From RTE.ie
Undefeated world super-middleweight and light-heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe has announced his retirement from boxing.
The 36-year-old Welshman, who outpointed Roy Jones Jnr in his last fight in November, confirmed he was hanging up his gloves after winning all of his 46 professional bouts.
He told BBC Sport: 'It was a difficult decision but I have achieved everything I wanted to achieve in boxing.
‘I’ve been world champion for 11 years. I’ve got no other goals to go for. That’s why I am calling it a day.’
Calzaghe climbed off the canvas after a first-round knock-down to maintain his unblemished record against Jones Jnr in New York.
That unanimous points decision saw him retain the Ring light heavyweight title he won by beating Bernard Hopkins on a split decision last April.
He had already confirmed his dominance of the super-middleweight division with victory over Mikkel Kessler the previous November which allowed him to unify the WBO, WBA and WBC belts.
Calzaghe added, explaining the reasons behind his retirement, added: 'I had a long think with my family.
‘My children wanted me to give up, plus my mum. That’s why I called it a day and will go on to do something else.’
The Newbridge fighter did not rule out completely a return to boxing at some point in the future, but admitted he was unlikely.
He said: 'My decision is to retire. I’ve been boxing for 25 years and, like I said, I’ve achieved everything I want to achieve.
‘You can never say never in this game, but I can’t see myself boxing again. There’s loads of things I want to do. I’m proud to be one of only a few fighters in history to retire undefeated.’
Calzaghe, who was coached by his father Enzo, started his professional career in October 1993, stopping Paul Hanlon in the first round.
He was crowned British super-middleweight champion in 1995 and captured his first world title, the WBC crown, in 1997 when he defeated Chris Eubank on points.
It was his unanimous points win over Danish fight Kessler at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in November 2007 which he looks back on with most fondness, though.
He said: 'Unifying the super-middleweight division in front of 50,000 fans was a dream come true for me.
‘I was fighting a younger fighter than me, I was the underdog. A lot of people thought I was going to lose that fight. It was a great night.’
Calzaghe’s reputation as one of Britain’s greatest and best-loved sportsmen was sealed later that year when he was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
He was awarded a CBE in the New Year honours’ list weeks later, capping the MBE he received in 2003.
In 2008, he stepped up to light-heavyweight with real success, victories over greats Hopkins and Jones Jnr sealing his legacy as perhaps Britain’s greatest-ever fighter.