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Should Joe Calzaghe Retire?
Joe Calzaghe achieved one of his dreams by comprehensively beating Roy Jones Jr last night at Madison Square Gardens, his 46th straight win as a professional boxer. In the past he suggested that he woudl retire if he did. So should he?
Well, he is 36, and perhaps his opponent hould be considered as one reason why not. At 39, Jones Jr is not the boxer that he has been through a glittering career. Calzaghe has the opportunity to retire at the top of the sport, an unbeaten and undisputed champion.Lennox Lewis certainly agrees. Claiming that Calzaghe has "nothing left to prove" he saidd he should go now. His former promoter, Frank Warren, thinks that even though he has no need for the money, Calzaghe will opt to fight on.
Many of the arguments for retirement are 'ego' arguments. Go while your record is unblemished, while you have nothing to prove. What if Joe Calzaghe simply feels that he can challenge himself further to go on? What if he loves to box, and will do so as long as he is allowed? So what if he might lose along the way?
Of course, the decision is not simple. It certainly isn't purely a rational one. Lennox Lewis also said that Calzaghe needs to have other things in his life other than boxing. Life after professional sport is hard if you are unprepared. Actually, it can be hard even if you are.
The mature athlete does have other interest, be it family, business or simply a hobby. Their sport is not all-consuming, not identity-threatening. But a lot of athletes are not in that place when they retire. Athletes can suffer emotional problems as they 'grieve' for their loss - of status, of success, of pride, of many things. Research has shown that drug an alcohol problems are common for former athletes.
So perhaps the question for Joe Calzaghe is "are you ready to retire?". Has he planned for it, has be prepared for the physical and emotional 'come down' from such an exciting and rewarding career? Does he know how to proceed with the next stage of his life? Does he have the emotional and social support to get through any difficult times?
If he can answer "yes" to those types of question, then his answer should be "yes". But then, if he is not ready, what then? Like having a baby, maybe you can't be competely prepared. In boxing, that must be better than shuffling around the ring, waiting to take a battering, or worse, because that's the reality of boxing.
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Rob Robson
Co-founder, iStadia.com
