Date: 22nd October 2004
Venue: Royal Highland Showground, Edinburgh, ScotlandTitle: WBO World Super-middleweight Title
Promoter: Frank Warren
Tv: Sky Sports
Joe Calzaghe
(
37
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 168 lbs
Kabary Salem
(
23
-
3
-
0
)
Weight: 167 3/4 lbs
The 15th defence of Joe Calzaghe's WBO world super-middleweight title reign came against No 6 ranked contender Kabery Salem, a Brookland, New York-based Egyptian who had taken former Calzaghe opponent Mario Veit to a split decision for the vacant WBO Interim world title in his last fight 5 months earlier.
The only other name opponents on Kabery's record were Eric Harding who later challenged Roy Jones Jr for the world Light-heavyweight titles and Antwun Echols who had challenged for the WBA super-middleweight title, both had beaten him.
By the end of the 1st round, referee Paul Thomas knew he was in for a busy night as he had already dealt with headbutting and low blows. Tempers were fraught and Salem looked out of his depth.
At the end of the 2nd round, Calzaghe returned to his corner with a cut on his scalp due to a head clash and in the 3rd Salem was docked a point for headbutts.
As the 4th round rolled into its last minute, Calzaghe backed Kabery into the corner, attacking carelessly and was caught with a flush right hook to the chin, a following left hook helped drop the champion on the seat of his trunks. The embarrassed champion rose to his feet with no visible signs of distress and the challenger didn't push his advantage.
The middle rounds were largely taken up with long-range boxing and while Salem was always competitive, the champion was one step ahead in this department. Salem was still being warned for dangerous use of the head.
In the 11th round, it was Calzaghe's turn to be reprimanded by referee Thomas for illegal use of the head and he had a point deducted.
In the 12th and final round, Salem was given an eight count for what was surely just a slip after missing with a wild left hook. It made little difference as the champion had built up a wide lead on the judge's scorecards.
Scores: Renato Caddeo 117-109 | Frank Cairo 118-107 | Manuel Oliver Palomo 116-109