Godfrey offended by Calloway’s comments

Posted on | August 5, 2008 | No Comments

PROVIDENCE (August 5, 2008) – NABF cruiserweight champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (16-1, 9 KOs) had his nose bent out of shape, so to speak, by recent comments attributed to Rob “All American Prize Fighter” Calloway.

Calloway (70-7-2, 56 KOs) was quoted as saying, “I’ve never turned down any fight!” He went on to proclaim that he deserved a title fight because he’s the WBC Americas champion and proceeded to call out Rudolf Kraj, Firat Arslan and Enzo Maccaranelli. Godfrey took offense on two counts: Team Calloway passed on an opportunity to fight Godfrey for his NABF belt on August 29 in an ESPN main event; Calloway is rated No. 11, behind No. 5 Godfrey.

“I know Rob and he’s a great guy,” Godfrey said, “but my speed and movement would be too much for him to handle. If he wants to fight the elite guys in the cruiserweight division, he should have taken the fight against me to prove himself. I am an elite cruiserweight – No. 5 — but he didn’t take the fight.”

Despite Rob proclaiming he’d fight anyone in the world given three weeks notice, Team Calloway reportedly passed on Godfrey because Rob had a fight July 19 against Max Alexander (14-2-1), which ended in a 12-round draw. Godfrey’s only loss as a pro was a close 12-round decision in a WBC title eliminator to Kraj in Germany this past March.

Matt, second heavyweight alternate on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, had a 194-23 amateur record, capturing six national championships — four open tournaments including the 2004 Everlast U.S. Championships, plus two in the Junior Olympics – as well as a Bronze medal at the 2001 Pan-American Games, Silver in all four of that year’s national major tournaments (National Golden Gloves, PAL (Police Athletic League), U.S. Championships and U.S. Challenge) and six-time New England Golden Gloves champion.

Godfrey was a highly decorated U.S. amateur who defeated many of today’s contemporary pro boxers in the amateurs such as former WBA middleweight title challenger Randy “The Gentleman Griffin (24-2-3, 12 KOs), unbeaten heavyweight prospect Chazz “Mensa With Muscles” Witherspoon (23-1, 15 KOs), Devin Vargas (16-0, 7 KOs), Corey “Black Ice” Cummings (16-3, 12 KOs), Leonard “Haitian Sensation” Pierre (18-3, 13 KOs) and John Johnson (12-2, 10 KOs).

-MG-