Joe Calzaghe considers comeback
Retirement in boxing is never permanent, just ask Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman and Floyd Mayweather Jnr. The latest to be linked with a return to the ring is former undisputed super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe.
Word coming out of Golden Boy Promotions is that Calzaghe has expressed an interest in a re-match with Bernard Hopkins. The two met in a frankly uninspiring match-up two years ago and “B-Hop” is renowned for being a stickler for revenge. He always wanted to get his own back on Roy Jones Jnr and he got there in the end, a mere 17 years later. At 45 years of age he can’t give Calzaghe the same time frame, although I wouldn’t rule out Hopkins still fighting at the age of 60.
The first question on everybody’s lips is, “What’s the point?” Their previous fight was a snoozefest of epic proportions and since then all they have done is grow older and slower. Anyone who saw the Hopkins v Jones Jnr abomination of a fight will testify that “The Executioner’s” best days are behind him. In fact anyone who saw that fight and still follows boxing deserves to be saluted.
Of course Calzaghe is not going to be the same either, he will inevitably lost some of his rapid hand speed and his conditioning would have dropped without gym and road work. Although his footwork’s probably sharper thanks to his spell on Strictly Come Dancing, imagine the look on Hopkins face if Calzaghe swerves him with a deft Charleston move.
The Welshman should stay retired and in truth he probably will. Some fighters just miss having something to do and can’t “turn off” as it were. Leonard famously came out of retirement about 50 times. As a multi-millionaire with a family he had no need to continue a boxing career, his comebacks were purely because he wanted to fight again. The same could be levelled at the “Pride of Newport”, who obviously has time on his hands these days, he is now a regular on the party scene and was caught out in a tabloid cocaine sting.
With his unbeaten record at stake it shouldn’t even enter his mind, 46-46-0 is incredible, 47-46-1 is just incredibly good.
Carl Froch has tried to lure him out before for a money-spinning all-British clash. Although I’m sure Calzaghe was keen to school “The Cobra” he remained retired, a mooted fight against Robin Reid has also never come to be. It’s easy to call out a retired legend, they have nothing to prove, don’t train and can be accused of living off a legacy and hiding. Calzaghe has been victim of that since he retired, but like playground taunts, they should just be ignored.
Don’t let them get to you Joe, stick to the dancing.
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