By Liam Santiago: I don’t like to see a fighter come out of retirement unless I believe they have something left in the tank. There is a point when all that experience, all them rounds and all that skill just becomes ring wear. Former world champion Joe Calzaghe, however, has not reached that point.
In his last fight, against Roy Jones Jnr, he looked better than ever. His reflexes and hand speed were amazing. OK, he suffered the knock down. So what? He got up and won, is that not what a great fighter does? Recent interviews with the Welsh warrior show big signs he wants to return.
In a recent interview with WalesOnline, Calzaghe claimed there is still no fighter out there who can touch him and he had a few digs at British rival Carl Froch. Is he taunting fighters to challenge him? Maybe he was waiting to fight Froch and the new super six tournament has crushed that plan. Talking about Froch, Joe said ‘I’m watching him get beaten up already, so I don’t need to bother’. Is there a bit of anger in that, realising he cannot now fight the big punching Nottingham man. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Joe and Froch just love to get digs in about each other. But I sense that Calzaghe has a desire for one last fight with Froch and might have just lost that chance.
Calzaghe stated recently that he would return to the ring for £10 million. That’s a massive amount of money and in all fairness who wouldn’t fight for that amount. However, again, just by stating this it shows he is thinking about one last fight. Joe still trains everyday in his Newbridge gym. Weather that is simply to keep fit I don’t know. What I do know is that there is very few fighters, even now, that could come close to beating him.
Maybe Calzaghe would be interested in fighting the winner of the super six tournament. In my eyes Kessler is the favourite to win and Joe has already comfortably beaten him. Looking at the six fighters in the tournament, I just can’t see any of them having a chance against the Welsh man. His speed, reflexes and chin would once again prove to be too much for any of them. Joe is no stranger to the criticism he has received from critics claiming he wouldn’t get passed the first round of the tournament and the likes. Them same critics claimed he wouldn’t get passed Lacy and Kessler. He did a pretty good job there did he not? Theses same critics make judgements on the opposition Joe has faced in the past and that’s fine, it’s their opinion. But remember, in only his 23rd fight he defeated Chris Eubank to become world champion and remained world champion for the next 23 fights. How can you criticise they sort of achievement? Beyond me.
If Calzaghe decides to come back and fight on I’d love to see him fight Froch at Wembley. Obviously there are other options, such as rematching Bernard Hopkins, rematching Mikkel Kessler or fighting the undefeated light- heavyweight, Chad Dawson. However, as you may notice, half of these choices have already been beaten by Calzaghe, so in all fairness he has nothing left to prove. If he wants Froch or Kessler he will have to wait until the super six finishes. Do I think he will fight on? Yes I do. His achievements have been outstanding and only in years to come will they be properly appreciated.
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