Calzaghe to retire after Jones fight in New York

By Phil Cadden

CARDIFF (Reuters) - Britain's Joe Calzaghe said on Thursday his 15-year career will end after his light-heavyweight fight against American Roy Jones Jr in November.

Calzaghe, who had indicated in April he would have one more fight, told a news conference that the November 8 bout at Madison Square Garden for The Ring magazine crown would indeed be the end of the road.

"It's a massive fight and it will be my last," said the 36-year-old Welshman. "I've known for a while when I want to go out and as long as I put on a great performance this is my time.

"If I can do that then I've achieved everything I've wanted to achieve in my career. I would never forgive myself if I came to my last fight and threw it all away. Complacency is not in my mindset.

"But I know in my heart this is the right time to stop and my aim is to remain undefeated. I want to win and win in style."

The bout with Jones had originally been scheduled for September 20 but was put back when Calzaghe injured his right hand in training in July.

Calzaghe, whose 45-0 record includes 32 wins inside the distance, beat American Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas on a split decision in his last fight in April.

He said: "I've got 12 weeks left before the fight and will start training on Monday. That's when the hard work begins. The hand is perfectly fine now and I pulled out because I want my hands to be 100 per cent.

BEAUTIFUL HILLS

"I'll do the same training and run up the same beautiful hills and valleys near my home in Newbridge, South Wales, as I have done since I was 11. I won't change.

"I'll work just as hard as any of previous fights and make sure I'm ready for the challenge."

Calzaghe has been WBO super-middleweight champion for a record 11 years since his unanimous points victory over Chris Eubank in Sheffield in 1997, though recognition in the United States was slow in arriving.

"Fighting at Madison Square Garden will be incredible and it's amazing how things have turned around for me. It took eight years for me to get the chance to fight the best but there was a lot of politics going on.

"It's been very difficult to prove myself to the Americans," he said. "They never rated the Europeans mainly because they wouldn't go out there but I've always beaten the best Americans.

"I've proved myself before and I know I'll have to prove it once again."

(Editing by Trevor Huggins)