 Calzaghe says his son's preparations for the Garden are complete |
Joe Calzaghe's father and trainer Enzo says his son's planned retirement may just be a "holiday". Joe Calzaghe has suggested that his 8 November clash with Roy Jones Jr in New York will be his last, as he feels he has nothing left to achieve in boxing. But he is now one of the biggest names in the sport, and Bernard Hopkins and Mikkel Kessler are seeking re-matches. "Sometimes they [boxers] really mean they want a long holiday," said Enzo Calzaghe.  | 606: DEBATE |
"We don't know. We'll get this fight out of the way and basically sit down and think and movements can be made. "I won't say yes, definitely, this [Jones] is definitely the last fight, but let's move on to the next fight first and see what goes on." The Calzaghe camp fly to the USA on Wednesday in preparation for the Madison Square Garden showdown, having completed training at their home in Newbridge, south Wales. "Joe's in excellent shape, he's been training for 13 or 14 weeks," Enzo Calzaghe told BBC Sport Wales. "One thing about Joe is that he never cuts corners. When I see a smile in his eyes I know that Joe's been done. | Joe's the number one and they all - rightly so - want to fight him |
"[Fighting at Madison Square Garden] has been Joe's dream, it's every boxer's dream, it's a place of legends." Joe Calzaghe, 36, has won all 45 of his fights in 15 years as a professional, reigning as world champion in the super-middleweight division from 1997 until he relinquished the title this year. He defeated Hopkins in Las Vegas in April to become recognised as the world's leading light-heavyweight, a claim he will put to the test against Jones in New York. Hopkins has promised to be ringside at the Garden, his claims for a re-match boosted by a stunning win over Kelly Pavlik earlier this month. Cardiff's Millennium Stadium has been mooted for a possible big-money re-match with Hopkins next year. WBA super-middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler also plans to be ringside at the Garden, as he seeks a re-match with Calzaghe, who inflicted the Dane's only defeat. Kessler's hope seems a distant one, though, as does Nottingham's Carl Froch's fresh call for a shot at the Welshman. "They're all queuing up now," said Enzo Calzaghe. "When we wanted them there was no sign of them. "Joe's the number one and they all - rightly so - want to fight him."
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