by James Slater – In a very interesting article that has appeared on Wales Online, the recently retired Joe Calzaghe spoke of how he chose to quit the game, primarily, because there were no obvious and big fights out there for him right now at either super-middleweight or at light-heavyweight. Had “The Pride of Wales” been a naturally smaller man, however – say a light-welterweight or a welterweight – Calzaghe says he would have relished being involved in today’s talent-rich 140 and 147-pound weight divisions for some time to come..
Indeed, in a bit of fantasy thinking, Calzaghe spoke of how he’d have definitely hung around at his current age so as to engage in any number of the great match-ups that would have been possible for him at the lower weight(s). With guys like Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather all still out there, Joe says had he been their size he would not now be putting his feet up. How awesome would it have been if the man many are now calling the best British fighter in boxing history had been a smaller and lighter man? How would Joe’s speed and work-rate have faired had it been pitted against the likes of Hatton, Mayweather or Pacquiao?
It’s nothing but fancy, of course, but this line of thinking has come from Joe himself, and he seems to truly wish he been a smaller man, blessed with such a talent-stocked weight class as light-welterweight or welterweight.
Joe began by saying how he’d have carried on for sure had he been a man with the same dimensions as a Hatton or a Pacquiao.
“If I was at a weight category where I could fight the likes of Hatton, Pacquiao or Mayweather, then it would be a different story,” Joe said. “They are fighters to carry on for. It’s all about the names you’ve beaten and that is why I’ve fought on as long as I have. I have beaten every great fighter in the world today who I could possibly face and I’m happy to bow out with an unblemished 46-0 record.”
And while Joe has given us three “dream-fight” scenarios on which to speculate, he also says he could very easily have carried on doing the business at 175-pounds had he so chosen. Joe insists he did not retire due to being past it.
“I am not retiring because I don’t feel I can maintain the same standard anymore,” Calzaghe said. “I might have been put down by Hopkins and Jones, but in myself I feel absolutely fantastic. I could be in proper fighting shape within weeks.”
Joe says he won’t be, though, as his mind has very definitely been made up.
“It honestly wasn’t a hard decision to make,” Joe stated. “My mind has been made up for some time. But I felt it was really important to give myself a decent amount of time to sleep on it. I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing because you’re a long time retired.”