Joe Calzaghe

Joe Calzaghe was an undefeated professional boxer whose career spanned more than 15 years. He fought a total of 46 times, winning all of them, and retiring as an undefeated boxer with a record of 46-0. Calzaghe had 32 knockouts wins and six world titles in two weight classes to his name.

Calzaghe's career began in 1993 when he made his professional boxing debut against Paul Hanlon, whom he defeated via a first-round technical knockout. He went on to remain undefeated throughout his career, with his first world title fight coming in 1997 against Chris Eubank. Calzaghe won the fight via a unanimous decision to become the WBO super-middleweight world champion.

Among the highlights of Calzaghe's career were victories over two Hall of Famers: Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins. Calzaghe fought Jones Jr. in 2008, which also happened to be his last professional fight. He won the fight via unanimous decision, defending his The Ring title in the process.

Calzaghe was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 2014.

Career Summary

Joe Calzaghe's professional boxing career spanned more than 15 years, from 1993 to 2008. He fought a total of 46 fights, winning all of them, with 32 knockouts wins, six world titles, and 22 title defenses to his name.

Calzaghe made his professional boxing debut against Paul Hanlon on October 1, 1993, defeating Hanlon via a first-round technical knockout. He had his first world title fight at the age of 25 after 22 professional fights against Chris Eubank on October 11, 1997, for the super-middleweight WBO (vacant) title. He won the fight via a 12-round unanimous decision to become the super-middleweight champion of the world.

Joe Calzaghe was a two-time unified super-middleweight world champion, and has won six world titles in two weight classes. Some of Calzaghe's best fights and notable victories include his wins over Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins, Mikkel Kessler, Jeff Lacy, Peter Manfredo Jr., Tocker Pudwill, Byron Mitchell, and Mario Veit.

Calzaghe retired from professional boxing with an undefeated record of 46-0, which included 32 knockout wins and six title wins.

Career Highlights

Joe Calzaghe fought a total of 46 times during his professional career. He was among the very best of his generation and put on some incredible performances in his fights. These 10 fights are the highlight of his career:

• October 11, 1997: Calzaghe wins his first world title by defeating Chris Eubank via a unanimous decision. He is now the WBO super-middleweight world champion.
• August 12, 2000: Calzaghe successfully defends the WBO super-middleweight title against Omar Sheika, winning the fight via fifth-round TKO.
• April 28, 2001: Calzaghe successfully defends the WBO super-middleweight title against Mario Veit, winning the fight via first-round TKO.
• October 13, 2001: Calzaghe successfully defends the WBO super-middleweight title against Will McIntyre, winning the fight via fourth-round TKO.
• December 14, 2002: Calzaghe successfully defends the WBO super-middleweight title against Tocker Pudwill, winning the fight via second-round TKO.
• June 28, 2003: Calzaghe successfully defends the WBO super-middleweight title against Byron Mitchell, winning the fight via second-round TKO.
• March 4, 2006: Calzaghe becomes a unified super-middleweight world champion by beating Jeff Lacy via a unanimous decision. He now holds the WBO, IBF, and The Ring super-middleweight world-champion belts.
• April 7, 2007: Calzaghe successfully defends the WBO and The Ring super-middleweight titles against Peter Manfredo Jr., winning the fight via third-round TKO.
• November 3, 2007: Calzaghe becomes a unified super-middleweight world champion by beating Mikkel Kessler via a unanimous decision. He now holds the WBO, The Ring, WBA (Super), and WBC super-middleweight world-champion belts.
• April 19, 2008: Calzaghe wins The Ring light-heavyweight title from Bernard Hopkins, beating Hopkins via a 12-round split-decision.

Impact on Boxing

Joe Calzaghe's impact on the world of boxing is significant, as he retired as an undefeated boxer with a perfect record of 46-0. Calzaghe is widely considered one of the best super-middleweight boxers of all time and will go down in history as one of the greatest boxers of his generation.

During his career, Calzaghe held the WBO super-middleweight championship for over ten years and made a total of 21 consecutive title defenses. He also held the unified super-middleweight championship twice and was named The Ring magazine's Fighter of the Year in 2007. In addition, The Ring ranked Calzaghe the number one super-middleweight boxer in the world from 2000 to 2008.

Calzaghe's style of fighting was often described as unorthodox, as he preferred to fight with his hands held low, relying on his impressive speed and reflexes to outpace and outsmart his opponents. He was known for his quick feet, sharp punching, and strong key punches.

Aside from his in-ring accomplishments, Calzaghe is also known for his philanthropic work. He has been involved with various charities and has used his platform to raise awareness about issues such as homelessness and mental health.

Conclusion

Joe Calzaghe is one of the greatest boxers of all time, with an undefeated record of 46-0. He held the WBO super-middleweight championship for over a decade and made 21 consecutive title defenses. Calzaghe was known for his unorthodox fighting style and his impressive speed and reflexes, which allowed him to outpace and outsmart his opponents. He also used his platform to raise awareness about various issues and was involved in various philanthropic ventures. Calzaghe's legacy in the world of boxing will live on as he continues to serve as an inspiration to boxers and fans alike.

Joe Calzaghe Fight Record