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.