Talkin Sport - Calzaghe relinquishes WBO crown

Joe Calzaghe has decided to give up his WBO super-middleweight belt to allow him to concentrate on his light-heavyweight bout with Roy Jones Jr.

The decision brings an end to the 36-year-old Welshman's reign after nearly 11 years.

"It was a tough decision to make, relinquishing the belt, I can tell you that without hesitation," Calzaghe said in his South Wales Argus column.

"It's just too hard to get down to the 12 stone super-middleweight limit."

Calzaghe won the vacant WBO belt against Chris Eubank on 11 October 1997 in a thrilling 12-round decision, a fight the Welshman maintains is still his hardest contest.

Twenty-one defences over 10 years, 11 months and two weeks followed before Calzaghe made his decision on Friday - giving up the belt that was his first and most precious title.

There is going to be quite a void now in super-middleweight boxing and I can't wait to see who will step up and fill it

The Newbridge fighter has won the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBC versions of the super-middleweight crown - against the likes of Jeff Lacy and Mikkel Kessler - to cement his place as the undisputed king of the 12-stone division.

He has opted not to defend those titles, rather than make unwanted defences against mandatory challengers that would have excited neither Calzaghe nor the paying public at the box office.

But the undefeated 36-year-old has always held onto the WBO belt until now.

"I did my best to unify the division, I held all the titles at one time or another, but I owed it to the WBO to be totally honest with them," Calzaghe added.

"The 10-year anniversary was a wonderful marker for me and I feel it's an appropriate time to end any doubt about me fighting at that weight again.

"I received my promoter's license this week, Calzaghe Promotions is up and running and I feel like I am entering a new phase, not just in my career, but in my life.

"I had a great relationship with the WBO and although it was painful to give up the title, I know I have made the right decision.

"If I do say so myself, there is going to be quite a void now in super-middleweight boxing and I can't wait to see who will step up and fill it."

Calzaghe can now turn his attention fully to his fight with the 38-year-old Jones Jr on 8 November at New York's Madison Square Garden.

The Welshman has said this could be his final fight, but has always left the door ajar for another contest if the financial rewards were great enough.

And after the Jones Jr fight was rescheduled from 20 September because of the latest in Calzaghe's long line of hand injuries, he says his training is on course and is being worked hard by his father and trainer, Enzo.

"My dad is back to his sadistic best, training is as intense now as it will be four weeks before the Roy Jones fight and I am absolutely knackered!" Calzaghe added.

Calzaghe and Jones Jr are co-promoting the fight themselves, Calzaghe having split with long-time promoter Frank Warren.

Warren's company Sports Network and Joe Calzaghe have begun a High Court legal battle.

Sports Network claims unbeaten world champion Calzaghe, who ended his 12-year association with Warren and Sports Network in June, broke a verbal contract with the company to promote his further fights.

But Calzaghe's defence denies that and alleges Calzaghe is owed at least £2.43m ($4.55m) by Sports Network for his defeat of American great Bernard Hopkins in April.

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