Calzaghe-Jones closer
September 20 pencilled in for Welshman's farewell fight
Last updated: 27th June 2008
Roy Jones Jnr and Joe Calzaghe look set to go head-to-head on September 20 in what is likely to be the undefeated Welshman's final fight.
Calzaghe has insisted he will have one more fight before hanging up his gloves - with Jones his preferred target.
The 36-year-old now looks to have got his dream send-off with Jones confirming that negotiations between the fighters are close to completion.
He told boxingtalk.com: "Calzaghe and I are going to be fighting this fall.
"They are holding September 20 or November 15 for us, but right now it's looking like September 20."
Both fighters have split from their promoters in a bid to secure the fight, with Calzaghe and Frank Warren parting company and Jones splitting from Don King.
Jones added: "I am free and he is free and this will be the first time in a very long time that two fighters sat down and ironed out all the details themselves.
"We didn't want nobody like Golden Boy, or Frank Warren or Don King involved and we're fortunate enough to get this done our way. It's going to be his last fast."
The deal also means Calzaghe will have to give up his WBC super-middleweight belt, with mandatory challenger Carl Froch now likely to fight for the vacant title.
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Comments
Rex Smith says...
I'm sorry, but nobody wants to see Calzaghe V Froch, Froch is a not proven at all!!! Never is pavlik. Please people who dont know the sport stop commenting on this. Pavlik maybe should be took into consideration, however Froch no way! Likewise, I people have only seen the past two years of boxing and base opinions on that, people say RJJ is a has-been theres 3 years difference in age between them! 3 years can be the difference in boxing yes, but calzaghe is no longer in his prime.
Posted 22:02 3rd July 2008
Glen Deadman says...
who has froch beat? he hasn't even won a world championship yet! never mind being mentioned in the same breath as calzaghe, beat kessler before calling out joe, or even lacy who you said you would knock out in 2 rounds! lets see it first??? kelly pavlik hasn't even cleaned up 160 lbs, authur abraham is undefeated at 160 lbs and ranked no 1 by the RING, 25-0 (20), is he not enough of a challange? or not enough money? its all about money, let two men in their LATE 30S, JC and RJJ have one last pay day in vegas AND LET THE YOUNG GUNNS, who have not even cleaned up at their own weights, fight it out and become legends one day! joe cannot make 168 lbs and be 100% anymore, FACT. so all you so called boxing fans, leave him alone and get behind him one last time!!! then lets watch froch, pavlik, bute, abraham and all the the other prospects fight it out and one day be called a legend and see what they would do when they are 36 or 39!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 21:18 3rd July 2008
Zak Khan says...
I cant understand why sum people want Joe to Carl Froch' ok Froch is a good fighter im not saying he is not.And its a good fight for the british public' but its coming end of Joe carea he wants a huge fight which will interrest people world wide by fighting some one like Jones. And look at the money diffrents how much will he get by fighting Froch' couple off mill by fighting Roy Jones maybe bou 20 mill' big diffrents in it.
Posted 18:34 3rd July 2008
Dale Gadsby says...
jones jr vs calzaghe will be an awesome event but i still think calzaghe should have a fight against carl froch before he retires.
Posted 13:37 3rd July 2008
Thrash Ramsell says...
Calzaghe vs Jones is an excellent fight and anybody who disagrees should go back and watch some of Jones` masterclasses. Yes Jones is past his best, but so is Calzaghe. Joe has stuggled with a couple of recent opponents excluding Lacey and seems to have totally lost his power which is one of only two ways to get to Jones, the other being an incessant workrate. Jones is a true legend and fought the best for years as a champion, and only came a cropper after having to lose muscle when returning from an incredible and legendary heavyweight excursion. Calzaghe should really have retired after the Hopkins fight and unnessecarily risks everything by taking one last fight. Very very even fight maybe slight edge to Joe.
Posted 13:45 2nd July 2008
Lee Deere says...
As mentioned already, Joe C has nothing to prove, he's beaten everyone put in front of him! Yes there are always younger fresher challngers comming through but Joe has eaned the right to finish his time in the ring with a couple of legends, just to put the icing on the cake. He knows that the longer he keeps boxing sooner or later he will get beaten as the opponents keep getting younger. Bernard Hopkins and RJJ on his list of scalps will make pretty reading. They may both have seen their best but are stilll capable fighters, and JOe C is only a few years younger than RJJ and is no spring chicken himself although still truely in great shape. Joe C has already done all he needed to to establish himslef in the hall of fame, RJJ as a final fight is a great way to finish and will be a great fight. David James comments where spot on below.
Posted 12:16 2nd July 2008
Robert Tampion says...
i fail to understand all the negativity about this fight. granted RJJ is not the fighter he once was in his prime but he is still a great boxer & i truely believe the main reason for his downfall was the weight he had to lose mainly muscular weight in droping from heavyweight back to light heavy in such a short space of time being involved in the iron game for over 18 years i can tell you that to loose even a few pounds of muscle mass has a dramatic effect on the body in a negative way,its a totaly different ball game to loosing just body fat which mostly has a possitive effect. with that issue asside i believe RJJ will still be too strong too accurate & too quick for JC who showed in his last fight he was visibly weaker than B HOP at 175 & lacks power at this weight and surely we must ask ourselves when was the last time JOE showed real power in those hands against a credible apponent even jeff lacy who was basically a punch bag absorbed everything he had. this fight is definately not an easy option for joe and for me is without doubt the most anticipated fight out there - bring it on!!!
Posted 20:49 1st July 2008
Neil Jones says...
I was in Vegas to see Calzaghe beat Hopkins and I will be there to see him beat Jones Jr too. I hope this fight happens it will be a great one to see.
Posted 20:42 1st July 2008
Bomber Walker says...
Why doesn't Joe fight Carl Froch? That's the fight the British public want to see.
Posted 16:02 1st July 2008
Zak Khan says...
I cant see why some people want Joe to fight Parvlic' ok parvlic is good but not a legend well not yet. Roy jones might not be the same fighter he was couple of years ago'but a guy hoo started his carea in midlle weight won world titels right up to heavy wight now thats called a legend.Remember the talk about Joe v Taylor an look what happend to Jemione Taylor. So Parvlick naaa' and what a way for Joe too end his carrea a fight with Roy Jones jr.
Posted 01:20 1st July 2008
Robbie Herd says...
People, forget about people who are up and coming, this list will be never ending....... what about so and so etc... forget it. Joe C has absolutely nothing to prove. He is without a doubt the best boxer Britain has ever produced and is a legend of his era.. end of.. period.!!! If he choses to have one last fight against another legend, well fair play to him and RJJ. Take the money Joe, you deserve it. It matters not who wins (although as a nutural, I predict Joe will win fairly comfortably) he is an ambassador to his sport and simply 'the best'. Retire and let the hopefuls try and emulate what has been achieved, I can safetly say that nobody at present has the class to 'out do' what Joe has achieved. Whilst this has the ingreients to be a great fight (maybe a few years back) I expect JC will end on high.
Posted 00:15 1st July 2008
John Bewick says...
RJJ vs Joe Calzaghe is the best fight we could have wished for. and for those of you who write RJJ of obviously have no real clue about the sport. and for joe to be critised for opting for this one is a discrace to both him and Roy Jones. both have been good for the sport and why should they not make the fight happen. Pavlek is up and coming but not as established and would not bring joe the money he wants for the big fight. but on this occasion i cannot see joe coming out the winner. jones jr has to much class and does not slap or throw punches that dont land. when RJJ will pick off his punches. then if needs be after this fight RJJ can show the pretender pavlek who is a real champion.!!
Posted 13:29 30th June 2008
Sen Clarke says...
I think Calzaghe will do the business. Although Jones is a good grinder, Joe Calzaghe will want to finish his boxing career with a bang. Particulary a big one on the chin of Jones to end his career on a high!
Posted 12:39 30th June 2008
Jay Morris says...
Think it's fair to say that this fight has come a tad to late. But criticism of Joe is wholly unjustified. Hearing people bang on about "should fight Pavlik" this and "should fight Froch" that is just plain dumb. There is always gonna be young upcoming pretenders to the throne. Do people expect Joe to keep fighting into 40's/50's? There has to be a point when you turn these fights down. Good luck to you Joe, you more than deserve your payday and I for one am looking forward to you seeing you beat Jones Jnr.
Posted 12:10 30th June 2008
Mark Kitchen says...
Jones could cause an upset, a fighter never loses his cunning and flair, Roy Jones has not got a great chin, put Joe C ain't a big puncher. Roy Jones jr still has the potential of a victory, IF he trains right and fights smart. We all saw joe get knocked down from not the strongest of counters by Bhop, so dont write the legend off yet. Yes Jones is 39 years old, but Joe C is 36, and sometimes doent show up to fights and produce as good as he did back with lacy. Likewise, Lacy at the time was upcoming, Jones knows the ring better than anybody, so I for one am looking forward to the fight!! People are saying it isn't the best way to finish his career, HOW?! Fighting a true legend of the sport, a household name (in the US). Pavlik is a raw talent,and I feel at this stage would beat calzaghe just because of the fact that he is in his prime, and this isn't me belittling Joe, but he ain't as good as he was. So Jones Jr. is the right fight!!
Posted 16:32 28th June 2008
Issah Tone says...
I would be willing to travel if it was Kelly Pavlik but to fight Roy Jones in your last fight is a horrid way to go out. Jones wont make it past 10rds he will be tired after 4rds hes gone as a fighter. What a let down Joe.
Posted 13:14 28th June 2008
See Me says...
Unfortunately Roy Jones is the biggest name in LHW besides Hopkins. Since Calzaghe is campaigning at LHW this is the best fight he can get for the money and legacy. I doubt fighting Tarver, Johnson, or Woods will do anything for Calzaghe's legacy. I'm speculate though this won't be Calzaghe's last fight. The LHW division is a little weak, but Chad Dawson is the only bright spot in the division and a future star. It's too bad Dawson won't be fighting Calzaghe any time soon, since Dawson is already eyeing to matches.
Posted 05:02 28th June 2008
Vincent Davis says...
he should fight pavlik which would be a more intresting fight joe would win around the 11th or on points the jones fight is pointless he aint gonna get anything out the fight i also think he should fight froch to shut him up he his so over rated it untrue kessler would beat him and joe would murder him for sure again another boxer trying to make his name through joe same as witter off hatton but witter is shit anyway
Posted 23:07 27th June 2008
Shaun Campbell says...
I think Joe Should of taken the Kelly Pavlik fight as he also is underfeated. What does Roy Jones bring to the table? Maybe Joe has gone for the easy option in fighting Jones jr, this fight should have been made 10 years ago. His last fight against Bernard Hopkins was not great. He Should do as Mayweather did and bow out fighting a great like Hatton.
Posted 22:21 27th June 2008
Brian Hickey says...
Again I would agree with some of the above comments, this is purely a marketing exercise for both fighters, just about money. Roy surely was one of the best pound for pound fighters in his hay day but now is just earning money from the game and on his reputation. It will generate box office as everybody likes to see Joe, and Stateside Roy is still box office, but the real interesting one would be Joe and Kelly Pavlik. As an ex pro myself I would say Kelly would smoke Joes boots and take him out early, probably in about 5 or 6, after all just look at what he id to a true legend like Jermain Taylor. Its sad for the paying public that boxing is all aimed around the money and safety of fighters as opposed to the entertainment value and excitement of the fans. A points verdict or late stoppage I would predict in Joes favour over Roy with not much credibility gained!
Posted 19:14 27th June 2008
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