Calzaghe to call it a day!

[Rocky Balboa]

From fightnews.com

Calzaghe: This is my last fight!
Super middleweight champion boxer Joe Calzaghe has confirmed that he will quit boxing providing he defeats Roy Jones Jr at Madison Square Garden in New York when the pair clash on November 8. In an interview with Setanta Sports News the undefeated Calzaghe said there's not much more to prove. "At the moment I'm definitely going to retire," said Joe. "As long as I win and I win in style then it'll be my last fight. I've achieved everything I can in boxing. I'm 36 years old and I don't want to keep on fighting. I love boxing and I love what the sport has given me, but I want to retire undefeated."
Calzaghe was full of praise for his opponent describing Jones as one of the greatest fighters of the last 25 years. "Roy Jones went through a bit of a tough time in his career but he's come back and had three great wins. I can't underestimate him. I have to make sure I'm 100%. I'll never forgive myself if I lose my last fight having been undefeated for the last 17 years." The fight between Calzaghe and Jones was originally due to take place in September, only for Calzaghe to withdraw through injury. Now Calzaghe has dismissed rumours that he is behind schedule in preparing for the fight. "Before I injured my hand I was training for two or three weeks so I've only had a little bit of time off. Although I've not been punching, I've been jogging to keep my fitness levels up. I normally prepare 12 weeks before a fight and I won't start sparring for another six weeks. So I'm ahead of schedule and have plenty of time to get in shape for the fight."
Thursday, August 14 2008

Well, I think that answers the question of whether we will see Pavlik-Calzaghe. Shame really, because I'm in no doubt Pavlik really wanted the fight.

I take nothing away from Joe. At this stage, its all about what makes him the most money, but there can be no arguments, Pavlik would prove to be much sterner opposition than Jones will be.

[BunglesFingers]

...until he is coaxed out of retirement to fight some 40+ year old ex champ in a mega-fight that nobody will want to miss.

[Exoddus]

I’m sure I read in Calzaghe’s book. That he called Roy Jones Jr a washed up bum. I think he said, he’ll never fight him because a victory over Roy Jones Jr. Would mean absolutely nothing?

[hitman_hatton1]

yeah shame.

if hops beats pavlik it'll soften the disappointment.

i don't totally rule that out.

joe might still change his mind if pavlik wins the hops fight conclusively.

[mike john]

im feelin roy and bernard to both win. nobody seems to mention that joe just didnt look that good at light heavy.

[leforge]

I bet he fights on if he wins, too much money to turn down

[Deserter]

im feelin roy and bernard to both win. nobody seems to mention that joe just didnt look that good at light heavy.

Err... and Jones has looked good when exactly? Against the overblown welterweight Felix Trinidad

[whiskey]

I don't believe a single word the guy says.

[WildWaylon]

I’m sure I read in Calzaghe’s book. That he called Roy Jones Jr a washed up bum. I think he said, he’ll never fight him because a victory over Roy Jones Jr. Would mean absolutely nothing?

He is getting out of that one by saying RJJ went through a bad patch, but now he is back on form and winning again.

[Maxime]

Then he should vacate the WBO belt and let Balzsay/Inkin fight for it!

[larry cake]

I’m sure I read in Calzaghe’s book. That he called Roy Jones Jr a washed up bum. I think he said, he’ll never fight him because a victory over Roy Jones Jr. Would mean absolutely nothing?

so hes honest then.

[Autobarn]

I don't believe a single word the guy says.

You should read the latest claptrap from Calzaghe:

1) I offered Pavlik the fight, after I beat Lacy (when Pavlik didn't even have a world title). I offered him the fight after he beat Taylor (when Pavlik was stuck in a rematch clause and had a mandatory pressing). Pavlik turned me down twice!

2) Pavlik isn't worthy now. Kessler is better than Pavlik and I beat Kessler.

[bennie]

Welsh great Joe Calzaghe continues to ply his trade in the lucrative American market when he takes on once mighty Roy Jones Jnr in a light-heavyweight 12-rounder at historic Madison Square Garden on November 8.
Calzaghe took a close split decision over Philadelphia's Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas four months ago, his first fight in the States. Sadly, it wasn't a great spectacle; Hopkins is something of an old spoiler as opposed to an "Executioner" these days but a win is still a win and Calzaghe moves on to another faded 'name' in Jones Jnr, who once held the mantle as the best fighter on the planet and is still capable of stretching an opponent. The 39-year-old (40 in January) from Pensacola in Florida has won his last three.
Jones looked to be finished when he suffered back-to-back knockout defeats to Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson in 2004 but he gave Tarver a pretty good fight a year later, conceding a 12-round decision, and has since reeled off those three wins over decent, if not outstanding, opposition, including a 12-round decision over shopworn Puerto Rican puncher Felix Trinidad last time out in January, also in Madison Square Garden. A pro nearly 20 years, the classy, quick-handed Jones can only produces flashes of his best form today and his power looks to have seriously waned. The last man he stopped is Sheffield's Clinton Woods way back in 2002 (six rounds, body shots). Trinidad is a blown-up welterweight.
Calzaghe also looks to have lost power, since moving up to light-heavyweight. He still holds the WBO super-middleweight belt, making him the sport's longest reigning world champion, but the same heavy bursts of punches that buckled most of his super-middleweight opponents looked a lot less damaging a weight up against the one-paced, 43-year-old Hopkins, who was never troubled in the slightest. Indeed, Joe, who picked up a cut, looked to be slapping a lot; it was the canny American who scored the only knockdown of the fight (first round).
You know, Calzaghe is no spring chicken himself at 36 and regularly hints at retirement. Plus, he is plagued with hand and wrist injuries more than ever (the slapping won't have helped). This one was originally scheduled for the Garden on September 20 but put back due to a Calzaghe wrist injury suffered in training (merely in punching the pads). What if Calzaghe's hands 'go' again early in this fight?
Still, the unbeaten Calzaghe is now tantalisingly close to the perfect and rather ghostly record of Rocky Marciano, at a magnificent 45-0 (32). (Marciano, who died in a plane crash in August 1969, retired and stayed retired at 49-0.) Calzaghe hasn't actually lost since 1990, his amateur days (obviously). Small wonder that many regard the gifted Newbridge man as the greatest fighter this island has ever produced. Calzaghe has fast hands and, combined with great workrate and a great chin, literally swamps his opponents. He nailed poor Jeff Lacy with 1,006 punches in a marquee performance in Manchester in 2006. Jones is quick too, but he does like to pick his punches, which separates the two.
Calzaghe's southpaw style should also reap dividends. It was southpaw Tarver who first flagged that Jones was on the wane back in 2003, when he held him to a majority 12-round decision in Las Vegas. "Magic Man" Tarver also went on to score those two wins over him. While Jones comes off that solid enough win over Trinidad seven months ago, Calzaghe will have learned from the whole Hopkins experience - his debut in America, to remind you - and knows he must put in a much better performance this time. Yes, he will have to chase the slick, potshotting Jones, whose record of 52-4 (38) still speaks for itself, but chase he will - hard and effectively.
Calzaghe punches out a decision.

[Max Molyneux]

I don't believe a single word the guy says.

You should read the latest claptrap from Calzaghe:

1) I offered Pavlik the fight, after I beat Lacy (when Pavlik didn't even have a world title). I offered him the fight after he beat Taylor (when Pavlik was stuck in a rematch clause and had a mandatory pressing). Pavlik turned me down twice!

2) Pavlik isn't worthy now. Kessler is better than Pavlik and I beat Kessler.

Kessler Is better I agree with him there, but the other one Is probably just trash talk.

[Autobarn]

Joe is getting really tiresome. I was well interested in his career after the Lacy and Kessler fights but he always ends up saying and doing something completely naff.

[whiskey]

Joe is getting really tiresome. I was well interested in his career after the Lacy and Kessler fights but he always ends up saying and doing something completely naff.

He is developing full blown enzo-izm.

My thoughts are with him.

[chesh]

I don't believe a single word the guy says.

You should read the latest claptrap from Calzaghe:

1) I offered Pavlik the fight, after I beat Lacy (when Pavlik didn't even have a world title). I offered him the fight after he beat Taylor (when Pavlik was stuck in a rematch clause and had a mandatory pressing). Pavlik turned me down twice!

2) Pavlik isn't worthy now. Kessler is better than Pavlik and I beat Kessler.

How can he not be worthy when Cal supposedly offered him the fight twice! LOL.