22 years ago

Date: 20th April 2002

Venue: Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales

Title: WBO World Super-middleweight Title

Promoter: Frank Warren

Tv: Sky Sports, Showtime

Joe Calzaghe
( 32 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 167 3/4 lbs

Charles Brewer
( 37 - 8 - 0 )
Weight: 167 3/4 lbs

Charles "The Hatchet" Brewer came to Cardiff to challenge Joe Calzaghe for his WBO world title with absolutely nothing to lose. He had defended the IBF belt he won in a vacant title match against Gary Ballard in June 1997 on three occasions and then lost it on a highly questionable split decision in Germany to Sven Ottke. He went back two years later and again lost by split decision. Brewer expected no better treatment in Wales.

Calzaghe's career had stalled at times with injuries and the occasional weak title challenger, leading some critics to say that his reign as world champion was scripted. Charles Brewer, Calzaghe's 10th title challenger gave the champion the chance he so badly needed to show the doubters just how much he deserved the title of the best 168lb fighter in the world.