13.09.05 – Professor Moriarty? Colonel Mustard? Who dunnit?! Who killed the biggest super middleweight title fight in 11 years — Jeff Lacy vs. Joe Calzaghe? “It sure as hell was not the butler,” said promoter Gary Shaw. “SHOWTIME had November 5 reserved. Jeff was ready to fight in Cardiff, London, or any other homecourt venue Team Calzaghe desired. Calzaghe’s promoter, Frank Warren (aka “Less Than” Frank Warren) has been sitting on the contract I sent him for nearly three weeks.. I should have known he did not want Calzaghe to fight Jeff. Having Calzaghe take a meaningless fight against a meaningless opponent. Evans Ashira was the WBO’s No. 9-rated MIDDLEWEIGHT contender in its July 2005 ratings! Warren didn’t want rounds for Calzaghe, he wanted an escape hatch from fighting Jeff!
“Jeff satisfied his mandatory against top-rated contender Robin Reid in August so he wouldn’t be stripped and the fight would be a true world title unification fight,” continued Shaw. “Reid was no warm-up fight.”
The (Frank) Warren Commission found further evidence that proceeding with the Calzaghe-Ashira fight was folly as stated in Calzaghe’s August interview with the BBC following Lacy’s victory over Reid.
“Lots of things can also happen between now and then, not least among them injuries.” he said. “I have had problems with my hand and back on and off over the years, which is hardly surprising when you have been fighting since the age of nine like I have.”
Calzaghe continued: “He [Lacy] wants it and I want it and the prospect really excites me, but I haven’t even talked money yet so nothing is cut and dried.” http://www.secondsout.com/UK/news.cfm?ccs=228&cs=17136&highlight=Joe%20Calzaghe
EXHIBIT A: If you have injuries, why take a warm-up fight and risk blowing the biggest fight of your career?
EXHIBIT B: Did Calzaghe proceed with the Ashira fight because he did not have his deal in place for the Lacy fight with his promoter?
“Jeff will defend his titles November 5 and Showtime will televise it,” said Shaw. “Jeff is not only the most active world champion in boxing, he is the shining light of the 12stone division. Jeff has successfully answered every challenge in his professional career, but when it came time for Calzaghe to face Jeff, his team threw in the towel.”