Calzaghe family mourn loss of Enzo's father Guiseppe

Born in 1925 and raised in Bancali near Sassari in Italy, Guiseppe became well known as a builder in his teenage years, his strong frame and shovel-like hands earned him the nickname of ‘The Animal.’

Guiseppe forged his documents to enlist in the army before the age of conscription with Europe on the brink of war and would go on to spend a year in a Spanish POW Camp.

When he returned to Italy he moved to Torino and became a police officer, a period of time that would see him meet and marry Victoria, who gave birth to their first son, Antonio.

However, under law Italian officers weren’t permitted to be married under the age of 28 and Guiseppe was excluded from the police, prompting a decision to move back to Sardinia.

Second son Enzo and third son Uccio arrived before the family relocated to Bedfordshire in England where Guiseppe and Victoria celebrated the birth of daughter Alba, with their youngest, Sergio, arriving on their return to Italy in the early 1960s.

Guiseppe would spend his remaining days in his native Sardinia, surviving his beloved wife who died at the age of 68.

He was a huge supporter of Joe’s professional boxing career and as a keen amateur fighter himself is credited by Enzo and Joe as a key influence in Joe’s tremendous success.

As a successful trainer, Enzo took fighters like Joe, Bradley Pryce, Gavin Rees and Nathan Cleverly to Sardinia on an annual basis to face fighters from Guiseppe’s local gym, a tradition that continued for many years.

The entire Calzaghe family visited Guiseppe regularly, including a fortnight ago when he celebrated his 90th birthday.

“Dad was my hero and Joe would tell you the same thing,” Enzo told the Argus.

“He was always about the family, his kids and grandchildren and of course my mother, that was always the most important thing to him.”

Guiseppe is survived by his five children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

ENDS