Tweet
With Joe Calzaghe pondering retirement after his victory against Roy Jones Jr., father and trainer Enzo has told any challenger wanting to fight the Welshman to make an offer sooner rather than later.
The 36-year-old retained his undefeated record with a unanimous points victory at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, Calzaghe getting up off the canvas after a first-round knockdown to overcome his opponent.
Calzaghe, who won his first world title back in 1997, said before the fight that it would be his last. However, at a press conference after the contest, he appeared more equivocal.
And, while saying he would support his son either way, Calzaghe Sr. expressed the belief that if retirement was on the cards, there would be no way back.
"His mum is begging him to retire and he has nothing more to achieve," he said.
"Whatever he wants to do, I'll back him. If he doesn't want to box, he gets my blessing because there's no more to achieve.
"But if he wants to carry on boxing, keep boxing now, don't retire. Once he's retired there's no coming back, I don't want him coming back.
"Retired means retired. Not retired for two years and come back after. No way.
"If he stays on I'm fully behind him.
"I hope the offers come now, then he doesn't have to retire. Once he's retired and they come with the offers it's no good."
Rematches
What Calzaghe junior did state was a desire to avoid any rematches, therefore discounting fights against Jones, Bernard Hopkins, whom he beat in April by split decision, or Denmark's Mikkel Kessler, whom he fought in his last contest at super-middleweight in 2007.
Yet he refused to confirm that he would now retire.
"I'm 36, nearly 37 and I'm not going to announce anything right now," he said.
"I said before the fight it would possibly be my last fight but I'm just really happy. I enjoyed it, except the first round of course.
"I can't answer those sort of questions right now. Those are the answers I'm going to go away and evaluate.
"I don't really like to do rematches.
"I just want to spend some time with my family, have a rest. I'm so happy with what I've achieved this year."
Nevertheless, following his emphatic victory over Jones, Calzaghe conceded there would not be a more perfect time to bow out.
"I don't think there's a better ending. A fairytale fight, fairytale ending. I enjoyed the fight except for the first round. I was having fun, being a bit flashy myself," he added.
"Full credit to Roy. He showed what a champions' fight he has and what a great fighter he is still, coming back, hanging in there, always dangerous.
"I've been fighting world title fights for 11 years, beaten six world champions when I was given the opportunity, fighters like Jeff Lacy and Mikkel Kessler, the best super-middleweight in the world right now.
"To come over here and beat two American legends - Hopkins and Roy Jones tonight - and not just beat those guys but beat them in America, I'm so proud of that.
"But I'm not going to make a decision until I go away and have a good sit down and think."
********************************************
The 36-year-old retained his undefeated record with a unanimous points victory at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, Calzaghe getting up off the canvas after a first-round knockdown to overcome his opponent.
Calzaghe, who won his first world title back in 1997, said before the fight that it would be his last. However, at a press conference after the contest, he appeared more equivocal.
And, while saying he would support his son either way, Calzaghe Sr. expressed the belief that if retirement was on the cards, there would be no way back.
"His mum is begging him to retire and he has nothing more to achieve," he said.
"Whatever he wants to do, I'll back him. If he doesn't want to box, he gets my blessing because there's no more to achieve.
"But if he wants to carry on boxing, keep boxing now, don't retire. Once he's retired there's no coming back, I don't want him coming back.
"Retired means retired. Not retired for two years and come back after. No way.
"If he stays on I'm fully behind him.
"I hope the offers come now, then he doesn't have to retire. Once he's retired and they come with the offers it's no good."
Rematches
What Calzaghe junior did state was a desire to avoid any rematches, therefore discounting fights against Jones, Bernard Hopkins, whom he beat in April by split decision, or Denmark's Mikkel Kessler, whom he fought in his last contest at super-middleweight in 2007.
Yet he refused to confirm that he would now retire.
"I'm 36, nearly 37 and I'm not going to announce anything right now," he said.
"I said before the fight it would possibly be my last fight but I'm just really happy. I enjoyed it, except the first round of course.
"I can't answer those sort of questions right now. Those are the answers I'm going to go away and evaluate.
"I don't really like to do rematches.
"I just want to spend some time with my family, have a rest. I'm so happy with what I've achieved this year."
Nevertheless, following his emphatic victory over Jones, Calzaghe conceded there would not be a more perfect time to bow out.
"I don't think there's a better ending. A fairytale fight, fairytale ending. I enjoyed the fight except for the first round. I was having fun, being a bit flashy myself," he added.
"Full credit to Roy. He showed what a champions' fight he has and what a great fighter he is still, coming back, hanging in there, always dangerous.
"I've been fighting world title fights for 11 years, beaten six world champions when I was given the opportunity, fighters like Jeff Lacy and Mikkel Kessler, the best super-middleweight in the world right now.
"To come over here and beat two American legends - Hopkins and Roy Jones tonight - and not just beat those guys but beat them in America, I'm so proud of that.
"But I'm not going to make a decision until I go away and have a good sit down and think."
********************************************
