24.06.08 – By John Carter: Joe Calzaghe has sensationally announced that he has ended his 12-year association with Frank Warren and also put paid to any fight with the American fighting machine that is Kelly Pavlik. Warren who has promoted Calzaghe since 1996 and under his management fought 26 times to become undisputed super-middleweight champion as well as recently adding Bernard Hopkins’ light heavyweight ring belt to become a two weight world champ. Calzaghe will now follow in the footsteps of David Haye and promote himself..
Calzaghe told the South Wales Argus: “ There has been a lot of speculation about my future. At this time I want to set the record straight. I am now a free agent with no contract and I intend to be self managed from now on. I am the only person who can make negotiations for my next fight. Regarding that fight, I am not in negotiations with Kelly Pavlik, despite reports to the contrary. My intention is to fight Roy Jones Junior”
Calzaghe will no doubt be accused of running scared from Kelly Pavlik. While Roy Jones is a legendary four weight world champion his best days are clearly behind him. As ever, Jack Lowe had plenty to say also:
“ How many more excuses is this guy going to make? If Joe Calzaghe fought Kelly Pavlik he’d be in trouble.” Pavlik has told Calzaghe he wants to “get it on” but Lowe has admitted that Jones Jnr is a smarter fight. “This is what happened. His dad went back and said, ‘don’t fight this killer, he’s gonna knock you out. I’m ticked off as he’s telling us that we don’t want to fight him. But yes we DO want to fight Joe Calzaghe. He doesn’t want to fight Kelly Pavlik”
Calzaghe of course under Warren had career defining wins over Eubank, Mitchell, Lacy, Kessler and Hopkins but Nigel Benn did once say “ I made a big mistake in leaving Frank Warren”
Although Calzaghe insists he would beat Pavlik that fight would be a huge risk to his legacy this late in his career. But as Ted Sares recently pointed out, whatever happened to “ the best fight the best?” It would seem that Calzaghe / Pavlik may never happen and despite Arthur Abraham’s newfound prominence the former is the fight we ALL still want to see.