Should Calzaghe retire?
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2008 10:19
Should undefeated Joe Calzaghe retire after beating Roy Jones Jr?
Will Joe Calzaghe be like Rocky Marciano and bow out at the top? Or will he take the Rocky Balboa route and be carried out on his shield?
inthenews.co.uk's James Christie lists five reasons why Joe could hang up his gloves and five reasons why he should carry on.
Why he should retire:
1.
There's no one left to fight
There's some argument that the Welshman has cleaned up the division of credible opponents with box office appeal.
The danger of him sleep-walking into a defeat against an ordinary Joe opponent clearly exists, while the sport's US paymasters are unlikely to bankroll a contest against a low-profile contender.
Calzaghe has often stated his reluctance to stage sequels against boxers he's already beaten, meaning that overtures from 40-something Bernard Hopkins and the high-quality Dane Mikkel Kessler are likely to fall on deaf ears.
2.
Mother knows best
Lennox Lewis aborted a comeback on his mother Violet's advice and Calzaghe has made no secret of his respect for his mum or her desire that he should quit.
His father Enzo is also his trainer and, although he might look like the more absent-minded one of the Chuckle Brothers, he is believed to be in favour of his son giving retirement serious consideration.
3.
His business interests
The Roy Jones Jr fight was the first event that the champion has become involved with as a promoter.
Having once sworn that he would never follow in the footsteps of Frank Warren (his former promoter, who he seems to have fallen out with) the success of the bout must suggest that it is a career avenue worth devoting more time to.
4.
Previous fighters
A look at boxing history books will find no shortage of entries under the chapter: 'Champions who carried on too long'.
Two of Calzaghe's great heroes are Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Hagler arguably carried on one fight too long and lost a contentious points decision to Sugar Ray. The victor of the fight also tarnished his reputation by outstaying his welcome within the ropes.
5.
The advice of other fighters
Ricky Hatton and Lennox Lewis are both admirers of the 2007 Sports Personality of the Year, who won the BBC award with considerably less help than the 2008 winner will receive.
Both think that Calzaghe should quit while he has world title belts around his still-trim waist.
Five reasons he shouldn't retire:
1.
Reaching 50 fights unbeaten
This has long been seen as the Holy Grail of prize fighters. The great Rocky Marciano, another fighter with Italian connections, reached 49 before calling it a day undefeated.
Larry Holmes came unstuck after 48 victories and retired for the first time at 36 - the age Calzaghe is now.
Joe has notched up 46 straight victories and only a few years ago was saying that he could fight on until he was 40.
Three easy defences could see him equal the great Rocky milestone - a tempting prospect.
2.
Money
With refreshing honesty, Calzaghe, although clearly a fan of the sport, has said that money has been a prime motivation.
He was unlucky that his peak years came just after the money-spinning era of Nigel Benn, Steve Collins, James Toney, Michael Watson and Chris Eubank.
Calzaghe fought Eubank at the end of the eccentric Brighton boxer's career and the monocled dandy remarked that the Welshman has been unfortunate to never have a career-defining rivalry.
Serious money has only started flowing into the Calzaghe coffers in the last few years - and topping up his pension pot will be hard to resist.
3.
Being knocked down
Calzaghe said after the Roy Jones fight that getting knocked down in the first round was "deja vu man". It certainly was - he also had to clamber off the canvas at the start of the Bernard Hopkins bout.
He got the nod from the judges at the end of each contest but is this how he will want to recall his swansong? Being knocked down by older fighters who he couldn't return the favour to?
4.
He's still boxing well
The 'average' Joe Calzaghe (who looked so lucky to get a points decision against Bernard Hopkins and laboured to defeat Robin Reid) was replaced with the exceptional Joe Calzaghe (who destroyed Jeff Lacy, Kessler and Eubank) for the Roy Jones match-up.
It is worth noting that he was only 15 shy of throwing 1,000 punches against Jones – a man who was once thought of as the greatest pound-for-pound pugilist in the world.
Could he make one more outing to give his young sons, who apparently never want him to retire, yet more pride?
5.
The green, green grass of home
And could the location for such a fight be the Millenium Stadium in Wales rather than the US, where his last two fights took place?
About 7,000 fans saw him triumph in the Yanks' backyard. The figure could be nearer 70,000 for a final homecoming farewell.
Conclusion: The lure of one last payday where it all started is likely to prove irresistible and IBF light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson will be the probable opponent.