Enzo Calzaghe
Enzo Calzaghe MBE | |
---|---|
Born | Sassari, Italy | 1 January 1949
Died | 17 September 2018 United Kingdom | (aged 69)
Nationality | Italian |
Pietro Vincenzo "Enzo" Calzaghe MBE (1 January 1949 – 17 September 2018)[1] was an Italian-born Welsh boxing trainer. He was the father of Joe Calzaghe and the head trainer for Team Calzaghe at the Newbridge boxing club. He, along with son Joe, was a co-founder of Calzaghe Promotions.
Early life
Calzaghe was born and raised in Bancali, a hamlet of Sassari, in the Italian island of Sardinia to parents Giuseppe and Victoria.[1] He moved at the age of two, with his family, to Bedfordshire.[1][2] Whilst there he attended school alongside Hungarian-born Joe Bugner, who would later become a European heavyweight champion boxer.[2] Calzaghe's father taught him to box to protect himself from school bullies.[2] The family returned to Italy when Calzaghe was 13 and whilst there he tried to make a career as a footballer - at one point he played on the same team as Gianfranco Zola.[2][1] Calzaghe said of his early life: "Where I come from, in Sardinia, boys like me either became waiters, boxers or footballers. Well, I didn’t end up as any of them – although I’ve had a go at most".[2]
Children
He has two daughters named Sonia and Melissa and one son called Joe.
Travelling across Europe
Calzaghe played the bass guitar for his uncle's band 'Survival'. He was conscripted into the
In Cardiff Calzaghe found work at a Wimpy where he fell in love with a waitress, Jackie, who would become his wife just four weeks later.[3][1] They moved in with Jackie's parents in Markham before getting a house near Blackwood that was near to a boxing gym.[3] Calzaghe was, at the time, working variously as a bus conductor and window salesman whilst also playing in bands with his brother.[3][1]
Boxing
Whilst in Cardiff, Calzaghe got involved in the local boxing gym and met Paul Williams, who was trainer of the Newbridge boxing club.[3] Williams invited Calzaghe to bring Calzaghe's son Joe along as he was being bullied at school.[3][1] Joe became a regular at the gym and Calzaghe became Paul's assistant trainer." Williams retired when Joe was 18 and Enzo took over the gym, which he ran until 2002.[3][1] Calzaghe also won 'Coach of the Year' at the BBC Sports Personality awards, The Ring magazine trainer of the year for 2007,[4] and the Futch–Condon Award, awarded by the Boxing Writers Association of America, for Trainer of the Year 2007. He effectively retired from coaching in 2008, though his gym continued.[1]
Legacy and death
A special ceremony was arranged for Calzaghe to be awarded an
Fighters trained
Nationality | Name | Weight Division(s) | Titles held | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Joe Calzaghe | Light Heavyweight |
IBF Super-Middleweight belts. The Ring Light-Heavyweight belt.
|
[7] | |
Enzo Maccarinelli | Cruiserweight | WBU, WBO, and EBU belts.
|
[7] | |
Gavin Rees | Light Welterweight |
WBO Inter-continental Featherweight, BBBoC Lightweight belt. WBA Light-Welterweight World Champion. | [7] | |
Nathan Cleverly | Light-Heavyweight | Commonwealth, BBBoC, EBU, WBO and WBA Light-Heavy World Champion | [8] | |
Bradley Pryce | Light-Middleweight |
WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title, BBBoC Welterweight, WBU Light-Middleweight, Commonwealth Light-Middleweight, | [7] | |
Gary Lockett | Middleweight | [7] |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Obituary: Legendary boxing trainer Enzo Calzaghe". BBC Sport. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g Rhys, Steffan (17 September 2018). "Enzo Calzaghe: From a Valleys gym to one of the greatest in the world". walesonline. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Boxing: Enzo's amazing journey". Walesonline.co.uk. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
- ^ "Enzo Calzaghe set to retire as son rejects Hopkins rematch". Talk Boxing. Archived from the original on 9 July 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
- ^ "Enzo Calzaghe collects MBE - Caerphilly Observer". Caerphillyobserver.co.uk. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
- ^ Doran, Niall (17 September 2018). "Joe Calazghe's Father Enzo Calzaghe Passes Away Aged 69 – Boxing World Tributes Pour In". Boxing News and Views. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Boxing: Enzo and Joe: father-and-son team who are a knockout combination". Independent.co.uk. 27 October 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
- ^ "Boxing world pays tribute at Enzo Calzaghe funeral". BBC News. 28 September 2018.
External links
- Lutz, Tom (31 October 2008). "Small Talk: Enzo Calzaghe on booze, Charlotte Church and sleeping in phone boxes". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 September 2018.