05.11.08 – by James Slater – For so long, the unbeaten Joe Calzaghe has been telling people his November 8th fight with Roy Jones Junior will all but certainly be his last. Having nothing more to prove, Joe feels, his retirement would be much deserved. However, according to a breaking news story in Wales On-line, Calzaghe has admitted that he signed a TWO FIGHT deal when he and Jones worked alone in setting up this coming Saturday night’s bout, and that a rematch, should it actually happen, would take place in Wales..
This is very interesting, even though Calzaghe maintains he will beat up on Jones so badly that a rematch will not be anything the former pound-for-pound king will want. But why agree to signing the rematch clause anyway?
“There is a rematch clause,” Calzaghe admitted. “It was for one fight over here [in New York] and one at home. But, if I do the job I want to do, I don’t think Roy will want a rematch. Mind you, Antonio Tarver knocked him out and he had a rematch, so who knows?
“I haven’t fought the fight yet. But if I go in there and do the job I want to do, I will then take a break with my family before making an official decision. Of course if I lost that would motivate me to get back in the ring. But that though hasn’t even crossed my mind, I know I am going to win. At the moment I just don’t feel like I want to fight again after this. I have other things I can do with my life.”
But there is a chance, however small, that we will be seeing a Calzaghe-Jones II next year. Suppose Joe wins on Saturday, but the win is one that comes via a debatable and extremely close points decision? Or what if Jones pulled off the upset? It is strange indeed that the two boxers added a rematch clause, even more so in Calzaghe’s case, being as he is so utterly confident of winning. Or is he?
This is the first time Joe has even mentioned the possibility of losing, no matter how remote he said he thinks that outcome is. Would the fans want to see another helping of Jones and Calzaghe though? Only if Saturday night’s fight is a great and thrilling one. Otherwise, fight fans would want to see the winner go on to face someone else – Bernard Hopkins in Jones’ case, and maybe Carl Froch in Joe’s. But it seems as though plans are already at least a little advanced with regards to the two men doing it again in Wales.
“Who knows how I will feel in six months?” Joe asked. “Maybe there will be someone else that comes through that I will want to fight but I can’t see it at the minute. Let’s make things clear, I am still a fighter until November 8th. All that hard work, staying undefeated for 15 years, can’t go to waste. So my only focus right now is Roy Jones.”
Will Calzgahe be focusing on Roy Jones once again, in around six month’s time though?