JOE CALZAGHE insists he has no intention of returning to the ring to face old foe Bernard Hopkins.
Calzaghe called time on his glittering career in February 2009 after victories over Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr stretched his unbeaten record to 46 fights.
The Welshman has struggled to adapt without boxing in his life and Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer fuelled rumours about a possible comeback.
Calzaghe, 38, admits he did hold talks with Schaefer and even began training again at his Newbridge gym.
But he has now shelved all thoughts about lacing up his gloves one last time.
The former super-middleweight king said: "There's no truth that I'm coming back.
"A lot of boxers come back from retirement but I said I intended to stay retired and nothing has changed from that.
"A lot of boxing fans would want to see me come back but at 38, after 27 years in the sport and being a world champ for 11 years, my time is up.
"I have no desire to fight, to be honest.
"Richard and I spoke about it a few months ago when I was in LA with my girlfriend.
"I said I'd 'possibly' do it and I went away to have some some time to think about whether I wanted to do it and who the potential opponents could be.
"But I went to the gym a couple of times and I realised that I didn't want to."
A second clash with Hopkins would generate a potentially massive pay day for Calzaghe.
But he claims no amount of money would ever get him back between the ropes.
The Pride of Wales added: "There's always the chance that some big money will be on offer but you shouldn't fight for the money. That would be the wrong reason to go back into it.
"We all need the money but I look at my health, my family and my kids, I look in the mirror and think, 'No, I can't do it'.
"I have come out of my career relatively unmarked and I have ended undefeated world champion.
"It's a blessing that I can end my career like that and I don't want to push it, get greedy and fall back into that temptation that you would always regret for the rest of your life."
