Joe Calzaghe is determined to hang up his gloves at the right time, after branding Holyfield's comeback 'ridiculous'.
Champ wants to retire undefeated
Joe Calzaghe is determined to avoid suffering the same fate as one of his boxing heroes, by retiring at the right time.
After watching Evander Holyfield come out of retirement at the age of 44, to make an unsuccessful challenge for Sultan Ibragimov's WBO heavyweight title in Moscow last weekend, the Welshman doesn't want to hang around past his sell-by date.
Calzaghe said: "I want to be one of the few fighters who retires undefeated and at the top. I don't want to end up like Holyfield. It is ridiculous he keeps coming back. I'm a massive Holyfield fan - and I just wish he'd retire."
The Welshman's 21st defence of his WBO super-middleweight title arrives in Cardiff on November 3, when the 'Italian Dragon' faces WBA champion Mikkel Kessler in a fight expected to enhance a legacy Calzaghe has worked years to gain.
Respect
Calzaghe said: "I'm starting to get the respect I deserved - but it has taken me years. If you ask me 'have I had the respect' then 'no'. After all these years of being champion, people have finally set up and took notice.
"But after all the hard work and plugging away, finally I'm starting to get the exposure and respect I believe I deserve. I believe I'm the best pound-for-pound fighter over the last 10 years - and I'm getting recognition for it now."
Although he doesn't want to box beyond his prime, the Welshman is not about to retire just yet.
He added: "I'm still a hungry fighter and I believe I can go on and achieve greater goals. I'm as quick as ever and I feel at my best at the moment. The way I feel I could fight on until I'm 40."
