Joe Calzaghe
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Joe Calzaghe is a British boxer from Newbridge in Wales (born Hammersmith, England 23rd feb 1973). He is the one of the greatest pure British boxers of his generation. He won 3 consectuive ABA titles at different weights 1991-93. His professional debut was in 1993 and he beat Chris Eubank in 1997. But the doubts linger, largely because Eubank remains the biggest name on his record, perhaps the only big name at all.
To his credit, Calzaghe has been making all the right noises, challenging Roy Jones and undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, both of whom are unlikely to take his bait. Calzaghe turned professional in 1993 after a glittering amateur career which featured three ABA titles at different weights. The Newbridge bruiser won the British super-middleweight title in his 14th professional fight and made nine defences before challenging the battle-hardened Eubank for the WBO crown. Calzaghe served notice of his punching power by flooring the shop-worn Eubank in the opening round and went on to take a bruising encounter on points. But a series of uninspiring defences followed, leading some to believe the great Welsh hope was nothing of the sort. It transpired Calzaghe had been hampered by an injury to his left hand and he returned to form with an impressive fifth-round knock-out of Omar Sheika in August 2000.
There followed striking wins over former WBC champion Richie Woodhall (TKO 10), undefeated German Mario Velt (TKO 1) and America's Will McIntyre, before a humdinger of a fight against the dangerous Charles Brewer. The dramatic bout at the Cardiff International Arena was shown State-side, and a convincing win on points confirmed Calzaghe's reputation as one of the world's best 168Ibs fighters. Calzaghe has since defeated Las Vegas doorman Miguel Jimenez (W12) and journeyman Tocker Pudwill (TKO2), both fights adding little to his reputation. And he was not helped by the reluctance of fellow champs Sven Ottke and Marcus Beyer to take him on in a higher-profiler unification bout. Calzaghe signed off at super middleweight with a pair of good wins against well-respected American Byron Mitchell and Armenian Mger Mrktchian.
On 07/05/05 Calzaghe once again defended his WBO super-middleweight title against Mario Veit, (KO6) , a previous opponent, and will now look to defend against Ulsterman Brain Magee or take a unification bout with the winner of an IBF title bout between Jeff Lacy and fellow Briton Robin Reid. Recently Calzaghe has been promised a unification bout with Lacy or Reid depending on who comes out on top in that bout, and he is aiming to move into the light heavyweight division and gain a title shot at fellow Brit, IBF Champion Sheffields Clinton Woods, or if possible a fight against Americans Antonio Tarver or Glen Johnson.
Calzaghe Fact File
Born: 23/03/1972
Turned pro: 01/10/1993
Division:Super-middleweight
Record: 35(28)-0
Alias: The Terminator
Height: 6ft
Reach: 75in
Trainer: Enzo Calzaghe
Promoter: Frank WarrenTemplate:Sportbio-stub