Joe Calzaghe
BoxingInsider.com Exclusive Biofile Published by Scoop Malinowski Last Updated on April 11th, 2008 |
Options:
|
Status at time of interview: IBF/WBO Super Middleweight champion.
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 168
DOB: March 23, 1972 In: Hammersmith, England
Childhood Heroes: “I grew up in the 80′s and my earliest memories when I first started boxing when I was nine-years-old was Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler – that was a fantastic era. They were all great fighters but I think Leonard was my favorite.”
Nicknames: “I wouldn’t tell you my school nicknames [laughs]. But as far as boxing goes, I haven’t got a nickname. When I turned pro, I thought, Do I need a nickname? With a name like Calzaghe – there’s only one of them – so I’m happy with that.”
Hobbies/Interests: “I love sport in general. Probably soccer is my favorite sport except from boxing. When I started boxing I was nine, I also played football. I used to skip the boxing to train soccer. So when I was 12, I won my first British schoolboy title. So I realized if I really wanted to be good at one, I would knock the other in the air. My hands were a lot quicker than my feet so I stuck with boxing. But I love soccer, play pool, even darts. I like a lot of all around things. (Tennis?) No tennis, I tried it a few times and it was completely crap [smiles], missed the ball most of the times [smiles]. Love all sports. Got a lot of time between fights, like to travel. I have two kids as well, they keep me occupied. Nine-years-old and 11.”
Favorite Movies: “Goodfellas, Godfather, I like all sorts of film but they’re probably my best.”
Musical Tastes: “All sorts, dance music, rock music. When I was young I was into 80′s rock, bands like Whitesnake. At the moment I like Linkin Park. I like to listen to them when I’m training. My dad was a musician as well. There’s a lot of musicians in the family, except for me. I can’t sing. Luckily, I can fight [smiles].”
First Job: “Boxing, man, it’s still been boxing. Listen, I put all my eggs in one basket. When I was ten-years-old I always dreamed to be a world champion. I won my first British title at 12. So I’ve been aiming at the top since then. In school in careers, when I was 15, they ask you, So what are you gonna do? I said, I’m gonna be world champion. And I wouldn’t advise this to my own kids, but that was my focus. That was my determination when I was younger. I realized I had a talent and I had the desire and I knew that one day I would be a world champion.”
First Car: “Was a Ford Sierra. (Color?) Horrible burgundy, horrible, it was like an old man’s car. But I didn’t have much money at the time, so. First nice car that I bought was a BMW M3 convertible.”
Early Boxing Memory: “My first ever fight. I remember I lost my first ever fight. And I only lost about nine amateur fights in 130 fights. I lost my first amateur fight to a boy named Chris Stark. And I always remember, his dad was the referee as well [smiles]. All right, so, when they give it to him I basically just stayed in the ring and cried my eyes out. I think every time I lost in the amateurs, I cried. So I always knew I wanted to be a winner. Don’t like to lose
in anything.”
Pre-Fight Feeling: “Nerves. Just focus. Think to keep focused. Adrenaline rushing through your body. There’s a fine line that you have to keep it in check. You can get too psyched and you can get under-psyched. When I fight top fighters like (Jeff Lacy) I need that middle, that focus I only get on the rare occasions, which brings out the best in me.”
Favorite Meal: “I love all sorts of food but the best for me was about three weeks ago, I was in New York with my girlfriend, Little Italy. At a restaurant there and I had the clams in marinara sauce and it was beautiful. Nicest bit of food I’ve had in a long time.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “I like neopolitan. I like a bit of each mixed.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Obviously I think winning the world title from Chris Eubank (’97). Beating Chris Eubank. Actually achieving a dream that you’ve had since the age of ten. And obviously, from then on you want to improve on things. But nobody can ever take that thing away – that you won a world title. Fighting a great fighter like Chris Eubank, who had so many world title defenses, and in the U.K. he was such a massive name. There was a lot of pressure on me that fight. It was my first 12 round fight. And I went 12 hard rounds, I went to war. I mean, it was a really, really hard, hard fight. Hardest fight I’ve ever had, as far as physically. Because I’d never been 12 rounds. After eight or nine rounds you’re completely knackered. Just diggin’, diggin’. So to be called …the new champion of the world is fantastic.”
Most Painful Moment: “Well, because I’m undefeated, I can’t really say. But my last fight (W12 Ashira) was pretty painful physically, with a broken hand. I can’t really knock – people say disappointing – I’m a perfectionist – I just don’t like to win, I like to win in style. Win the best I can be. But I could never call any of my wins disappointment. Because winning is paramount. It’s what matters.”
Favorite Boxers To Watch Today: “Barrera. Morales. I think Floyd Mayweather is an excellent fighter. Pure-boxing wise, he’s beautiful to watch. He has great, great natural ability. He’s also a great fighter to watch.”
Favorite Fights: “Morales-Barrera. Leonard against Hearns, the first time. Eubank-Benn I. Their first fight was a massive tear-up. One of my favorite fighters of all is Evander Holyfield. I used to love Evander Holyfield. Loved the way he was.”
Funny Boxing Memory: “I suppose in the amateurs, my first ABA title I boxed Geoff McCreesh (age 19). He later went on to challenge for a British title. Boxed him in front of his own crowd, at his own show basically. I heard he was a bit tempermental. Fierce guy. It was a pretty close first round. Come the second round, I get on top of him. The referee starts giving him the eight-count. I didn’t drop him, just wobbled him a bit. As the ref reached three-four-five, he starts walking out of the ring. I’m waiting there like this (in stance). I said, Are you gonna come back? And he went into the change room and got changed. Honest to God. I just stood there. Instead of giving me a stoppage, the ref disqualified him, which was kind to him. So by the time I got out of the ring and took my gloves off, he had showered and was ready to go home [laughs].”
Embarrassing Boxing Moment: “It’s a difficult one. Have to take a check, think about it. When I was 11, I was at an exhibition. I had never fought before. I boxed an exhibition, like sparring, against a 13-year-old. He was from the same gym. In any case, I was always wild, just swinging a big left hand over the top. That’s what I used to do at that age. He was a big, tall, skinny guy. Basically I just closed my eyes, looked to the floor, throw this punch and connected and I dropped him. But I was like shocked. I was only a young kid, 11, and I just remember my trainer at the time, he was watching the fight from the crowd. And he was like shouting at me, like telling me off. And I was only a little kid. So I didn’t mean to hit the kid that hard, I didn’t realize I could knock somebody out. So that’s about the only think I could think. I can’t think of anything funny sort of embarrassing.”
Favorite Vacation Spot: “I like Mexico. Caribbean’s nice. I love Sardinia. My dad’s from Sardinia, which is a beautiful island. Just get away. I’ve got my own place in Sardinia. City-wise, I love New York. I’ve only been there three times.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “Just honesty. I hate falseness. I hate false people. I like people who are genuine. Sincere people. So many false people around today. Like I said, I don’t have a lot of hangers-ons. I’m a quiet, I’m quite introverted. Maybe people say that’s why I’m taken off. I don’t take to all the back-tappin’ hangers-ons. I keep to myself. Got my family and close friends there. They were there before I became a champion and they’re there after I’m a chamion. So it’s very rare to see someone who’s a genuine, genuine person – who likes you for who you are. Who gives you the time of day for you. It’s not only what you do or what you are or what you could do for them, so.”