Joe Calzaghe
Name: Joe Calzaghe
Alias: Pride of Wales / Italian Dragon
Birth Name: Joseph Calzaghe
Born: 1972-03-23
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom
Hometown: Newbridge, Wales, United Kingdom
Stance: Southpaw
Height: 5′ 11″ / 180cm
Reach: 73″ / 185cm
Boxing Record: click
Trainer: Enzo Calzaghe
Manager: Frank Warren
Amateur Accomplishments
Calzaghe won three ABA titles at different weights (welterweight in 1991, light middleweight in 1992, middleweight in 1993).
Regional Titles
- British super middleweight champion (1995-1996)
On March 4, 2006, Calzaghe won the IBF super middleweight title with a lopsided unanimous decision victory over defending champion Jeff Lacy in Manchester, England. He had to relinquish the IBF title on November 27, 2006 because he refused to fight the IBF mandatory challenger Robert Stieglitz. On October 14, 2006, Calzaghe made his 19th successful defense against Sakio Bika via unanimous decision; the scores were 117-110, 117-110, and 116-111. On April 7, 2007, Calzaghe defeated Peter Manfredo Jr. by 3rd round TKO to retain his WBO title for the 20th time. On November 3, 2007, Calzaghe faced Mikkel Kessler in a bout to unify the WBO, WBC, and WBA super middleweight titles. Calzaghe won a hard fought unanimous decision; the scores were 117-111, 116-112, and 116-112. Calzaghe has now held all four major titles. On April 19, 2008, at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada, Calzaghe defeated Bernard Hopkins and won The Ring light heavyweight championship by close split decision, Calzaghe did not get off to a good start by getting knock down in the first with a right hand, as the rounds went on Calzaghe began to get his rhythm going by landing combinations at close range, At the end, judges Chuck Giampa (116-111) and Ted Gimza (115-112) scored the fight for Calzaghe, while judge Adalaide Byrd (114-113) score the fight for Hopkins.
| Preceded by: Steve Collins Retired |
WBO Super Middleweight Champion 1997 Oct 11 – present |
Succeeded by: — |
| Preceded by: Jeff Lacy |
IBF Super Middleweight Champion 2006 Mar 4 – 2006 Nov 27 Vacated |
Succeeded by: Alejandro Berrio |
| Preceded by: Mikkel Kessler |
WBC Super Middleweight Champion 2007 Nov 3 – 2008 Jun 28 Vacated |
Succeeded by: Vacant |
