Background
Calzaghe, Joe was born on March 23, 1972 in Hammersmith, England. Son of Enzo and Jackie Calzaghe.
( It was past three in the morning when Joe Calzaghe expe...)
It was past three in the morning when Joe Calzaghe experienced the sweetest validation of his professional life. Victory over Jeff Lacy, a 28-year-old American compared to a young Mike Tyson because of his power and "take-no-prisoners attitude," left no one in doubt about the world super middleweight champion’s talent. Hugh McIlvanney, the doyen of British sportswriters and a veteran chronicler of fights, described what he had witnessed as "one of the greatest displays of superb technique, confidence, and fighting intelligence a British boxer has delivered in a major contest." For years, Calzaghe’s virtuosity remained a legend of the Welsh valleys. His defeat in 1997 of Chris Eubank brought him to prominence and won him the World Boxing Organization super middleweight title. But despite a record number of defenses of the belt, his career lacked a defining contest. A long line of challengers and ex-titleholders were disposed of but the biggest names in American boxing avoided the ultimate showdown he craved. Hand injuries further obscured the true level of his aptitude for an art he began to learn from his father, Enzo, at the age of eight when—inspired by Sugar Ray Leonard—a rolled-up carpet in the family home in Newbridge became a makeshift punching bag. This is the story of Calzaghe’s extraordinary life, from his humble beginnings in his hometown of Newbridge to his ascent to personal greatness, becoming the first super middleweight boxer to win the prized belt awarded by The Ring—the bible of boxing—in the division’s near 20-year history. As reticent outside the ring as he is remarkable inside, for the first time Calzaghe reveals his fears and motivations and the real extent of the hand injuries that have dogged his career. One of Britain’s foremost sporting champions, a warrior, and a working-class hero, this is the story of the triumphs and trials that made Calzaghe a legend.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1846051932/?tag=2022091-20
Calzaghe, Joe was born on March 23, 1972 in Hammersmith, England. Son of Enzo and Jackie Calzaghe.
Professional boxer, since 1993. Winner super middleweight title versus Stephen Wilson by technical knockout British Boxing Board of Control, 1995, winner super middleweight title defense versus Mark Delaney by technical knockout, 96, winner super middleweight title defense versus Luciano Torres by technical knockout, 97. Winner world title versus Chris Eubank by unanimous decision, super middleweight division World Boxing Organization, 1997, winner world title defense versus Branko Sobot by technical knockout, super middleweight division, 98, winner world title defense versus Juan Carlos Gimenez Ferreyra by technical knockout, super middleweight division, 98, winner world title defense versus Robin Reid by split decision, super middleweight division, 99, winner world title defense versus Rick Thornberry by unanimous decision, super middleweight division, 99, winner world title defense versus David Starie by unanimous decision, super middleweight division, 2000, winner world title defense versus Omar Sheika by technical knockout, super middleweight division, 00, winner world title defense versus Richie Woodhall by technical knockout, super middleweight division, 00, winner world title defense versus Mario Veit by technical knockout, super middleweight division, 01, winner world title defense versus Will McIntyre by technical knockout, super middleweight division, 01, winner world title defense versus Charles Brewer by unanimous decision, super middleweight division, 02, winner world title defense versus Miguel Angel Jimenez by unanimous decision, super middleweight division, 02, winner world title defense versus Tocker Pudwill by unanimous decision, super middleweight division, 02, winner world title defense versus Byron Mitchell by technical knockout, super middleweight division, 03, winner world title defense versus Mger Mkrtchian by technical knockout, super middleweight division, 04, winner world title defense versus Kabary Salem by unanimous decision, super middleweight division, 04, winner world title defense versus Mario Veit by technical knockout, super middleweight division, 05, winner world title defense versus Evans Ashira by unanimous decision, super middleweight division, 05, winner world title defense versus Jeff Lacy by unanimous decision, super middleweight division, 06, winner world title defense versus Sakio Bika by unanimous decision, super middleweight division, 06, winner world title defense versus Peter Manfredo by technical knockout, super middleweight division, 07, winner world title defense versus Mikkel Kessler by unanimous decision, super middleweight division, 07.
Winner super middleweight title versus Jeff Lacy by unanimous decision International Boxing Federation, 2006, winner super middleweight title defense versus Sakio Bika by unanimous decision, 06. Winner world title versus Mikkel Kessler by unanimous decision, super middleweight division World Boxing Association, 2007, World Boxing Council, 2007.
( It was past three in the morning when Joe Calzaghe expe...)