighters' financial terms for the bout were not disclosed, but Trinidad, who made at least $10 million for his last fight, said, "It's a huge purse."

To help promote the fight, King said Jones and Trinidad would work as color commentators on the international broadcasts of several of his upcoming cards -- Sept. 8 (Fernando Vargas-Ricardo Mayorga), Sept. 29 (Chad Dawson-Adrian Diaconu), Oct. 6 (Oleg Maskaev-Samuel Peter) and Oct. 13 (Juan Diaz-Julio Diaz).

Jones, who has won titles at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight, has won two fights in a row since his fast fall from grace in 2004 and 2005, when he lost three in a row, including back-to-back brutal knockouts to Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson. But after a year off, Jones returned to outpoint Badi Ajamu in July 2006. Last month, he outpointed Anthony Hanshaw with rumors of a possible showdown with Trinidad swirling during the promotion.

Trinidad, who won titles at welterweight, junior middleweight and middleweight, called it quits in 2002, but triumphantly returned to knock out Ricardo Mayorga in October 2004.

That victory set the stage for Trinidad to fight Wright, who is far more skillful than Mayorga. Wright easily dominated Trinidad en route to a virtual shutout decision win in May 2005, which sent Trinidad back into retirement.

On Monday, Trinidad was certainly back in fighting mode.

"I'm waiting to knock you out, OK baby," Trinidad told Jones.

Finally we get to see this match up.

Another one to mark down on your calendar .......


Cotto vs Mosley

Nov. 10
MSG

Cotto vs Mosley will be one entertaing fight to watch, both great fighters.

Calzhage vs Kessler will be massive.

Guys what are your thoughts on Vargas vs Mayorga ?

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/boxing/s...189229,00.html



some silly odds on the TAB Sportsbet site for Joe ($1.55) and Ricky Hatton ($2.75)

Centrebet have Hatton at 2.95

well worth it!

Mayweather and Hatton should put up an intresting boxing fight.

Cant wait to see the Cotto and Mosley get it on.

Alot of exciting fights happening which is good for boxing.

Re: Calzaghe - Kessler

I've been on the Main Event site and it doesn;t appear.. I'm hoping that someone is showing it. Any ideas?

Yep it's on Sky channel so you will need to find a pub that is showing it.



Can't wait should be cracker

Here's the link just enter your post code & it tells you the closest venue thats showing it.

http://www.skychannel.com.au/ringside/

10am

lookin forward to a cracker!

There is an alternative to watching it at the pub if you have foxtel cable or satellite.

The new sports channel on Fox, Setanta, is offering the fight as normal broadcast if you have access to it.

Minimum signup is 1 month and that will cost you $14.95. All the details are here -

http://au.setanta.com/portal/systemc...temtitle=ozfaq

All you need to do is provide the smart card number of your foxtel unit, pay by CC and the channel is scrambled pretty much immediately. I will be buying it for the month and then getting rid of it.

I have a few mates heading around Sunday and am looking forward to BBQ and beers. Cannot wait for this fight !