By Mark Vester

Former three division champion Erik Morales, currently visiting the UK for a movie role, has given his thoughts on Joe Calzaghe's cocaine scandal. A few weeks ago, Calzaghe came clean about an ongoing cocaine habit which began after he retired early last year. A group of journalists, portraying themselves as potential sponsors, placed a hidden camera in a room and taped Calzaghe talking about his use cocaine.

Morales hopes Calzaghe can overcome his demons and straighten out his life.

“It’s a shame when some boxers come to the end of their careers and have this sort of trouble,” said Morales to Wales Online. “The most important thing for a boxer is knowing how to survive in the real world when you are done with boxing.

“Thankfully for me, I like to work when I’m not boxing and have my own business. I went nearly three years without boxing and haven’t come back for the money. I don’t want to justify what some people do after boxing but when you are fighting you don’t get to party, drink or eat a lot.

“So when they finish they can go the wrong way because they want to do everything they couldn’t do when they were fighting. A lot of boxers do realize what they are doing and come back in better shape and I hope Joe Calzaghe realizes soon.”

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