Date: 28th April 2001
Venue: Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
Title: WBO World Super-middleweight Title
Promoter: Frank Warren
Tv: Sky Sports
Joe Calzaghe
(
30
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 167 3/4 lbs
Mario Veit
(
30
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 167 lbs
For the 8th defence of his WBO World Super-middleweight crown, Joe Calzaghe met his mandatory challenger Mario Veit, an unbeaten 28-year-old from Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.
With both boxers sporting 30-0 records, on paper this looked like one of the champion's most dangerous missions since he won the vacant title against Chris Eubank in 1997. Of course, those that studied the sport knew the vast difference in the levels of opposition between both.
Most importantly, Calzaghe and his father/trainer Enzo knew that Veit had never been tested at the highest level and so decided to take the fight to the 6ft 3-inch challenger from the 1st bell. After two trips to the canvas, referee Mark Nelson called a halt at 1:52 of the 1st round.