Calzaghe calls it quits

Welshman ends stellar career with perfect 46-fight record

Last updated: 6th February 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Calzaghe calls it quits

Calzaghe: Unbeaten career

Joe Calzaghe factfile
1972: Born March 23, Acton
1993: Makes his professional debut at Cardiff Arms Park, stopping Paul Hanlon in round one
1995: Wins the British super-middleweight title in his 14th fight
1997: Beats Chris Eubank to claim the vacant WBO super-middleweight title
2006:March - Beats IBF champion Jeff Lacy on points in their rearranged clash having broken his hand in win over Evans Ashira
November - Forced to relinquish the IBF title after agreeing a defence against Peter Manfredo
2007:April - Stops Manfredo in front of 35,000 fans at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium
November - Wins by unanimous decision against Mikel Kessler to become the first unified super-middleweight champion, bringing together the WBO, WBA and WBC titles
2008:April - Earns a split decision victory over Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas
June - Awarded the CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List
November - Beats Roy Jones Jnr via unanimous decision at light-heavyweight fight in New York
2009:February - Announces his retirement from boxing, having won all 46 of his professional fights.

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Undefeated world super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe has announced his retirement from boxing.

The Welshman won all 46 of his professional bouts, the last being an emphatic points victory over Roy Jones Jnr last November.

Admitting the decision to hang up his gloves was one of the toughest of his life, the 36-year-old insisted he had "no more mountains to climb".

Calzaghe retires as Britain's only ever unbeaten world champion and finishes just short of Rocky Marciano's record of 49 straight wins.

Special thanks

"I've been lucky to have had the most fantastic career and I owe my thanks to all the many people who have been at my side and helped me to achieve everything," he said.

"Of course my special thanks go to my family and, especially to my dad Enzo who first encouraged me to put on the gloves and who was at my side and in my corner for every one of my fights.

"Deciding to call it a day has been one of the toughest decisions of my life. There's always the temptation to fight on, especially if you are the champ and no-one has ever beaten you.

"But I've now come to a point where the satisfaction of retiring undefeated has to outweigh the thrill of another fight.

"I've also achieved every goal I've ever set myself in the ring - there are no more mountains left to climb."

Calzaghe's decision brings to an end a stellar career that started back in 1993 with a first-round knockout of Paul Hanlon at Cardiff Arms Park.

Dominant

The southpaw defeated Chris Eubank in 1997 to win the WBO super-middleweight belt, one he retained for over a decade.

He also claimed the IBF version with a career-defining performance against American Jeff Lacy before unifying the WBO, WBA and WBC belts in November 2007 by out-pointing Mikkel Kessler.

After confirming himself as the dominant force in the division Calzaghe stepped up to light heavyweight to take on Bernard Hopkins, getting the better of 'The Executioner' on a split decision last April.

His final hurrah came against Jones Jnr when he recovered from being knocked down in the opening round to maintain his unblemished record.

Has Calzaghe made the right decision? Where does he stand amongst boxing's greats? Let us have your thoughts using the form below.

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Comments (73)

Daniel Harding says...

I would just like to say that these comments cofirm the british attitude to winners, we don`t like them. Joe is easily the best british boxer we`ve had. If he had lost a few time and did panto, we would love him like we do Bruno! even if he was very average. Winners in other sports like Steve Davis, Man Utd are also hated beacuse they are the best! Cheers & all the best to Joe!!!

Posted 13:11 25th February 2009

Dexter Hastings says...

joe calzaghie was a great boxer but you look at his "undefeated" record and theres not that many big wins chris eubank was way past his best the same as roy jones jr and bernard hopkins who in my eyes beat joe . take them out and what have you got jeff lacey was very very over hyped which gave joe the chance to show his skills but was never a real test . the kessler fight was his hardest fight and for that 1 fight i rate him. i just think some of the things he said about carl froch were out of order and near the end of his career started chatting to much crap about other boxers

Posted 14:12 22nd February 2009

Mark Rixon says...

To Mick Griff... "As for the fighters, he fought Eubank at the end of his career,Lacey at the end of his career" Let's clear this up! Jeff Lacy is still a young man(24 i think) so clearly not at the end of his career. Chris Eubank was 31 when he fought Joe and not past his best. Eubank moved up to cruiserweight after that fight and took on Carl Thompson who was as hard as nails and in his prime! So think before you make uneducated comments about boxing mate as you only make yourself look foolish!!

Posted 08:59 22nd February 2009

Juber Patel says...

Joe ur a legend !!!! Thanks for the Memories !!!! All the haters are BUMS !!!! Who know nothing !!!! God Bless Ya !!!!

Posted 21:55 20th February 2009

Alan Harris says...

Lets not confuse great British fighters with world fighters. I have been a boxing fan for forty odd years, great fighters, like Ali,Leonard, Hearns, Duran etc Benn and Eubank to a certain degree had that wow factor about them. Joe never had it.Useful boxer yes, great no

Posted 00:04 20th February 2009

Lee Clayton says...

Joe Calzaghe. Legend. End of Story.

Posted 08:14 8th February 2009

Andy Skellorn says...

To all the Joe Calzaghe haters, how many boxers can you name with an undefeated record your time starts now tick tock......................................................................

Posted 07:06 8th February 2009

Ross John says...

Firstly, Joe Calzaghe is, without a doubt the greatest boxer Britain will ever see. And those who commented that Joe will not be recognised as a true great because of the lack of knockout power, have you actually seen his records? obviously not, 46 fights, 46 wins, 32 knockouts. Lack of knockout power? are you serious? the guy is the best pound for pound fighter in the world and it will be a very long time before any fighter will even come close to his record. Carl Froch does not deserve a chance at Joe, and is nowhere near good enough to fight such a decorated champion! Dream on Carl!

Posted 07:05 8th February 2009

Jen Barnett says...

Joe is the best!! I have been lucky enough to go and watch a couple of fights live in manchester Uk and think he deserves all the titles he has won. He is a legend and its a real shame when people, media put a negative view on him. Well done joe and thanks for the fighting memories. All the best in your retirement you deserve it mate x

Posted 00:57 8th February 2009

Donn Jonn says...

To describe a man who by the way beat no one of note in their prime in all the years he boxed, then goes over to fght faded greats and just about win as a legend simply becuase of a dubious record, is an insult to the word. 46 0 means nothing when you consider whom he fought and when he fought them Muhammed Ali is a Legend, Joe Whatever is not even a speck on the legendary map. Pls desist from abusing the word

Posted 20:47 7th February 2009

James King says...

I just want to say that Joe is a legend, however, he is not the only british world champion to retire undefeated. Anyone remember Terry Marsh? I know he did draw one contest, but he was still unbeaten.

Posted 18:56 7th February 2009

Mick Griff says...

My views on Joe Calzaghe, some people might think are bit harsh i didn't think joe was a great champion i watched some of Joe's fights and found them quite boring his quick combinations were like he was slapping a fairy. As for the fighters, he fought Eubank at the end of his career,Lacey at the end of his career, Hopkins at the end of his career,Jones at the end of his career, now all good fighters but a bit past it what i dont understand is if Joe was champion 11 years ago why was he not fighting them then i heard Joe would,nt go to America due to a fear of flying but now he is over that, or was it a fear of fighting really good boxers at the top of thier game. When you think about Jc 46 fights how many good fighters can you think of ? All the best Joe.

Posted 18:02 7th February 2009

Shah Hussain says...

Some interesting points discussed, however has anyone elaborated on as to why no one from America was hungry and publicly showing they were keen to fight Joe Calzaghe when they were in their prime? why is it fighters from Great Britain should be the ones always looking for that so called big fight in the USA? the best (Joe Calzaghe) was in Great Britain, if the worlds best were that interested in beating the best, everyone would know about it at the time....I think Joe Calzaghe was a man which the rest of the world avoided yet his boxing style was criticised as an excuse to avoid fighting him to these so called fighters in their Prime. Good Luck to Joe and his family, he has truly done British Boxing proud

Posted 17:24 7th February 2009

Paul Stephens says...

Joe Calzaghe is simply one of the finest boxers of his generation. He fought everyone who would fight him - Jones and Hopkins avoided Calzaghe when they were all in their prime. He then beat them both when he was past his prime. The display against the best in the world, Lacy, was unbelievable and he destroyed Kessler to unify the titles. Froch is not in the same league and never will be and doesn't deserve a shot at Joe. Good luck Joe and thanks for the memories

Posted 15:40 6th February 2009

Stephen King says...

Absolutely a great champion and his career is perfect and pristine, however i think Calzaghe is not going to get the credit a great champion boxer would receive. Why? Its because the top level fighters he was facing there was'nt the knouckout power. I know that might sound strange because a win is a win but Greats have that, Greats are the fighters who have everything and that bit more. Its not about being undefeated, its about the whole package, having every corner covered. No doubt he conquerd everyone but he lacked that power and the punches where sometimes turned slaps, it didnt look good when he did that. 10 years ago Jones or Calzaghe? However he did good and he should be extremely proud, for me the best Britain has ever had.

Posted 15:37 6th February 2009

Greg Wilde says...

Right first things first, Joe Calzaghe is a Legend!! but it is debatable if he can be considered the greatest of all time, even the greatest from Britain! Yes he fought some good people, but not one person has mentioned a fighter of note he faced between winning the WBO and fighting Lacy, not one. That was 11 years!! why has he not fought more people of note??? why?? I like Joe, he's a great boxer, but i think he had a lot more to offer than we've seen. Anyway, good career, great record, although even if that record was blemished with the odd loss, i think Joe would have stood more chance of being considered the greatest had he fought more notable names in that 11 year period, and shifted weights earlier, coz lets not forget that there were alot of good fighters during that time. Fighters for some reason Joe wasn't fighting, despite holding one of the most respected belts. If anyone can give me a good explanation as to why, then im all ears!! Anyway i dont want it to seem like im give Joe stick, coz im not, im just gutted we're not guna see some more fights of his and the fact we didn't see some possible great fights back in the day. Also Ricky to take out Pacman!!!

Posted 15:29 6th February 2009

Nick Lynch says...

Why do people constantly say Joe fought people passed there prime. Look, how old was Joe when he fought Roy Jones, Hopkins, Kessler and Lacy. I think you'll find Joe was past his prime, but still maintained the high level of boxing he is known for. Please, no more of these comments about Joe fighting people past there prime, idiots!! Joe Calzaghe will be remembered in Britain for the legend he is, if America cannot face the fact that we had a greater boxer than most of theres, then hey, wipe your eye's mate!!

Posted 13:51 6th February 2009

Jason Brierley says...

We have just seen 1 of the best boxers of all time retire, people who say he was around at the wrong time or fought people who were past there best have not got a clue, did anybody see Bernard Hopkins in his last fight? Jones Jnr is a talent at any age, as along as he is fit he will beat just about anybody, Joe fought everybody that was around and beat them, if it wasnt for his hand trouble over the years i believe he would have even more knockouts on his record! and if he was American he would have been the best of all time along with Ali etc, Joe had everything, speed! power! work-rate! granite chin! an array of skills he could box for fun! Joe you will be sadly missed and never replaced, the No1 of all-time! From an Englishman

Posted 13:21 6th February 2009

Matt Naylor says...

FYI Daniel Jacobs Calzaghe IS a legend. You can only beat the opponent that's stood in front of you, Hopkins & Jones Jnr had ample opportunity to fight Calzaghe during their respective careers when they were in your so called "prime" but they chose the fights with the bigger purses and ignored Calzaghe. It is only in recent years when Calzaghe has been given the World Wide recognition he deserves that America has stood up and took notice - hence it was worth Jones Jnr while to come out of retirement to fight Calzaghe and the same could be said for Hopkins. He's beaten the best and even moved up a weight to earn further respect by beating the best it had to offer, he's got to retire at some point as there will always be "one more" up and comer who thinks they've got what it takes to defeat him. Calzaghe retires a Legend and can do so with his head held high.

Posted 13:19 6th February 2009

Rich Field says...

First of well, there are some very harsh things said about Joe. He was a great boxer! He beat over ten world champions! Knocked out 32 of 46 opponents and reigned at the top of the game for 11 years. To say he didn't fight anyone of note is stupid beyond belief. Richie Woodhall at his best, Kessler, Reid, Lacy, Hopkins is still very good, to name but a few. He is NOT the best British boxer of all time, Jimmy Wilde holds that honour and Joe would be the first to admit it. No one will ever surpass what Jimmy Wilde did in the ring from the country. BUT Joe is certainly the best modern day fighter the UK has seen. A legend, yes, in time he will be thought of that way as the years pass by, only the fools and those who don't like the man will disagree and they usually are American! You were and are a credit to boxing Joe.

Posted 13:18 6th February 2009

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