by James Slater – Just recently, rumours have been heard that suggest Welshman Joe Calzaghe, who retired at a perfect 46-0 shortly after his unanimous decision win over Roy Jones Junior, will make a return to the ring later this year for a rematch with Bernard Hopkins. “The Pride of Wales” was in Las Vegas at the weekend, to see the Mayweather-Mosley clash, and he apparently met with Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer, who was later quoted in The Mail as saying Calzaghe “has expressed interest,” in a second fight with Hopkins, and that B-Hop has also shown interest.
“We will try to make it happen in the Autumn,” Schaefer said..
And, with the recent revelation that Joe has taken cocaine serving to tarnish his image, along with the costly legal troubles Calzaghe has had, some feel the 38-year-old will indeed fight again so as to make some good money and to also force the papers into writing about things other than his private affairs. However, Joe’s father and trainer Enzo Calzaghe has told BBC Sport that the talk of his son coming back is “news to him.”
“There is no truth in it. The talk of Joe coming back is news to me and being as close as I am to Joe as a trainer and a father, I would be the first to know,” Calzaghe Senior said. “As far as I’m concerned he’s retired and the word retired means retired. He retired because he had lost his hunger for boxing. Once you lose the hunger how are you going to reignite it? For financial gain?”
So, Enzo seems here to not even be entertaining the idea of a comeback by his son, calling the rumours falsehoods that have no truth to them. But Enzo then goes on to say how a return by his won would be dangerous, and that if Joe does do it, it will be without his guidance.
“If Joe comes back now, he’s playing with danger because he has nothing to gain and everything to lose,” Enzo went on. “If he does ask me my advice on a comeback I’d say go ahead – but without me. I know what he achieved cannot be touched or bettered.
“My theory is if his appetite has gone, why come back?”
Reading these final comments makes one feel there is at least a chance Joe may return. Enzo totally rules it out in his earlier comments, yet goes on to talk about “if” his son makes a comeback. So, who knows?
Of course, if he did come back, the former super-middleweight and light-heavyweight king would not be the first fighter to be tempted by one last shot at glory/financial gain. Joe’s suggested choice of comeback foe is somewhat strange though. Back when Hopkins was asking for a rematch after the two had boxed a close, even debatable, split decision in April of 2008, Calzaghe said he’d never give “racist” Hopkins the satisfaction of a return. Why would he do so now, over two years on?
Would the fans really want to see a Calzaghe-Hopkins II? The first fight was interesting enough without being a classic encounter, and both guys are older and slower now. Actually, with the ring-rust and weight Calzaghe has acquired whilst being idle, and with “The Executioner” having remained active since their 2008 meeting, I’d probably pick the amazing 45-year-old to win should Joe actually return for a part-two with the Philly legend.
And what would a loss to Hopkins do for Calzaghe’s legacy? Stay retired, Joe!