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Neil Monnery

Calzaghe v Hopkins - Early Thoughts

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Page last updated: 5th Nov 2008 - 02:33 PM
Written by Neil Monnery

Over the States we've just seen a huge vote for change but one man who is happy to keep the status quo is Joe Calzaghe. The unbeaten Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Ring Magazine titleist steps into the ring with Roy Jones Junior in the early hours on Sunday morning UK time in a bid to end his career as only the third every undisputed, unbeaten World Champion.

Rocky Marciano and Floyd Mayweather Junior have both done it – although there is still some conjecture as to whether the latter is permanently retired. Calzaghe has said for a long time that this would be his final fight and the destruction of Kelly Pavlik by Bernard Hopkins has left little appetite for a Pavlik v Calzaghe match-up should Calzaghe beat Jones Junior.

It has been quite a career for Calzaghe and his legacy shouldn't be altered by a win. The only thing that can happen a defeat and will net him around $10million but would also cause him not to retire as an unbeaten champion.

From the moment he beat Chris Eubank to capture the Vacant WBO Super-Middleweight Title to the way he took Jacy Lacy apart and the way he withstood everything Mikkel Kessler had to throw at him before breaking the will of the then-unbeaten Dane, Calzaghe showed that he had the heart of a champion and wasn't a bad boxer either.

This fight is not about the legacy of Joe Calzaghe, it is all about sweetening the bank balance before he calls it a day. You hope that the Pride of Wales has his mind focused and doesn't think he can cruise to victory and waltz off into the sunset.

The way Hopkins took apart Pavlik puts Calzaghe's SD win over him into a new light. Hopkins really did teach Pavlik a boxing lesson and the man from Youngstown, Ohio was so highly touted that his defeat and the manner of the defeat sent shockwaves around the boxing world.

Calzaghe should have enough to beat Roy Jones Junior but you never know. He needs to have his wits about him at boxing's citadel Madison Square Garden. It should be the cherry on top of his illustrious career but there is just something in the back of my mind that sends a shiver down my spine.

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