US election stops the campaigning for Calzaghe

New York is in the grip of election fever, so much so that Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones Jr have been given the day off from their own campaign trying to boost ticket and pay-per-view sales for Saturday night's superfight at Madison Square Garden.

The only mega clash on people's minds today is Barack Obama versus John McCain, so much so that the traditional Tuesday media workouts for both boxers were switched to Monday. "Most media will be busy with the election," one source told me. "We want to get some camera crews to turn up."

As it was, the Kingsway Gym on West 28th Street, owned by former middleweight contender Michael Olajide, was packed out by press and film crews on Monday when both boxers went through small routines. Calzaghe's regular gym since he has been in New York is downtown.

The Welshman is staying in a hotel near Central Park, so he can use Manhattan's main green space for his roadwork. Sunday's New York City Marathon meant the park was more crowded than usual with runners in the past week, particularly on race day, when nearly 39,000 runners finished in the park. "Didn't you see, I won!" Calzaghe said, tongue firmly in cheek. "It was a bit mad."

There was a blow to the Calzaghe camp when Bradley Pryce, the Commonwealth light-middleweight champion and Calzaghe's sparring partner, was refused entry into the United States. Pryce had been due to make his US debut on the Calzaghe-Bernard Hopkins undercard in April, but was refused a visa became of his criminal record, regarding to drink-related convictions in his youth.

This time it is believed he was coming as a tourist to cheer on Calzaghe, but was denied entry at immigration and sent home on the first available flight.

Comments

[Alan]

Pryce should have just walked in over the Mexican border.