Former unified super-middleweight champion, Joe Calzaghe cemented his legacy as a boxing legend during his time in the ring, retiring with an unbeaten record of 46-0.
This made him a favourite of many of the Brits who step into the ring today, but who was it that Calzaghe idolised?
Calzaghe defeated the likes of Roy Jones Jr, Mikkel Kessler, Bernard Hopkins and Chris Eubank in a fifteen-year professional career, making twenty-one consecutive world title defences across the 1990’s and 2000’s.
One man he didn’t face was Carl Froch, who has recently called him out for an exhibition, to finally satisfy the British public, although it seems that the ‘Italian Dragon’ is not interested in a return to the squared circle at any point in the near future
In an interview with Boxing King Media, the now 51-year-old, Calzaghe, listed his four favourite fighters that he would have loved to watch at ringside.
“Joe Calazaghe, no I’m only joking!”
“My favourite fighters are Sugar Ray Leonard, bless him the late ‘Marvellous’ Marvin Hagler, Julio Cesar Chavez and Muhammad Ali.”
Funnily enough, Sugar Ray Leonard recognised the achievements of Calzaghe in what must have been a proud moment for the Welshman, as the 1976, 1979 and 1981 Fighter of the Year labelled him as ‘one of the greats.
Calzaghe is currently on tour, where he shares the stage with other former world champions; Frank Bruno, Ricky Hatton and Nigel Benn, talking about their lives as boxers and answering questions from their fans. For their next event, the quartet travel to Glasgow, where they will appear on Saturday June 17th, and tickets are still available.
