By Zubair Ali: Only weeks after announcing his retirement, rumours and speculation regarding a ring return for Joe Calzaghe (46-0, 32 KOs) have been rife. The multiple time world champion was last in action at the end of last year, easily outpointing an aged Roy Jones Jr. The “pride of Wales” insists he has no regrets about hanging up his gloves, claiming no fighter could tempt him back into the ring insisting its “game over” in terms of his boxing career.
“People think I’m coming back but I can tell you now that’s not going to happen”, the 37-year-old said. “I’m pretty happy staying out of the ring. I’ve done everything I want to do in boxing so it’s game over.” His vanquished adversary Bernard Hopkins has constantly expressed a desire to avenge his controversial split decision defeat in a rematch.
Calzaghe has revealed that Hopkins has offered him “big money” to return. “I’ve got Bernard Hopkins offering me big money but if you are just motivated by the money that’s when you are going to get hurt. He says its unfinished business but it’s only unfinished business for him. He just has to live with the fact that he lost, which is tough”.
Calzaghe was also critical of the current state of the light heavyweight division. “In my weight division there are no great fighters. The biggest fights are with the ones I’ve already beaten.” Many refute this claim, believing that Calzaghe’s retirement has come at a time where there are many tough fights out there for him.
Among the names mentioned as possible opponents are IBF light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson, former opponent Bernard Hopkins and WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch, who has stated he would be willing to fight at a catch weight. So the question is should Calzaghe come back?
Or more importantly will he come back? I believe the answer is no. Having compiled a record of 46-0, he is one of only 3 European boxers in history to retire an undefeated world champion. Calzaghe is the longest reigning world champion in recent years, having held the WBO super middleweight title for over a decade defending it an incredible 21 times.
Many consider him the greatest British boxer in history whereas others believe he is over rated, adjudging him to have fought unimposing competition for the vast majority of his career, of which only four fights have been outside the UK.
This has prompted accusations that he is content to stay in his comfort zone, rather that travel abroad to face the best. Some also question Calzaghe’s credentials as a great fighter, pointing out he fought Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr when both were past there prime.
At the age of 37, would Calzaghe be willing to risk losing his unbeaten record just to silence his doubters? He claims money is no motivation so the most likely scenario is that Calzaghe will remain retired. But with Hopkins unwilling to drop his pursuit of a rematch and other potentially exciting match up’s to be made, will Calzaghe be able to resist the temptation?
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