Breaking News - Calzaghe Retires

BBC SPORT | Boxing | Undefeated Calzaghe quits boxing

I just read this ........Undefeated world super-middleweight and light-heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe has announced his retirement.
The 36-year-old Welshman, who reigned as a world champion for more than 11 years, quits the ring with a glittering record of 46 wins from 46 fights.
"It was a difficult decision but I have achieved everything I wanted to achieve in boxing," he told BBC Sport.
"I've been world champion for 11 years. I've got no other goals to go for. That's why I am calling it a day."
In an exclusive interview with BBC sports editor Mihir Bose, Calzaghe, who held the WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF super-middleweight belts during his 16-year professional career, said he had thought "long and hard" about retiring but insisted it was the right move.

I'm proud to be one of only a few fighters in history to retire undefeated
Joe Calzaghe
"I had a long think with my family," he said. "My children wanted me to give up, plus my mum. That's why I called it a day and will go on to do something else."
Asked if he could ever be tempted back into the ring in the future, the Newbridge fighter replied: "My decision is to retire. I've been boxing for 25 years and, like I said, I've achieved everything I want to achieve.
"You can never say never in this game, but I can't see myself boxing again. There's loads of things I want to do. I'm proud to be one of only a few fighters in history to retire undefeated."
Calzaghe, who was born in London but moved to Wales when he was two, chalked up an impressive record as an amateur, winning 110 of his 120 contests after taking up the sport at the age of nine.
He began his professional career with a first-round stoppage of Paul Hanlon on 1 October, 1993, going on to win seven of his first nine bouts in round one.
Trained by his father, Enzo, he became British super-middleweight champion in 1995 before capturing his first world title in 1997, outpointing Chris Eubank to claim the WBO crown.
Despite suffering from several hand injuries, Calzaghe defended the title at total of 21 times, adding the IBF version to his trophy cabinet with a stunning victory over American Jeff Lacy in March 2006.

Joe Calzaghe wins Sports Personality

He then claimed the WBA and WBC belts with what he feels is his most satisfying fight, a unanimous points win over Denmark's Mikkel Kessler at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 4 November, 2007.
"Unifying the super-middleweight division in front of 50,000 fans was a dream come true for me," he told BBC Sport.
"I was fighting a younger fighter than me, I was the underdog. A lot of people thought I was going to lose that fight. It was a great night."
Just a few weeks later, he was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, collecting a CBE soon afterwards, which went nicely along the MBE he received in 2003.
Calzaghe's final two fights cemented his reputation as one of Britain's greatest ever boxers.
Stepping up to light-heavyweight and fighting in America for the first time, he won a split decision against Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas to become 'The Ring' light-heavyweight champion.
He then finished his career with a comprehensive points victory over the legendary Roy Jones Jr at New York's Madison Square Garden on 8 November.

Calzaghe poses with the WBO and WBC super-middleweight betlls
Calzaghe, will be 37 on 23 March, hinted before the fight with Jones that it would be his last, despite talk of a re-match with Hopkins.
Fellow Briton Carl Froch, who took possession of Calzaghe's old WBC super-middleweight belt by beating Canadian Jean Pascal in December, was also eager to take him on.
But Calzaghe resisted the lure of another big pay day and the chance to inch closer to Rocky Marciano's record of 49 wins from 49 fights.
Calzaghe, who has two sons, Connor and Joe, from his marriage to Mandy, says he now plans to concentrate on his charity work and becoming a boxing promoter.
Now divorced and living with model girlfriend Jo-Emma, he also reveals he had several TV projects lined up.

Good for him if he does. He's made money,and even if his legacy is a bit dodgy in spots,he definitly has one. He's a slap handed puncher not a power puncher,at his age speed starts to go. It saves him from a potential stunning loss,and if he's lost his stomach for the game,thats even more likely.
Get while the getting is good if thats what he wants to do.

Just when it was getting Good Thanks for the great fights a true legend

Enjoy it Joe(Peace)

It has just been on BBC sport.. Should of fought on in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by Trainer Monkey

Good for him if he does. He's made money,and even if his legacy is a bit dodgy in spots,he definitly has one. He's a slap handed puncher not a power puncher,at his age speed starts to go. It saves him from a potential stunning loss,and if he's lost his stomach for the game,thats even more likely.
Get while the getting is good if thats what he wants to do.

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I totaly agree

Ddiolch achos 'r choffadwriaethau Joe.

Hun chan 'r enilla bob amser. Yn sefyll ovation atat

:appl:

will miss his fights.but glad to see him retire on top unlike other great champions. will go down as an all time great. thanks for the memories mate

Good luck to him. A couple more fights would of been nice but if he feels it's time to stop then good on him, retired heathly and at the top of his game.

Happy retirement Joe

would of liked him to fight on, but wouldnt of wanted him to become one of these great fighters that fight on past there best,and take a beating he didnt need to. but what a great champion. one of my favourite fighters of all time. cheers joe

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Originally Posted by paddy448

will miss his fights.but glad to see him retire on top unlike other great champions. will go down as an all time great. thanks for the memories mate

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Joe is the man Joe = Legend

Got to say good for him...really only 2 decent fights for him at the moment...Johnson and Dawson...TBH neither would do much to enhance his legacy...

Good to hear a guy goong out on top with all his bearings...

Good. Nice timing.

"NOOOOOOOO JOE!"You at least have one more fight left in you!!Im sure you'll be tempted to fight one last time this year!You did say you'd like to finish off having your retiring fight over here on uk soil.Please dont go yet Calzaghe:eek:

amen to that

Quote:

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Originally Posted by X

Ddiolch achos 'r choffadwriaethau Joe.

Hun chan 'r enilla bob amser. Yn sefyll ovation atat

:appl:

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Stop speaking welsh mate,ha,clever clogs:p!!What hav you said anyhow?,im interested;)