We all know Joe'd probably beat Dawson, but knowing and doing are 2 different things!

And this is the very reason Calzaghe should retire. Because he made us believe that he just simply can’t lose.

I know, it sounds weird, but think again: on the top of the P4P lists today by some, soon by the rest (unless PacMan turns out to be a magician), and Joe already beat, or polls suggest that boxing THINKS Joe would beat everyone out there that matters TODAY.

This is the key of my point. Walking away with the fighters', experts', writers' and fans' KNOWLEDGE that he's unbeatable by the current competition is the perfect ending we very rarely see - and getting very upset if someone comes close to pull this off! But for once, let him do it!


Of course you don't have to go too far in boxing history to find a similar ending (if it’s the ending).

Another fine and undefeated champion did just that only a couple of months ago: P4P king Floyd Mayweather Jr. The thing is: everybody knows how good he is, that he still has some excellent performances left in him (despite hand injuries), and even if Cotto and Margarito’d give him problems, polls suggest boxing fans THINK he'd still find a way to overcome those difficulties to win... what a frustrating though is this! And still, you cannot deny it: who is out there who you REALLY REALLY REALLY believe could beat him? If a fighter never gets knocked out, upset, simply old or 'out-youthed', the imagination that where would his talent end is growing and growing and growing... 10 years from now people will still think that DAMN he was so good, and only God knows where was the end of his unprecedented run...

Major difference is of course that Floyd is still not past it, barely 30, and of course he did not unify the titles vs. the latest youngters (Cotto back then, Margarito now) and defeated the actual oldies (Oscar OK, Shane not). Of course at 37, Joe beat the best young guns 168 could offer and the best old men that boxing could offer in these divisions. A Dawson win would be nice on his resume, but at this point (unlike Pavlik a month ago) Chad is not yet even rated as a P4P-er, especially not a big money fighter. But indeed he looks to be a special fighter of the post-Calzaghe era. Joe retiring knowing he beat the best young talents 168 could offer and walking away after CONVINCING the public he'd be favored vs. any other youngster in either the 168 and 175 divisions, therefore a decade older and still top the whole competition, would stay in people's mind forever.

What a whole different taste we’d have Roy had retired immediately after the Ruiz win, capturing the WBA LHW title, and walk into the sunset! Imagine THAT ending!



Joe Calzaghe should retire as he beat everybody that matters today, and while boxing believes he would beat who might matter tomorrow.

Unfortunately just a few retired from the punching business while looking untouchable.

Today, Joe Calzaghe looks untouchable.

 

It would be foolish to go into the difficulties Chad had vs. the Polish and the Jamaican - and this is not even my point. The point is that today he's still not a proven P4P contender. Hopkins, despite his age, was a P4P-er coming into the fight and still is. And Joe beat a more credible opponent in him.

I don't say it couldn't change: all Chad has to do is to beat Hopkins. But at the moment, when it's either have another fight or go away, Dawson's stardom and resume is not good enough (yet) to make Calzaghe stay - so why would he stay, if most think he'd beat him anyway?