Enzo: I almost closed the gym (From South Wales Argus)

Enzo: I almost closed the gym

9:40am Friday 12th June 2009

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ENZO Calzaghe has vowed to battle on after considering shutting the doors of his Team Calzaghe gym for good.

The trainer, who stood in the corner of son Joe for all 46 victories in his unblemished professional career, has won numerous awards both in the UK and the US, having been named the Coach of the Year at the BBC awards in 2007.

Just last weekend he received an award for Services to Sport from the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.

However, despite all the accolades, Calzaghe Sr has been stung by criticism throughout 2009, things becoming strained in the Team Calzaghe gym after Joe’s very public split with promoter Frank Warren. As a result, Nathan Cleverly left the Newbridge stable, while Enzo Maccarinelli also recently moved on. Other fighters such as Bradley Pryce and former world champion Gavin Rees were left in limbo after showing great loyalty to Calzaghe, who has trained them since childhood.

Futhermore, Calzaghe’s promotion venture has been slow in getting off the ground, the second show recently cancelled.

He explained: “People are writing us off, they think we’ve gone from heroes to zeros, from the Ritz to the pits.

“The thing is, it is largely down to boxing politics and we will bounce back from that.

“I would be lying if I said I haven’t lost some of my passion in the last 12 months, because after 12-and-a-half years of hard work, a lot of mud has been thrown and it’s disappointing, I have kept asking myself why? Why is this happening?

“It has been a horrendous year or so.

“For years I have been creating champions, I had great passion for it and I feel now like I have been living in a dream world, boxing is a sport rife with politics and I didn’t see it.

“My ability as a trainer hasn’t gone, but suddenly it’s become an easy way to make headlines, to say we’re finished.

“Did I consider shutting the doors for good? I absolutely did. I was almost certain at one point that is what I would do, but thankfully, I feel like the gloom is lifting.”

Criticism and questions about his training methods have angered Calzaghe; both Cleverly and Maccarinelli pointing an accusing finger at the Sardinian since leaving the camp.

“For example, Nathan Cleverly recently said he’s better off away from the gym because he was nothing more than a glorified sparring partner for Joe,” Enzo explains.

“I made him. Simple as that. I trained him as an amateur and a professional, I created his unbeaten record, Joe took him under his wing and he turns around and says that as if it is a bad thing, to spar with the best super middleweight of all time.

“Fighters fight the fights and I do feel I have been stabbed in the back to a degree, but I am letting it all go, I am leaving the bad blood in the past because we’re determined to move forward.

“Enzo Maccarinelli blamed a lack of sparring for his last loss, but he was eight rounds ahead against a guy with three knockouts to his name and he got knocked out. Knocking our gym has become an easy way to make headlines, but we’ve got an exciting announcement coming that will show everyone this gym is very much alive and kicking.

“After a lot of soul searching, I am more determined than ever to get our reputation back and to show we’ve got some amazing talent in Wales.”

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