by James Slater – Last week on Setanta TV, Richard Schaefer spoke on Bernard Hopkins’ behalf, and said he was trying to tempt Joe Calzaghe to come out of his retirement and fight B-Hop, who he out-pointed last April, again. The Golden Boy promoter said he “hasn’t given up hope” of a rematch taking place, and that he believes Hopkins, who is seemingly desperate to get it on again with the Welshman, has “unfinished business” with Calzaghe.
Well, over the weekend, in speaking to the BBC, 36-year-old Calzaghe said he will in no way be coming back to face “The Executioner”, and that he is content where he is – in retirement.
“I don’t know if anyone remembers, but I have retired,” Joe said, feeling a little irritated due to the constant talk of who and when he will box again. “I am happy with my decision to retire and couldn’t consider fighting Bernard as I don’t have the motivation.”
So there it is, despite Schaefer’s insistence that Hopkins would be more than willing to travel across to Wales for a return match, Joe says no.
Calzaghe went into more detail about why he has no desire to box the all-time great from Philadelphia for a second time, or anybody else for that matter.
“Hopkins has said that we have unfinished business and that I should give him a rematch. [But] I have already beaten Hopkins once,” Joe said. “It wasn’t a great fight and styles make fights and he came to hold and spoil, rather than to execute as his nickname suggests.
“Motivation is a key thing for me. Throughout my career I gave some of my worst performances against the worst fighters, guys you’ve never heard of and who I simply didn’t want to be in the ring with. When you are thinking like that it’s dangerous, because you have to be 100-percent focused on your opponent and a few times in my career, I wasn’t right, wasn’t focused enough.
“I can’t stop people speculating and I can’t stop people talking about whether or not I will fight again. But I’ve said it once and I’m happy to do so again, don’t bet on a Joe Calzaghe comeback.”
It seems there is no doubting the sincerity of the 46-0 fighter’s retirement. It also seems as though the two-time world champion will go down in history as one of the few who managed to retire and keep their reputation and their health by staying retired – so adamant does Joe sound about the decision he made. Despite a number of fans being sceptical, Calzaghe’s mind has been made up.
As such, it looks like Bernard Hopkins will be giving Tomasz Adamek a call pretty soon.