Joe Calzaghe must be eating sour grapes nowadays. Or does Calzaghe feel the sport that made him who he is today, DYING?
It was reported today that Calzaghe had an interview and stated that he feels boxing is a dying sport with no future. He went on to state that he felt the sport was dying globally, not just in the United States, like some critics feel.
It almost seemed that the words that Calzaghe has spoken might have been coming from anger, and disbelief. His last bout made only $225,000. The Dec. 6 fight against Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao generated $1.25 million PPV buys, and was named the dream match.
Calzaghe said, "I fought Roy Jones Jr., the one time pound-for-pound best fighter of the world, even though he was coming back to the ring after some bad luck, there should have been more acknowledgement from the boxing community."
Some of the statements Calzaghe made were reasonable and on cue. He expressed how there where to many belts involved, four different belts in every weight class doesn't allow a true champion, Calzaghe stated. And, I agree how can a fighter have the hunger to become the champ when he can scout out the easiest champion to face.
If you scout between four opponents you just need to find the guy you match against the best. Remember, styles make fights, and if you have equal talented champions go for the belt with the easiest ranking list, since each belt has their own rankings.
What I didn't agree with is he said that MMA is going to take over boxing's fan base, and eventually it will die out. Now, I'm a huge contact sport fan (just read my bio), and I don't think boxing is going to die by the hands of MMA.
The only think they have in common is there two fighters that battle in a one-on-one competition. You can't compare the two, and you shouldn't try. It takes amazing technique, strength, and skill to be a great boxer and MMA fighter.
Why Calzaghe would make a comment so bold about a sport that gave him everything he has today is beyond me. Calzaghe is the No. 2 pound-for-found fighter in my eyes, but if he doesn't believe in the life of boxing, who says he needs to fight anymore?
Personally, I think he was bitten by the green-eyed monster, and was talking out of his you know what, or at least I hope he was.
Just remember boxing isn't dead, and it isn't dying.
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