LONDON, (Reuters) – Joe Calzaghe said yesterday he would not come out of retirement to fight Carl Froch after the English super middleweight demanded an all-British world title showdown.
Froch, 31, was on the verge of defeat in the United States on Saturday but stormed back to stop Jermain Taylor 14 seconds from the end of the first defence of his WBC super middleweight title.
After his win Froch said he wanted 37-year-old Welshman Calzaghe to come out of retirement, saying he would “smash Calzaghe, if he gets his backside out of his armchair”.
Calzaghe, who retired in February after an undefeated 46-fight career, said he would not be taunted into a ring return.
“Enough is enough with Carl Froch calling me out, I will tell you categorically that I would not fight the guy even if I did come out of retirement, which I am not going to do,” he told Tuesday’s South Wales Argus.
“I am sick to death of him drumming up free publicity for himself by using my name, no one who watched the fight with Taylor can believe he is in my class, he’s my stalker, nothing more.
“For the first eight rounds against Taylor he was like a goalkeeper with no defence, he was being outclassed and outfought by a middleweight who has seen better days.
“To be honest it would be frightening what I could do to him if we fought, he doesn’t seem to realise that holding your hands up and defending yourself is a pretty vital part of boxing.
“I have seen absolutely nothing whatsoever from him that makes me think I should fight him, I couldn’t motivate myself knowing how easily I could beat him and possibly hurt him badly.
“I wouldn’t fight him even if I did come back, what would be the point?”
