By Mark Vester
The news of Joe Calzaghe's retirement has sent shockwaves to a lot of UK fighters. Most of the fighters and media had expected him to at least have one or two more fights before he made a decision to hang up the gloves.
Calzaghe's rival, WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch, issued very few compliments as he gave Joe a retirement farewell.
"I think he made the right decision retiring," Froch told Setanta Sports News. "I said he needs to retire a couple of weeks back. He was put on his ass by a 43-year-old and 40-year-old in his last two fights. He climbed up to win and showed true warrior heart as he's showed all his career.
"But he's not had a defining fight. Yes, against me but it's not just me blowing my own trumpet. I've got big fights ahead of me with Jermain Taylor and other big guns that I'm waiting to happen, maybe a match with Mikkel Kessler. I'll give credit to Joe for the job he did on Kessler who was at his peak and give accolades for that but, after that, I'm struggling to find names.
"Chris Eubank was past his best when he took his title. Jones Jnr - how old was he? Jones was at his best 15 years prior to that. In a professional boxing career, you've 10 years at best probably. He's got a good record as he beat who was put in front of him but I won't lose my mind and say he's Sugar Ray Leonard. He's not. I don't need Calzaghe. He's making a mistake thinking I need him for a pay-day as I'm doing quite fine, thanks very much."
"He's not the best boxer who walked the Earth. He knows he isn't, you know he isn't. Roy Jones and Hopkins know he isn't. Hopkins beat Calzaghe, let's not forget. It was a split decision and a very close call. Calzaghe got beat up, his nose was bust and Hopkins was unmarked. He was 43! Come on, put it in perspective and let's not lose our minds here."
Cruiserweight contender Enzo Maccarinelli, Calzaghe's close friend, told Setanta Sports News that Calzaghe had nothing left to prove, and nothing to gain by fighting Froch.
"Joe had nothing to prove to anyone - he was head and shoulders above anyone else so I don't think anyone could have beaten him. I don't think Joe had anything to prove against Froch. He beats Froch 10 times out of 10 Froch boxed well against Jean Pascal last time and it was a good fight. He wouldn't fight light-heavy and there is no way Joe could make super-middle so that put an end to that straight away," Macca said.
Ricky Hatton told BBC Sport that Calzaghe had nothing more that he could have accomplished in boxing.
"What more can Joe Calzaghe do in his career? He's done Vegas, Madison Square Garden, world champion, two different weights, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, he's unbeaten. He'll retire as one of the greatest fighters that Britain has ever produced," Hatton said.
Enzo Calzaghe, father and trainer of Joe, is happy that his son decided to retire.
"We talked day and night but I'm behind Joe because when enough is enough it's enough. He could go on for another five years on the physical side of it but what's more important is the mental side of it, the hunger. Let's be honest, he walked the walk and had what he could out of it. He has nothing more to prove," Enzo told Setanta Sports.
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