I'd like the Calzaghe victory to be the final chapter.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Last Saturday I think Joe finally silenced all the doubters. He acquited himself well despite presenting a sub-par "boxing perform,ance.
He showed grit, determination and resiliance in overcoming the old master Hopkins and I felt that his career had been at last legitimised and he had proved all he needed to. It was an incredibly close fight, with Joe just edging it, considering the knockdown. I feel the judges were not very enthused by the tactics Hopkins employed. It was a victory for boxing as the more active and aggresive fighter was favoured over the fighter who employed foul tactics to supplement his ring generalship.


However, I'm not excited at the thought of another Calzaghe fight. I think he has taken tough fights in recent times, overcame the obstacles he's been presented with and no longer needs to fight for his legacy.
However, coming offf fights such as Lacy, Bika, Manfredo, Kessler and Hopkins I acknowledge that it will be difficult to leave at a time that is proving more fruitful finacncially than any other time in his career.
Should Joe leave now, he cannot come back in a few years because of his advanced age. This fact suggests that he may indeed fight on for a couple of more fights.

Joe has proved that he is a great fighter. No longer a good fighter, a great fighter. At times when the referee seemed to be aganst him, his corner was in disarray and panic and the crowd were near silenced, he soldieried on.
In rounds he seemed to lose early in the fight, he still rallied to the final bell, knowing he did not score the round, but choosing to fight regardless.Rising from the knockdown Joe illustrated his quality, not only in the manner that he arose, but also by learning from his mistake and preventing a reoccurence later in the fight.

Great fight Joe, but you have done enough, there is no need to continue, you've proved enough.

[Phil]

good post as usual Donny, I think he'll fight Jones in one last fight then retire. Any fights he has now are all about the money and he deserves his few big paydays before calling it quits

[bikersk]

Yep that's why he went to the US.

[donnydarkoIRL]

I realise that he's now got a huge opportunity for making money as he's finally got the exposure he deserves in the US.

Some may argue that he should strike while the iron is hot and make some money, but I for one feel that he should not allow this win to change his plans and he should retire soon.

[Fenster]

Silence the haters?

Check the threads.. They all scored it for Hopkins


On a serious note, Calzaghe should do what he says - have one more fight with a fossil then go... unless Carl Froch makes himself MASSIVE, then Calzaghe can come out of retirement for an ALL Brit classic match-up...

[bikersk]

I realise that he's now got a huge opportunity for making money as he's finally got the exposure he deserves in the US.

Some may argue that he should strike while the iron is hot and make some money, but I for one feel that he should not allow this win to change his plans and he should retire soon.

Yeah some might argue though that he's never been a "great" and now is his chance to prove that on the biggest stage. He may have left the move a little late in his career but pulling the pin now would just draw huge criticism and worst of all give Bernard the opportunity to say he retired Joe, he would say it don't doubt it. He has the chance to prove something to the whole world, and don't forget Bernard makes everyone look like they are not at their best. I think he needs to keep his momentum going.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Silence the haters?

Check the threads.. They all scored it for Hopkins


On a serious note, Calzaghe should do what he says - have one more fight with a fossil then go... unless Carl Froch makes himself MASSIVE, then Calzaghe can come out of retirement for an ALL Brit classic match-up...

I think Cal acquited himself well.

We've got three or four few fellows on here who usually swear by Compubox, yet are completely disreagrding it now

It is a pity Clinton lost, that would have served as a nice encore for him.

[donnydarkoIRL]

I realise that he's now got a huge opportunity for making money as he's finally got the exposure he deserves in the US.

Some may argue that he should strike while the iron is hot and make some money, but I for one feel that he should not allow this win to change his plans and he should retire soon.

Yeah some might argue though that he's never been a "great" and now is his chance to prove that on the biggest stage. He may have left the move a little late in his career but pulling the pin now would just draw huge criticism and worst of all give Bernard the opportunity to say he retired Joe, he would say it don't doubt it. He has the chance to prove something to the whole world, and don't forget Bernard makes everyone look like they are not at their best. I think he needs to keep his momentum going.

It is true that retiring Hopkins would allow Hopkins a lot of talk.

One more will be OK, but beyond that I worry

[bikersk]

Silence the haters?

Check the threads.. They all scored it for Hopkins


On a serious note, Calzaghe should do what he says - have one more fight with a fossil then go... unless Carl Froch makes himself MASSIVE, then Calzaghe can come out of retirement for an ALL Brit classic match-up...

I think Cal acquited himself well.

We've got three or four few fellows on here who usually swear by Compubox, yet are completely disreagrding it now

It is a pity Clinton lost, that would have served as a nice encore for him.

Boxing fans use compubox like politicians use stats, they bring them up only when they suit their argument and dis them when they dont and say "well stats can be misleading".

[Mark TKO]

I know where you are coming from Donny but Joe will want one last wedge in the retirement fund and there's some saying a last hurrah against such a legend as Jones can bring in enough to double the ring earnings of his entire career !

No way does he turn that down.

Pavlik and Taylor are the only real other viable opponents and though a Pavlik win would probably bring more credibility he doesn't bring the ££££ that Jones does to the table. Jones has also clawed back a bit of credibility since the two devastating KOs a couple of years back so although Cal is a firm favourite its by no means a foregone conclusion.
This fight could possibly be the last ring appearance of two modern day legends and I would love to see them get it on in MSG New York.

If the fight does happen abroad than I reckon Joe would have one last farewell fight at the Millenium Stadium - regardless even if Jones beat him.

Am kind of glad Joe isn't on 47-0 rather than 45. The temptation, I feel, would have been too great to go for Marciano's record and i don't think he would have made it. Would have been a shame if he lost the '0' that way.

Coincidentally i reckon Joe will comfortably UD Roy

[Mark TKO]

...there's also the danger that when a champ retires undefeated the big money offers will keep coming in to lure him back when someone new arrives on the scene and people start saying 'could he have beaten Calzaghe'.....

[bikersk]

You know I reckon the money is less of an issue for him than the legacy. He would have enough to lead a comfortable lifestyle no doubt now. The more I see these old fighters coming out to fight well past their time Ala Jeff Fenech makes me think they need to have that perfect legacy in their own mind before retiring. Joe still has a lot of clouds hovering and probably wants to clear them before retiring. Lewis is the only one I can think of who doesn't seem to need to go back. He did all he needed to to retire without feeling the need to go back. If Joe retires now there will always be talk that his last fight was against a 43 year old.

[Mark TKO]

If Joe retires now there will always be talk that his last fight was against a 43 year old.

well that's easily countered by pointing out that the 43 year old was ranked #4 in the Pound-for-Pound ratings (and also higher than Joe)

[bikersk]

Touche.

[ICB]

Last Saturday I think Joe finally silenced all the doubters. He acquited himself well despite presenting a sub-par "boxing perform,ance.
He showed grit, determination and resiliance in overcoming the old master Hopkins and I felt that his career had been at last legitimised and he had proved all he needed to. It was an incredibly close fight, with Joe just edging it, considering the knockdown. I feel the judges were not very enthused by the tactics Hopkins employed. It was a victory for boxing as the more active and aggresive fighter was favoured over the fighter who employed foul tactics to supplement his ring generalship.


However, I'm not excited at the thought of another Calzaghe fight. I think he has taken tough fights in recent times, overcame the obstacles he's been presented with and no longer needs to fight for his legacy.
However, coming offf fights such as Lacy, Bika, Manfredo, Kessler and Hopkins I acknowledge that it will be difficult to leave at a time that is proving more fruitful finacncially than any other time in his career.
Should Joe leave now, he cannot come back in a few years because of his advanced age. This fact suggests that he may indeed fight on for a couple of more fights.

Joe has proved that he is a great fighter. No longer a good fighter, a great fighter. At times when the referee seemed to be aganst him, his corner was in disarray and panic and the crowd were near silenced, he soldieried on.
In rounds he seemed to lose early in the fight, he still rallied to the final bell, knowing he did not score the round, but choosing to fight regardless.Rising from the knockdown Joe illustrated his quality, not only in the manner that he arose, but also by learning from his mistake and preventing a reoccurence later in the fight.

Great fight Joe, but you have done enough, there is no need to continue, you've proved enough.

I don't see why he shouldn't keep on fighting if he thinks he can still do it, going out with a controversial win over 43 year old Bernard Hopkins isn't a good way to go out. Although saying that Calzaghe is starting to look little worn out IMO, like i said in the other thread his combo's aren't as fast or good as they used to be, and his jab seems to be lacking the snap it used to have as well. And Fenster just because some people scored it for Hopkins doesn't mean there haters, they obviously liked the cleaner more effective punches from Hopkins like i did.