Boxer Joe Calzaghe: biography, professional career

British land has always been famous for high-class boxers. Many of them managed to reach the heights of professional boxing, having won one or more world titles. However, even in such a pleiad of famous athletes a special place belongs to a man named Joe Calzaghe, who was not just a world champion, but he did not suffer a single defeat in his career. About it we'll talk more in this article.

Biographical information

Joe Calzaghe was born on March 23, 1972 in the English city of Hammersmith. His father was of Italian descent, and his mother was born in Wales, where his family moved when the boy was two years old.

Calzaghe started his boxing career at the age of nine. He played more than 120 fights in the amateur ring. I managed to win several amateur titles.

Professional career

As a pro Joe Calzaghe first stepped into the ring in 1993. The vast majority of his boxer fights were held in the UK. Surprisingly, in all his sporting life he has never lost. And this despite the fact that he fought in an amateur stand, his back was too direct in battle and occasionally jumped on his toes at those moments when he should be on full foot. However, these technical nuances in his performance were not a drawback, but rather, on the contrary, made his style branded and exclusive.

The beginning of the way

Beginning to perform in 1993, Calzaghe quickly got to the top of the world rankings. For the first two years he had 13 fights, in all of which he could win. At the same time, he finished seven fights by knockout in the first round, and two fights - in the second. Among the defeated at the time were such famous names as Frank Minton and Robert Kerry.

The first title

In late 1995, Joe Calzaghe was recognized as the best young boxer of the year. In many respects, the appropriation of this title was served by his victory over Stephen Wilson, thanks to which he was able to become the strongest in the British Isles.

Well-known boxing analyst Barry McGuigan (formerly also a boxer and world champion) at that time spoke about Calzaghe as follows: "He beats hard, moves great and combines the best - European technology and American aggression."

Criticism

In 1996, Calzaghe won by knockouts with Guy Stanford and Anthony Brooks. He also defeated Warren Stowe and Pat Laolore. At the same time, Joe heard the words that he had not yet passed the real test in the ring. To this the British boxer answered that he could fight with anyone, as he always prepares for fights seriously and with all responsibility.

Combat with Eubank

In the fall of 1997, Joe went into the ring to fight for the world title WBO. His rival was the most experienced Chris Eubank, who previously owned this title and lost it to Steve Collins. However, because of injuries, the champion left the belt, and he became vacant.

In the duel of Calzaghe-Eubank, the opposition of youth against experience was clearly seen. In the course of the fight, Joe was able to send his opponent twice in a knockdown and eventually win a unanimous decision. As a result, already in his 23rd professional battle the Welshman became the world champion. Then no one could have guessed that this fighter will be able to hold the title for ten years.

Belt protection

On the laurels of the winner Joe did not rest very long and in January 1998 he held his first successful title defense against the claims of Croatian opponent Branko Sobot, who was knocked out in the third round.

In April of the same year, Calzaghe again successfully defends his title in a duel with a boxer from Paraguay Juan Carlos Jimenez Pereira.

The most controversial was Joe's fight with Robin Reed in February 1999. The victory over the challenger for the champion was then given extremely uneasily, as the judges recorded the victory by a split decision. According to experts, this victory was the most controversial in the career of Calzaghe.

The next two opponents - Ricky Thornberry and David Stary - were also defeated on points, and Omar Sheik was completely knocked out in the fifth round.

Continuation of the winning series

At the end of 2000, the resistance of one more challenger, Richie Woodhall, was broken. And already literally a month later, a boxer from Germany, Mario Veit, was knocked out. After this fight Joe fought in turn with the Americans. These professional boxers were also literally destroyed and declassed.

But in the summer of 2003, Joe was first knocked down. In the battle with mandatory challenger Byron Mitchell Calzaghe ran into a left hook and was on canvas. After counting the referee, the American attacked the Welshman like a kite, trying to finish him off. However, Joe in a counterattack was able to hit the side of the opponent's jaw and knock him down. Byron had enough strength to rise, but the champion struck a series of punches, after which the referee was forced to intervene and stop the fight ahead of schedule, fixing the victory of Calzaghe.

In early 2004, he knocked out the Russian boxer Mher Mkrtchyan in the seventh round. In October, Joe fought with a very uncomfortable, extremely "dirty" boxer from the US Kabari Salem. Their fight lasted all 12 rounds. Again, the winner was a Briton.

Unification battle

March 4, 2006 Joe Calzaghe, whose biography is unique and is an example for many boxers, held a duel with the then-current world champion IBF Jeff Lacy. Both fighters chose an attacking battle style. Calzaghe more often fell on the opponent. In the 11th round with Joe took one point, as he struck after the command "break". In the 12th round, the Welshman sent an opponent down, but he was able to get up. Calzaghe tried to finish off the opponent, but the referee interrupted the fight, because he noticed a loose bandage on Lace's glove. The final result of the battle was Calzaghe's victory by a judicial decision.

In October of the same year, Joe conducted another fight. This time he was opposed by the Australian of Cameroonian origin Sakio Bika. In the fifth round, the challenger went forward with his head lowered too low and collided with the champion. For this, the referee withdrew one point from Sakio. As a result of all 12 rounds, Joe celebrated the victory. By the way, after this fight Calzaghe voluntarily refused the belt of the IBF.

April 7, 2007 Calzaghe fought with Peter Manfredo. Already in the third round, the Welshman pressed the American to the ropes and held a protracted series of punches. Initially, his blows hit the target, but later he began to miss and fall into the defense. But the referee still made a very controversial decision to stop the fight. So ambiguous, according to many experts, ended the twentieth defense of the WBO title.

Six months later, Calzaghe was waiting for another triumph. This time the owner of two belts of the world champion under versions WBC and WBA the Dane Mikkel Kessler has been defeated. The battle went all the way. Joe was more aggressive, and the judges once again gave victory to him.

Transition to light heavyweight

The conquest of the three belts in the second middle weight led Joe to the decision to move to a new division, where he was already waiting for other rivals and significant amounts of money.

The first person to stand in the way of the British was Bernard Hopkins. The battle was rating, and no titles were at stake. Nevertheless, the bout turned out to be active and spectacular. Already in the first round, Calzaghe was knocked down after the missed right cross from the American. Joe was not too shocked, and therefore Bernard Hopkins did not even try to finish him off. At the end of 12 rounds of the fight, victory was awarded to Calzaghe, although one judge felt that the American was stronger. In the course of the fight Joe three times fell below the belt. After the first two times, Hopkins was given time to recover, but the referee simply did not notice the third time.

Fight with the best boxer regardless of category

On November 8, 2008, there was a duel between Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones. And again in the first round the Welshman was knocked down. However, the American could not derive any success from this. Joe all the subsequent rounds went forward and threw a colossal number of punches, constantly exerting pressure on the opponent. John and could not adapt to his opponent and eventually lost a unanimous decision.

Life outside the ring

On February 5, 2009, the boxer announced that he was completing his career. Therefore, the fighting Joe Calzaghe, we will never see again. Although, as his father Enzo assured, the son could still quite successfully perform for five years.

In retirement the Welshman sat down on drugs, but quickly realized that this was not his topic, and was able to return to normal life. It should be noted that the promoter from Calzaghe also failed. His company Calzaghe Promotions could not reach a high level even inside Britain itself.

As for his personal life, the former champion has two sons, whose mother he divorced back in 2005. After that, Joe met with the photo-model Joe-Emma Larwin for a long time. This relationship came to an end when Calzaghe became a member of the British dance television show. During the filming, he got carried away by the choreographer and dancer Kristina Pshenichnykh. True, it is worth saying that this relationship did not last long, and in August 2013 the couple broke up.