Calzaghe, Joe

1993–2002

He made his debut in October 1993. Calzaghe spent almost all his fights in the UK.

In October 1997, in a battle for the vacant WBO title at super middleweight, he defeated the famous fighter Chris Yubenk .

From 1997 to 2002, he successfully defended his title by defeating many boxers, including the undefeated Mario Fite and Charles Brewer .

June 28, 2003   Joe Calzaghe -   Byron Mitchell

• Location:   International Arena, Cardiff , Wales , UK
• Result: Calzaghe wins by TKO in the 2nd round in a 12-round bout
• Status: WBO title fight in the 2nd middleweight title (Calzaghe 13th defense)
• Referee: Dave Parris
• Weight: Calzaghe 75.70 kg; Mitchell 76.20 kg
• Broadcast: Showtime

In June 2003, Joe Calzaghe entered the ring against Byron Mitchell . In the 2nd round, Mitchell hit Calzaghe with a left hook. Calzaghe for the first time in his career was knocked down. He immediately stood up. Mitchell rushed to finish off the Welshman. Calzaghe in a counterattack left hook to the jaw sent him a knockdown. Mitchell rose. Now Calzaghe rushed to kill him. Welshman spent several successful blows, after which Mitchell staggered and fell on the ropes. The referee stopped the fight.

2004—2006

In May 2005, he left for Germany to fight against the German Mario Fite . Calzaghe won by a knockout in the 6th round.

March 4, 2006   Joe Calzaghe -   Jeff Lacy

• Location:   M.E.N. Arena, Manchester , Lancashire , UK
• Result: Calzaghe's victory by unanimous decision in a 12-round bout
• Status: A champion title fight for the IBF title at 2nd Middleweight (5th Lacey defense); championship fight for the WBO title at the 2nd middleweight title (Calzaghe 13th defense)
• Referee: Raul Kais
• Judges account: Nelson Vazquez (119–105), Roy Francis (119–107), Adaleid Bird (119–107) - all in favor of Calzaghe
• Weight: Calzaghe 76.20 kg; Lacy 75.70 kg
• Broadcast: Showtime
• Informal judges: Claude Abrams (119–107), John Coty (119–107), Colin Hart (119–107) - all in favor of Calzaghe

In March 2006, a super middleweight unification fight took place between the long-playing undefeated WBO world champion Joe Calzaghe and the undefeated IBF world champion Jeff Lacy . Both opponents took the attacking version of combat. A more technical Calzaghe confidently crushed the enemy - he unceasingly attacked him, and unlike Lacy, much of his strikes fell on the target. In the 11th round, the referee took Calzaghe a point for a strike after the “break” team. In the 12th round, Calzaghe conducted a spurt attack. Toward the middle of the round, he hit the left hook in the head of Lacey, and for the first time he was knocked down. Lacy stood at the expense of 4. Calzaghe rushed to finish him off. Lacey was on the verge of a knockout. Suddenly, the referee interrupted the fight. He noticed that Lacy had a bandage bandage on his glove. He took the American to the corner, so that where a bandage was tied to him. After the resumption of battle Calzaghe again began to bomb Lacey, but could not finish off. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]}

October 14, 2006   Joe Calzaghe -   Sakio Bika

• Location:   M.E.N. Arena, Manchester , Lancashire , UK
• Result: Calzaghe's victory by unanimous decision in a 12-round bout
• Status: Championship fight for IBF title in 2nd middleweight (1st defense Calzaghe); championship fight for the WBO title at the 2nd middleweight title (Calzaghe's 19th defense)
• Referee: Mickey Vann
• Judges account: Jose Rivera (117-110), John Lawson (117-110), Phil Edwards (116-111) - all in favor of Calzaghe
• Weight: Calzaghe 76.20 kg; Bika 76.20 kg
• Broadcast: HBO BAD

In October 2006, Calzaghe entered the ring against Cameroonian Sakio Biki . In the middle of the 5th round, Bika's head bowed low faced Calzaghe. The referee took a point from Cameroon. Bika was unhappy with the fine. Following the results of a 12-round round, the judges unanimously declared the winner Joe Calzaghe.

After this fight, Calzaghe gave up his IBF title.

April 7, 2007   Joe Calzaghe -   Peter Manfredo

• Location:   Millennium Stadium, Cardiff , Wales , UK
• Result: Calzaghe wins by TKO in the 3rd round in the 12-round bout
• Status: WBO title fight in the 2nd middleweight title (20th defense of Calzaghe)
• Referee: Terry O'Connor
• Time: 1:30
• Weight: Calzaghe 76.10 kg; Manfredo 75.30 kg
• Broadcast: HBO
• Informal Judge: Harold Lederman (20–18 Calzaghe)

In April 2007, Calzaghe met with Peter Manfredo . In the middle of the 3rd round, Calzaghe pressed Manfredo to the ropes and began a spurt attack. First, his blows reached the goal, then a significant part of the blows came in defense, and the last blows were thrown at all. However, the referee unexpectedly stopped the fight. The decision was very controversial.

November 3, 2007   Joe Calzaghe -   Mikkel Kessler

• Location:   Millennium Stadium, Cardiff , Wales , UK
• Result: Calzaghe's victory by unanimous decision in a 12-round bout
• Status: Championship fight for the WBC title at the 2nd middleweight title (2nd Kessler defense); championship fight for the WBA title at the 2nd middleweight title (Kessler’s 5th defense); WBO title fight for the 2nd middleweight title (21st defense Calzaghe)
• Referee: Mike Ortega
• Judges account: Raul Kais (117-111), John Stewart (116-112), Massimo Barrovecchio (116-112) - all in favor of Calzaghe
• Weight: Calzaghe 75.50 kg; Kessler 76.20 kg
• Broadcast: HBO
• Informal Judge: Harold Lederman (117-111 Calzaghe)

In November 2007, a unification bout took place in the 2nd Middleweight Championship between long-playing WBO world champion Joe Calzaghe and WBC and WBA world champion Mikkel Kessler . More aggressive Calzaghe won on points.

April 19, 2008   Bernard Hopkins -   Joe Calzaghe

• Location:   Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas , Nevada , USA
• Result: Winning Calzaghe by controversial decision in a 12-round bout
• Status: Rating fight
• Referee: Joe Cortez
• The judges' account: Ted Giemsa (115–112 Hopkins), Adaleid Bird (113–114 Calzaghe), Chuck Jiampa (116–111 Calzaghe)
• Weight: Hopkins 78.50 kg; Calzaghe 78.50 kg
• Broadcast: HBO
• By an unofficial judge: Harold Lederman (111–116 Calzaghe)

In April 2008, the battle took place between Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins . Joe Calzaghe fought for the first time in the United States. In the middle of the 1st round, Hopkins hit the head of the British with a counter right cross and he was knocked down. Calzaghe immediately rose. He was not shocked, so Hopkins did not rush to finish him off. In close battle, the judges gave the victory a split decision to the Briton. Do not forget that Joe made an “illegal” blow below the belt three times, but if after the first two judges gave Hopkins the opportunity to catch his breath, the third he simply did not notice and continued the fight.

November 8, 2008   Joe Calzaghe -   Roy Jones

• Location:   Madison Square Garden , New York , New York (state) , USA
• Result: Calzaghe's victory by unanimous decision in a 12-round bout
• Status: Rating fight
• Referee: Hubert Earl
• Judges' score: Julie Lederman (117-109), Terry O'Connor (117-109), Jerry Roth (117-109) - all in favor of Calzaghe
• Weight: Calzaghe 79.2 kg; Jones 79.2 kg
• Broadcast: HBO PPV
• By an unofficial judge: Harold Lederman (117-110 Calzaghe)

In November 2008, a fight took place between Joe Calzaghe and American Roy Jones . In the middle of the 1st round, Jones struck an opponent with a left hook in the head of the opponent. Welshman fell to the canvas. He rose to the score of 5. Calzaghe did not look shocked. Welshman the whole battle went forward, throwing a huge number of punches, and surpassing the opponent in speed. The American could not oppose this pressure. Towards the end of the battle, a cut was formed over Jones' left eye. At the end of the match, all the judges gave the same crushing 118-109 victory to Joe Calzaghe.

• List of world boxing champions in several weight categories

• Service record (eng.)
• All news about Joe Calzaghe
• Joe Calzaghe on boxnews.com.ua