Is Joe Calzaghe really retired ?

[FLINT ISLAND]

I only ask becasue he is not acting like a retired fighter.

He is still acting like he is competitive.

Having a ongoing rivarly with Carl Froch.

If you retire - surely you let all that edge go - and hand over the baton to the next generation.

But Calzaghe is still acting like he is the Champ.

[Craig14]

Maybe he's coming back to "Dominate the cruiserweight division" please no more threads like that!!!!

[FLINT ISLAND]

Maybe he's coming back to "Dominate the cruiserweight division" please no more threads like that!!!!

Well after all the stuff he has being putting up his nose and all the booze and burgers and chips and choclate he has been putting in his mouth combined with his inactivity - he wont even be able to get down to the Cruiserweight limit !!!!

[Adamj1987]

I only ask becasue he is not acting like a retired fighter.

He is still acting like he is competitive.

Having a ongoing rivarly with Carl Froch.

If you retire - surely you let all that edge go - and hand over the baton to the next generation.

But Calzaghe is still acting like he is the Champ.

all fun and games both are smiling

[Dioufy]

Joe can't let the spot-light go - it's kinda sad, but what can ya do? If he wants to get his mug in the paper, then let him. Boxing fans know the real truth about him.

[whiskey]

I know the story behind the pic

[Dioufy]

Do tell.

[whiskey]

Basically they went up to get their WBC award, basically a gold fist statue (based on Mike Tyson's fist incidentally).

Joe headed over to where Froch was on the stage area and asked "Hi Carl, Are you Ok?" and Froch replied along the lines of "Yes, it's a really good evening so far." and Calzaghe agreed it was. Then asked "Are WE ok ?" to which Froch replied "Sure, of course." and then Joe extended his hand and they shook. Then Joe congratulated Froch on the birth of his son, Carl thanked him and they they quickly chatted about Joe's two lads growing up fast.

Press then gathered and one shouted "Are you two gonna get it on one day?" and then Joe and Carl whispered 'let's give them something to talk about' and they jostled a bit for the cameras. I think Joe, who'd had a pint or two, then tried to lift up Carl but pulled his back out !

They spoke again later, Joe told Carl he ...

[Adamj1987]

Basically they went up to get their WBC award, basically a gold fist statue (based on Mike Tyson's fist incidentally).

Joe headed over to where Froch was on the stage area and asked "Hi Carl, Are you Ok?" and Froch replied along the lines of "Yes, it's a really good evening so far." and Calzaghe agreed it was. Then asked "Are WE ok ?" to which Froch replied "Sure, of course." and then Joe extended his hand and they shook. Then Joe congratulated Froch on the birth of his son, Carl thanked him and they they quickly chatted about Joe's two lads growing up fast.

Press then gathered and one shouted "Are you two gonna get it on one day?" and then Joe and Carl whispered 'let's give them something to talk about' and they jostled a bit for the cameras. I think Joe, who'd had a pint or two, then tried to lift up Carl but pulled his back out !

They spoke again later, Joe told Carl he ...

exactly as i said all harmless fun

[Dioufy]

Let down, or what? I want needle.

[whiskey]

Let down, or what? I want needle.

Unfortunately it was very friendly between them in the end. Joe basically told him that he felt he was spent up after the Jones fight and by the time Carl had beaten Taylor he'd not done a thing for 5 months and really didn't want to fight anymore, especially after his lad was so upset. That he knew it was time to call it a day if he couldn't be at his best any longer.

[Deserter]

Well call me a soft, old fool, but I was really glad to hear all that Gomez. They're two great fighters who have both contributed to British boxing in their own way so I think it's great they've got over whatever historical needle there was between them and developed a rapport.

[Cyclops]

In Boxing News this week Calzaghe talks a bit about Froch and seems to have softened to him a bit, calling him a "very good rather than a great fighter", "exciting" and "better than I thought he was" which isn't exactly glowing praise or a complete U-turn, but is probably a fair objective summary of Carl. Better than just slagging the fella off. He also picks Carl over Abraham (and I think we'll see Carl get the win here, too).

He also talks about how hard it was to fight Hopkins: "People say Hopkins is an old man- but he's a very good and very smart old man! He can still fight. In the ring with me he was so messy and awkward but, on top of that, the guy's clever. I had to keep pressing to get that decision. You can't really do anything with the guy. He's like an octopus with his arms. He ties you up. It's so difficult to fight him." It's good to hear Joe give Hopkins credit again. He gave him a lot of credit immediately after the fight and then immediately retracted it after Hopkins claiming he got robbed and Joe hit "like my sister" and stuff. He doesn't have to like him, but Joe should be the bigger man.

He also states he is absolutely retired.

[Counter-puncher]

Well call me a soft, old fool, but I was really glad to hear all that Gomez. They're two great fighters who have both contributed to British boxing in their own way so I think it's great they've got over whatever historical needle there was between them and developed a rapport.

yup agreed, they both come across better this way, thanks for the insight Gomez

[IRLangmaid25]

In Boxing News this week Calzaghe talks a bit about Froch and seems to have softened to him a bit, calling him a "very good rather than a great fighter", "exciting" and "better than I thought he was" which isn't exactly glowing praise or a complete U-turn, but is probably a fair objective summary of Carl. Better than just slagging the fella off. He also picks Carl over Abraham (and I think we'll see Carl get the win here, too).

He also talks about how hard it was to fight Hopkins: "People say Hopkins is an old man- but he's a very good and very smart old man! He can still fight. In the ring with me he was so messy and awkward but, on top of that, the guy's clever. I had to keep pressing to get that decision. You can't really do anything with the guy. He's like an octopus with his arms. He ties you up. It's so difficult to fight him." It's good to hear Joe give Hopkins credit again. He gave him a lot of credit immediately after the fight and then immediately retracted it after Hopkins claiming he got robbed and Joe hit "like my sister" and stuff. He doesn't have to like him, but Joe should be the bigger man.

He also states he is absolutely retired.

I remember reading a while back that sometimes he use to go into the gym to keep himself fit and he felt that there was nothing there when he went to the gym, and I hope that there is still some role for in British Boxing etc, as I think he will be such a shame that we cannot find a role for this country's greatest World Champion, and I agree with his assessment on Bernard Hopkins, he is a very canny and shrewd fighter who uses every single trick in the book to unsettle and not fight at your natural pace which he did Calzaghe.