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Monday, 29 October 2007, 07:00 GMT

Calzaghe will retire in 12 months

Joe Calzaghe Britain's Joe Calzaghe plans to fight for one more year before retiring.

The 35-year-old will add the WBC and WBA belts to his WBO super middleweight title if he beats Mikkel Kessler at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

He told BBC One's Inside Sport: "I realise the end is near. I'm not going to be an Evander Holyfield and fight at 44, getting my head punched in.

"I'm giving myself a 12-month span to keep at the top and then I'll let it go. There'll be no comebacks."

Calzaghe is unbeaten in 43 fights but he admitted he is starting to feel his age.

606: DEBATE
Will Calzaghe extend his unbeaten record against Kessler?

"I realise I'm getting to that point in my career where you're not going to improve and you slowly decline, that's nature," he said.

"Is it getting easier? No way, it's not getting easier making the weight and everything, of course not.

"But I still believe I'm at my peak, I still believe I've got a lot to give, I still believe I've got great fights in me."

Calzaghe added he will have fulfilled all his ambitions if he overcomes unbeaten Dane Kessler in Cardiff.

The Welshman already holds the WBO belt and won the IBF title with victory over Jeff Lacy before relinquishing it a year ago.

"Winning this fight, I will add the WBC/WBA belt to my collection which means I have all four belts," he said.

"I'm Ring champion, what else could I possibly achieve?"




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Related to this story:

Inside Sport: how to get involved (30 Apr 07 |  Inside Sport )
Calzaghe hungry for twin titles (25 Oct 07 |  Boxing )
Kessler will 'surprise' Calzaghe (11 Oct 07 |  Boxing )
Calzaghe promises stunning show (10 Sep 07 |  Boxing )
Inside Team Calzaghe (29 Oct 07 |  Boxing )
Calzaghe v Eubank - 10 years on (08 Oct 07 |  Boxing )
Unbeaten Calzaghe drops quit hint (07 Oct 07 |  Boxing )
The Calzaghe Record (05 Mar 06 |  Boxing )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
British Boxing Board
Amateur Boxing Association
Joe Calzaghe official website
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