24 years ago

Date: 29th January 2000

Venue: M.E.N. Arena, Manchester

Title: WBO World Super-middleweight Title

Promoter: Frank Warren

Tv: Sky Sports

Joe Calzaghe
( 27 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 167 3/4 lbs

David Starie
( 22 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 167 1/2 lbs

Calzaghe vs Starie shared top billing with Mike Tyson's first-ever fight in the United Kingdom, which was always going to make it a tough task to garner headlines, such was "the badest man on the planet's" star quality and drawing power.

The fact that Calzaghe was struggling for recognition as an elite talent in the 168lb division around this time and his problems with hand injuries, led to what should have been a great fight between two highly skilled British fighters, but instead ended up as a dull, repetitive, 12 rounds that the fans wanted out of the way so that they could enjoy the violence that a Mike Tyson fight guaranteed.

Starie, the British and Commonwealth champion coming into the Calzaghe fight, had only lost to Dean Francis as a professional and was a classy boxer with speed and power. He challenged Sven Ottke in Germany in June 2003 losing a unanimous decision.

Scores: Bill Lerch 118-110 | Roberto Ramirez Sr 120-108 | Mickey Vann 116-113