This year could see the end of two of Britain’s greatest boxers, Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton, who have done their country and their sport proud.

For much of his career Calzaghe never got the recognition he deserved but over the last few years he has gone from unsung hero to one of the top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world, according to Ring Magazine. His 2006 win on points over American Jeff Lacy was his best ever fight. He now has 44 wins in 44 pro fights and is the longest reigning title holder in any weight class in boxing. He has taken on the best and remained WBO super middleweight champion for more than 10 years.

Time can't stand still much longer for Calzaghe who will be 36 in March and will want perhaps just one more big pay day against 43-year-old Bernard Hopkins, who has nothing to offer boxing now, or the winner of  the Felix Trinidad-Roy Jones Jr. fight at Madison Square Garden on January 19.

‘For much of his career Calzaghe never got the recognition he deserved, but over the last few years he has gone from unsung hero to one of the top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world.’


But it looks like the Americans don't fancy taking on our Joe, as they have ducked out over the years from fighting him. Calzaghe has become a big pal of Ricky Hatton's and watched Hatton take on the Americans in their own back yard to claim national and international status and become a firm favourite with US fight fans. I would expect Calzaghe to follow the Hatton path and fight in America before hanging up his gloves during the year.

As for Ricky, it has been well publicised that he will retired when he is 30, which is next October. Like Calzaghe, he has had 44 fights, with just that one defeat in Las Vegas against Floyd Mayweather Jr at the end of last year. That showed he is not invincible and many fighters who maybe didn't like the idea of being being beaten up by Hatton, may fancy their chances. Fights against Junior Witter or "Vicious" Vivian Harris are a possibility, though any return against Mayweather would only result in more damage to Hatton in my eyes.

Whatever the fight game has in store for Calzaghe and Hatton this year, I truly hope both boxers can go out on top after great careers.

Has there ever been a better British boxer than Calzaghe or Hatton? Tell us where you think they stand in the list of all-time greats.