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-Photo Credit: Will Hart/HBO-
THE GREATEST FIGHT OF MY CAREER... by Joe Calzaghe
A LOT has been written since my fight with Mikkel
Kessler on Saturday night when I added the WBU and WBA
world super middleweight titles to my WBO crown.
Quite simply, it was the greatest fight of my career
and I thought for this week's column I would go through the weekend and let you
know what happened behind closed
doors.
CALZAGHE TOO SLICK
FOR KESSLER... by Frank Gonzalez Jr.
Saturday night in Cardiff Wales,
reigning WBO Super Middleweight Champion, Joe Calzaghe (44-0,
32 KO’s) treated his loyal hometown fans at the Cardiff
Stadium to the toughest fight of his career, taking on the
younger and arguably stronger, WBC Champion, Mikkel Kessler
(39-1, 29 KO’s) of Denmark.
Once again, Joe Calzaghe proved he is
the best fighter in his weight class as he used speedy hands,
tricky ring generalship, toughness and a vast array of punches
to tame the technically sound Mikkel Kessler during the course
of 12 exciting rounds.
CALZAGHE BESTS KESSLER
IN THRILLER... by George Elsasser
Approaching the championship rounds it
would be Calzaghe the fresher looking of the two - and
missing from most pre-fight comparing of notes was what
would be the final word - a top of the line quality of the
Calzaghe chin construction. ..
The ability to absorb the Dane’s early
power shots without distress would eventually enable
Calzaghe to take over the controls of a thrilling pairing of
the division’s best - come stanzas 10 thru 12 it was clear
the game Dane with the “Viking Warrior” sobriquet would need
a knockout to win - not to be.
CALZAGHE CROWNED KING OF THE SUPER
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION...
by Oleg Bershadsky
Despite his loss, Kessler proved that other
than Calzaghe he would be more than a match for any other super
middleweight and it is certain that given the chance he can
reign supreme in Calzaghe’s absence. Joe Calzaghe on the other
hand yet again proved that he is an exceptional fighter who does
not deserve to be doubted as to his ability ever again. The only
questions remaining for Joe is who will be his future opponent and how far will he
decide to take his legacy before he retires.
WIN
TICKETS TO MEET JOE CALZAGHE
Win 2 VIP tickets to meet Joe Calzaghe on November 24th.
For full details visit www.calzaghe.co.uk now!
Competition closes November 10th.
CALZAGHE - KESSLER: ONE 0
HAS TO GO! ...
by Tom Dickey
Calzaghe is taking a fight that boxing purists are glad to see him take, but
thought he wouldn't take. Mikkel Kessler is a good fighter, but not a huge name,
and Calzaghe was looking for a big name. Many thought Calzaghe would avoid
Kessler to take a fight with the likes of Bernard Hopkins, or another American
fighter. The fight with Hopkins almost happened, but fell through, and in a
sense Kessler was a last resort for Calzaghe. What a last resort!
JOE CALZAGHE: A
DECADE OF DOMINANCE!
THIS week has obviously been
very special for me, last Friday marking the ten-year
anniversary since I beat Chris Eubank to become the
WBO super middleweight champion of the world, a title
I have retained to this day.
To mark the occasion Frank Warren my promoter invited the
press to a presentation of a lovely memento (worryingly with
my track record, it's made of glass!)
CALZAGHE MARKS TEN YEARS AS
CHAMPION ON THURSDAY OCT. 11
Boxing’s current longest-reigning world champion
JOE CALZAGHE will mark the tenth year of his monarchy on Thursday, October 11.
Calzaghe captured the vacant WBO title, October 11, 1997, knocking down two-time world champion
and British boxing legend Chris Eubank twice en route to a dominating unanimous decision on scores of 118-109, 118-111 and
116-111. His impressive résumé boasts victories over former world champions Charles Brewer, Byron Mitchell, Robin
Reid, and Richie Woodhall. He unified the title last year when he fought a master class against the previously
undefeated IBF/IBO champion Jeff Lacy, the first 2000 U.S.
Olympian to win a world title.
JOE CALZAGHE: "I LOVE IT WHEN FIGHTERS TELL EVERYONE ALL ABOUT MY WEAKNESSES"
I am a warrior and will be 110% motivated; I will be in
unbelievable shape.
I am also delighted to hear him say I can't hurt him and have
no power, that's music to my ears!
So many fighters have said the same thing about me over the
years.
KESSLER FIGHT TIME
GREAT FOR ME...
by Joe Calzaghe
It was confirmed to me on Tuesday and to my promoter Frank
Warren that my fight will be taking place to suit UK television
audiences, not US, even though it will be screened live in the
States as well.
That means we will probably hit the ring at about 10pm, rather
than at 2am or later like when I fought Jeff Lacy in Manchester.
This is great news for me.
9-2007 |
