The Super Six Tourney - How would Calzaghe fair?

Boxingnews24.com6th August, 2009

Hearing the news that the Super six tournament was being introduced to boxing was music to my ears. Six top super middleweights fighting the best opposition possible, with only one being crowned victorious. These six fighters are the type that keep boxing alive. No one is being 'ducked' and top fighters will lose. Extra points are gained for a knockout which makes the the tournament that much more exiting. A couple of changed could have made the tournament that much more exiting, if that is possible; adding Kelly Pavlik and, dare I say it, Joe Calzaghe.

Calzaghe has regularly been criticized for the quality of his opposition and the stage they were at in their career when he fought them. Winning this would be sure to erase any doubts about that. He did defeat the unofficial favorite, Mikkel Kessler on points in Wales and he outpointed Bernard Hopkins who, even at the age of 44 went on to school Kelly Pavlik.

The pride of Wales was also crowned victorious on points against Chris Eubank, although far past his best, Jeff Lacy and an aged Roy Jone Jnr. There is certainly no denying Calzaghe's talent and ability. He has proved his boxing ability is second to none and has an incredible 46 fight unbeaten record to his name. However, even as a huge Calzaghe fan, I do question some of the match making and quality of opposition he faced at the top level.

Ranked as the best no.1 pound for pound fighter in the world by many, Calzaghe chose to fight an old Roy Jones Jnr instead of the likes of Carl Froch and Chad Dawson; the fight every boxing fan was screaming for.

After beating Jeff Lacy he fought Manfredo and Bika. This sort of match making is bad for boxing and turns fans away. As I say, I am a massive fan of Joe, but I believe if he beat the fighters that constantly called him out, he might have been crowned one of the best fighters ever.

What better way for Calzaghe to silence every single critic; coming out of retirement to defeat every top super middleweight on the planet, with the exception of Kelly Pavlik and Lucian Bute. I honestly believe he could do just that. He has already beaten favourite Mikkel Kessler on points in his home country. However, I simply could not see Calzaghe entering into this highly competitive competition, even if wasn't retired.

This is the big time. No fighters years past their best. No journeymen. Like I have said, I can not see anyone in the world coming close to defeating the Welsh man, but he has never shown the same desire, courage and determination to fight the best that fellow British champion and bitter rival Carl Froch shows. Would Joe come out of retirement to fight the winner? Would he instead engage in a huge bout with unbeaten light heavyweight, Chad Dawson?

I hope he comes back and fights on, simply because I feel that I fighter of Joe's ability and talent is such a waste when he can not honestly say he has not pushed himself to fight the very best. Would you ever see Muhammed Ali duck the best fighters in the heavyweight division? Would you ever see Roberto Duran or Randy Turpin turn reject the best to fight the former best?

Kelly Pavlik publicly criticized the tournament, claiming the contestants were wasting their careers for such little amounts of money.

Pavlik was linked with a mega fight with Tourney entrant Carl Froch not so long back. Personally, I think this would be a great fight and the addition of Pavlik in exchange for his former victim, Jermaine Taylor would make the tournament that much greater. But if Pavlik does not want to participate that is that. The question he has to ask himself is, who is out there for me now? No Abraham. No Froch. No Kessler, Dirrrel or Ward. He could always go after unbeaten French man, Lucian Bute. But what after that? A rematch with old chief Bernard Hopkins, the only man to defeat him on a wide points margin.

The tournament is already loaded with top quality fighters. But how much greater would the addition of Calzaghe and Pavlik be, the super six then being the super eight. And what a super eight it would be. Or even the removal of two fighters to make way. Who to be removed is another question. Is this going to happen? No, of course it won't. Calzaghe can still make his name by challenging the winner or even going for Dawson? Rumour has it that he still trains every day. Is he likely to make a comeback? I imagine not but we can all dream.

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