Post by J180 on May 5, 2010 11:33:53 GMT 1
Coach Enzo Calzaghe rules out Joe Calzaghe comeback
Enzo Calzaghe has ruled out his undefeated son Joe coming back for a rematch with American Bernard Hopkins.
Calzaghe, who reigned as a super-middle and light-heavyweight champion for more than 11 years, retired last year with a perfect 46-fight professional record.
But Golden Boy Promotions chief Richard Schaefer revealed Calzaghe had "expressed an interest" in returning.
However Calzaghe Sr, Joe's trainer, told BBC Sport: "There is no truth in it - and I would be the first to know."
The Welshman beat superstar Hopkins in a controversial split points decision in Las Vegas on his United States and light-heavyweight debut in April 2008.
Calzaghe then quit the ring after a unanimous points victory over Roy Jones Jr, another American boxing legend, at New York's famous Madison Square Garden.
And after the fight, reflecting on a career that included beating Chris Eubank to win the WBO super-middleweight title in 1997, unifying the division by beating Dane Mikkel Kessler and winning the 2007 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, Calzaghe said he had "achieved everything I wanted to achieve in boxing".
However, the 38-year-old, who held the WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF super-middleweight belts during his 16-year professional career, was back in Vegas at the weekend to watch Floyd Mayweather Jr's points win over Shane Mosley, strengthening rumours that he could be close to a return.
Hopkins also beat Jones Jr last month and both he and Calzaghe have apparently spoken to Oscar de la Hoya's promotion company about another Anglo-American super-fight, with Schaefer telling the Daily Mail a fight could happen in the autumn.
Calzaghe, who has suffered costly domestic and promotional separations in recent years and struggled with a lack of routine since retiring, may be tempted by a big-money rematch and left the comeback door ajar when he retired by saying "you can never say never in this game", although he then said "I can't see myself boxing again".
And renowned trainer Enzo, who has been in Joe's corner since the age of nine, insisted he would not be his son's trainer should the southpaw announce a comeback.
"The talk of Joe coming back is news to me and being close as I am to Joe as a trainer and a father, I would be first know," he said.
"As far as I'm concerned he is retired and the word retired means retired.
"He probably wakes up every morning and think shall I have another fight? But thinking about it and doing it are two completely different things.
"His legacy is second to none and only a few in the sport have the mystique of finishing their career unbeaten
"He retired at the very top after a superb win over Roy Jones Jr in one of his finest performances - he whitewashed a legend.
"He retired because he had lost his hunger for boxing. Once you lose the hunger, how are you going to reignite it? For financial gain?
"If Joe comes back now, he's playing with danger because he has nothing to gain and everything to lose. If he does ask me my advice on a comeback I'd say go ahead - but without me. I know what he achieved cannot be touched or bettered.
"Joe and my boxing philosophy was always it's all about the glory rather than the money whereas a comeback would be for the wrong reason.
"If Joe has a bad day at the office and loses then retires again - it's too late as he would have lost that unbeaten tag.
"My theory is if his appetite has gone, why come back?"
Enzo Calzaghe has ruled out his undefeated son Joe coming back for a rematch with American Bernard Hopkins.
Calzaghe, who reigned as a super-middle and light-heavyweight champion for more than 11 years, retired last year with a perfect 46-fight professional record.
But Golden Boy Promotions chief Richard Schaefer revealed Calzaghe had "expressed an interest" in returning.
However Calzaghe Sr, Joe's trainer, told BBC Sport: "There is no truth in it - and I would be the first to know."
The Welshman beat superstar Hopkins in a controversial split points decision in Las Vegas on his United States and light-heavyweight debut in April 2008.
Calzaghe then quit the ring after a unanimous points victory over Roy Jones Jr, another American boxing legend, at New York's famous Madison Square Garden.
And after the fight, reflecting on a career that included beating Chris Eubank to win the WBO super-middleweight title in 1997, unifying the division by beating Dane Mikkel Kessler and winning the 2007 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, Calzaghe said he had "achieved everything I wanted to achieve in boxing".
However, the 38-year-old, who held the WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF super-middleweight belts during his 16-year professional career, was back in Vegas at the weekend to watch Floyd Mayweather Jr's points win over Shane Mosley, strengthening rumours that he could be close to a return.
Hopkins also beat Jones Jr last month and both he and Calzaghe have apparently spoken to Oscar de la Hoya's promotion company about another Anglo-American super-fight, with Schaefer telling the Daily Mail a fight could happen in the autumn.
Calzaghe, who has suffered costly domestic and promotional separations in recent years and struggled with a lack of routine since retiring, may be tempted by a big-money rematch and left the comeback door ajar when he retired by saying "you can never say never in this game", although he then said "I can't see myself boxing again".
And renowned trainer Enzo, who has been in Joe's corner since the age of nine, insisted he would not be his son's trainer should the southpaw announce a comeback.
"The talk of Joe coming back is news to me and being close as I am to Joe as a trainer and a father, I would be first know," he said.
"As far as I'm concerned he is retired and the word retired means retired.
"He probably wakes up every morning and think shall I have another fight? But thinking about it and doing it are two completely different things.
"His legacy is second to none and only a few in the sport have the mystique of finishing their career unbeaten
"He retired at the very top after a superb win over Roy Jones Jr in one of his finest performances - he whitewashed a legend.
"He retired because he had lost his hunger for boxing. Once you lose the hunger, how are you going to reignite it? For financial gain?
"If Joe comes back now, he's playing with danger because he has nothing to gain and everything to lose. If he does ask me my advice on a comeback I'd say go ahead - but without me. I know what he achieved cannot be touched or bettered.
"Joe and my boxing philosophy was always it's all about the glory rather than the money whereas a comeback would be for the wrong reason.
"If Joe has a bad day at the office and loses then retires again - it's too late as he would have lost that unbeaten tag.
"My theory is if his appetite has gone, why come back?"