[robfosters]

Goodbye to a great boxer.

BBC SPORT | Boxing | Undefeated Calzaghe quits boxing

[jonnypb]

can't blame him for going out on a high, he's had all his big money fights that'll provide well for his family and he must have a little doubt in the back of his mind that someone could get him with a lucky punch and he'd lose his unbeaten record

[Synchronicity]

I think that if there was anyone with a big enough reputation left for him to fight he would have carried on but despite there being a few opponents out there , ie Dawson,Johnson - none of them would have enhanced his legacy at all so cannot blame him for calling it a day really.

[Miyazaki]

If Calzaghe was American no doubt they'd be trumping him over there as an equal to Muhammed Ali or like like.

I hope he enjoys his retirement. Possibly the best boxer of his generation.

[JohnG]

That pratt Adrian Durham is on TalkSport at the moment trying to say he wasn't as good as everyone says he was

[addyb]

Originally Posted by JohnG

That pratt Adrian Durham is on TalkSport at the moment trying to say he wasn't as good as everyone says he was

Dont get me wrong im a huge calzaghe fan but there is some truth in that statement. For one it was really only in his later years that he started to fight some really big names. To be a true true great in my eyes you need to have travelled away from your comfort zone a lot more and had the same results.

IE fight kessler on his own turf etc.

Im not taking anything away from the guy, hes been a great champ and has a fantastic record but for the majority of it hes not been tested. Again i know that can be unfair as you can only beat the guy in front of you but hey ive started rambling now and cant stop!! LOL!

[Ron240]

Very happy when i read this....i think Joe has made the right decision.
I thought he should have called it a day after the Hopkins fight....then the Roy Jones Jr fight turned out to be, well....easy!
Yes, i know that would probably have been a different story when Jones was in his prime, but its over and done with now, you cant turn back the clock.

Good luck to Joe, i hope he enjoys his retirement, and is not tempted to return for one more fight, because that unbeaten record took 12 years to achieve, but could be wiped out in 10 seconds.

Despite what his critics might say...Joe Calzaghe is undoubtedly the best ambassador for British boxing that we have ever had, or are ever likely to have again.

[Miyazaki]

Did anyone see that documentary about him on tele a few years ago?

Seemed like a really nice normal bloke, who worked his ******** off morning, noon and night to get what he wanted.

An excellent role model.

[Ron240]

Originally Posted by Miyazaki

Did anyone see that documentary about him on tele a few years ago?

Yep, i believe it was called "No Ordinary Joe"
He is a really down to earth guy, definitely not full of himself, which is refreshing in this game.

[Harj]

Im sorry beating an aged Jones & Hopkins does not make him Britains greatest fighter, also beating up a weight drained Eubank who took on the fights on a weeks notice is not his greates acheivment.

Kessler was okay, Lacy was overrated as career since has shown. Fights against Pudwill/Mcintyre/Veit/Starie and many more were barley top thirty fights let alone world championship.

He never took the risk at the peak of his career, never took the risk to go to USA with a paycut and become the man, like Lloyd Honeygan beating then pound for pound best fighter Don Curry, or Ken Buchanan.

Too many non fights against nobodies and then a couple of fighters way past their best does not make him great.

Britains best (in my memory).

1) Lennox Lewis went to USA to fight the best, Bowe and Tyson avoided him.
2) Nasseem Hamed, went to USA and fought the best he could, came undone, but took the chance and gave a cracking fight with Kevin Kelly
3) Nigel Benn, fought the best at their peaks, went to USA after Watson defeat and fouth Dewitt & Iran Barkly (who had ko'd Hearns). Fought fighters at their peak.
4) Eubank, I know he had many duff defences went to Germany and beat Rochhiagani, beat Benn, won titles at three weights.
5) Bruno, won a world title before it became a joke,defended against Tyson twice, it takes guts to do that.
6) Lloyd Honeygan, No one but him could believe he could beat the Don Curry, who was considered the best pound for pound fight at the time. He did it ! Also defended against the likes of Bumphus/Blocker.

Going back before that I recall Alan Minter was undisputed middleweight champion, John Conteh would have wiped the smile of Calzaghe quite easily.