DALLAS, TEXAS – Just when I thought boxing couldn’t sink much lower after the reports in Venezuela Thursday of spousal abuse by Edwin Valero and repeat overweight offender Joan Guzman coming in nine pounds over at the weigh-in in Las Vegas Friday, I find I’m wrong again.
According to Internet site News of the World and The Telegraph, retired two-weight division champion and undefeated Joe Calzaghe of Wales has confessed to cocaine abuse since he retired going on two years ago.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/765953/Joe-Calzaghe-cocaine-shame-Boxing-Strictly-star-admits-secret-drug-sessions.html
I don’t pretend to understand the legality of all this as Calzaghe was set up by undercover reporters who obviously smelled a story and their hunch was correct as the video is making its rounds on the Internet.
Calzaghe, 39, retired in February of 2009 with a record of 46-0 (32 KO’s) and won world titles at super middleweight (168 lbs.) and light heavyweight (175 lbs). He was one of the longest reigning champions of any era.
He retired after three high-profile victories (the last two in America) against Mikkel Kessler (11-03-07); Bernard Hopkins (4-19-08) and finally Roy Jones, Jr. (11-08-08). These were his only two fights in America.
The only serious debate regarding his career is that he didn’t fight in America sooner to face either Jones, Jr. or Hopkins in their primes or anyone else for that matter in front of a wider audience America would have provided.
While this is still a breaking story, Calzaghe is still an absolute first ballot shoe-in to make the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY.
Calzaghe is divorced and the father of two sons.
He was trained throughout his career by his father Enzo Calzaghe.
