– Joe Calzaghe has been producing a lot of news since his third round TKO of Peter Manfredo Jr last week. The boxing media is really pushing Calzaghe to fight Mikkel Kessler of Denmark but that fight seems less likely to happen as the days go by. According to Calzaghe’s manager Frank Warren, Kessler’s camp wanted an equal financial split for the fight and they wouldn’t be ready by the proposed July date. Calzaghe may need more time too, as he broke his hand during the final flurry of the Manfredo fight. Warren has already moved on from Kessler and offered middleweight champion Jermain Taylor between $3 million and $4 million for a September date. Why September is open for Taylor and not Kessler is beyond my comprehension.
– From Fightnews.com, this Saturday’s WBA Heavyweight Title bout between 7′ Russian Nicolai Valuev and Ruslan “White Tyson” Chagaev will be aired live in the United States at 4:30 pm ET on the MSG network.
– Also from Fightnews.com, the April 22nd fight between Antonio Tarver and Elvir Muriqui has been called off. The bout was set to air on ABC. No reason was given for the cancellation but rumors are that Tarver was out of shape.
From Dan Rafael’s ESPN Notebook:
– Dan Goosen is hoping to get HBO to give him their June 2nd date for the Antonio Margarito-Paul Williams fight. The sooner the better for this fight that could be a potential fight of the year. Williams has never been really tested and it will be interesting to see how he would react in a fight with Margarito.
– Wladimir Klitschko is hoping to avenge his last loss. Lamon Brewster hasn’t fought in a year but Klitschko’s camp is hoping to get him back in the ring for a July 7th HBO date. Brewster scored a 5th round TKO of Wladimir in April of 2004.
– Chad Dawson will most likely fill the June 9th Showtime date that was being held for Roy Jones Jr and Anthony Hanshaw. The WBC Light Heavyweight champion has not yet found an opponent.
– The July 21st pay-per-view bout between Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright is most likely going to end up in Las Vegas, despite Hopkins’ wish for something on the east coast along the lines of Atlantic City or New York.
