by James Slater – Almost immediately after his sensational upset win over Kelly Pavlik, Bernard Hopkins mentioned just one name he wanted for his next fight, Joe Calzaghe. Very much wanting a rematch with the man who closely out-pointed him over 12 rounds back in April, the 43-year-old living legend said he’d even consider coming over to the U.K for a return with the unbeaten Welshman.
But, in speaking with the BBC today, Calzaghe has said he is not at all interested in a return meeting with “The Executioner.”
“Jones Junior will be the last fight for me, definitely – that’s it, me done,” Joe told the BBC. “Screw Hopkins, I’m not fighting again for any amount of money, I’ve been doing this for too long. Hopkins beating Pavlik in the style he did actually gives my victory over Hopkins more credibility. When I beat Hopkins people said he was just a washed up old man, a shadow of the fighter of years gone by. But he has just annihilated the so-called next big thing in boxing in a fight he called the fight of his life.”
So there it is, Calzaghe is adamant no amount of cash will entice him to box again after his November 8th fight with Jones. If Joe keeps his word, and there’s no real reason to think he won’t, Hopkins will have to look elsewhere for an opponent if he wants to carry on fighting. Perhaps, as this writer mentioned in a previous article for ESB, if Jones can upset his own odds and beat Calzaghe, Hopkins could land himself another hugely intriguing rematch.
Calzaghe, though, is convinced he will not lose to Jones.
“I’m hungry for Roy Jones Junior,” Joe said. “But after that my motivation for boxing will be over, because when I knock him out I’ll have beaten the only legend I haven’t taken care of.”
Joe also added that he is now free of peoples’ demands for him to face Pavlik.
“Hopkins beating Pavlik is great for me because people will stop banging on about me fighting Pavlik,” The Welshman said. “I always thought Pavlik was one dimensional, a very good fighter but not a great. So I can retire with a clear conscience knowing that I’ve beaten everyone who’s worth beating. I heard Hopkins wanted a rematch with me, but I don’t do rematches. I’ve got nothing to prove to anyone. I proved everything I needed to prove when I beat Hopkins in Vegas earlier in the year.”