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Carl Froch has refused to praise Joe Calzaghe on his retirement, telling Setanta Sports News the Welshman failed to have a defining fight.
'The Cobra' wanted to take on the undefeated Newbridge star and went against the grain when discussing the career of somebody he will never now meet in the ring.
Froch insists that wins over Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jnr do not mark Calzaghe out as one of the all-time greats due to the age of his opponents.
"I think he made the right decision retiring," he told Setanta Sports News in an exclusive interview.
"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.
"It's a shame for fight fans I have no chance to fight him. They want to see the fight and have made that vocal in the last two or three months. Taylor is next on my radar and is a massive fight for me. 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."
Froch stood to his guns despite being asked if his views could be described as sour g****s.
"Listen, everyone's entitled to an opinion and I'm just giving you mine," he asserted.
"Joe talks a very good one. If he wants to walk the walk, he knows where I am.
"Let me be totally honest, I'm not ******. He's been a great champion and a warrior who is tough and strong and beaten everyone in front of him.
"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."
Taylor will provide Froch's next opponent as he looks to step into Calzaghe's shoes in the division.
"Taylor, like Calzaghe, knows I'm a difficult fighter with a granite chin and anyone standing in front of me has got to nail me to the canvas to keep me away.
"I don't think Taylor fancies the job so it's been difficult to nail down but I think the fight is close to being done and hopefully I'll have some news for fight fans that I'm fighting Taylor, maybe in America."
Calzaghe's friend Enzo Maccarinelli rubbished Froch's claims in another interview with Setanta Sports News.
"Not at all," he replied when asked about whether the fight should have taken place. "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.
"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."
'The Cobra' wanted to take on the undefeated Newbridge star and went against the grain when discussing the career of somebody he will never now meet in the ring.
Froch insists that wins over Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jnr do not mark Calzaghe out as one of the all-time greats due to the age of his opponents.
"I think he made the right decision retiring," he told Setanta Sports News in an exclusive interview.
"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.
"It's a shame for fight fans I have no chance to fight him. They want to see the fight and have made that vocal in the last two or three months. Taylor is next on my radar and is a massive fight for me. 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."
Froch stood to his guns despite being asked if his views could be described as sour g****s.
"Listen, everyone's entitled to an opinion and I'm just giving you mine," he asserted.
"Joe talks a very good one. If he wants to walk the walk, he knows where I am.
"Let me be totally honest, I'm not ******. He's been a great champion and a warrior who is tough and strong and beaten everyone in front of him.
"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."
Taylor will provide Froch's next opponent as he looks to step into Calzaghe's shoes in the division.
"Taylor, like Calzaghe, knows I'm a difficult fighter with a granite chin and anyone standing in front of me has got to nail me to the canvas to keep me away.
"I don't think Taylor fancies the job so it's been difficult to nail down but I think the fight is close to being done and hopefully I'll have some news for fight fans that I'm fighting Taylor, maybe in America."
Calzaghe's friend Enzo Maccarinelli rubbished Froch's claims in another interview with Setanta Sports News.
"Not at all," he replied when asked about whether the fight should have taken place. "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.
"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."
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