16 years ago

Date: 3rd November 2007

Title: WBC, WBA & WBO World Super-middleweight Titles

Promoter: Frank warren

Tv: HBO, ITV

Joe Calzaghe
( 43 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 166 1/2 lbs

Mikkel Kessler
( 39 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 168 lbs

In the 21st defence of the WBO World Super-middleweight title he won 10 years ago, Joe Calzaghe finally got what he had been after for such a long time, a unification match against a fighter that is regarded as his equal going in. Mikkel Kessler, the reigning WBC & WBA world titleholder would give the Welshman the career-defining fight he had been after.

Some would say that he accomplished that goal when he systematically dismantled heavily favoured American Jeff Lacy in March 2006 but there were many so-called experts that subscribed to the notion that Lacy was just overhyped and that the win was nothing more than a decent boxer exposing a pretender. There could be no such excuses if Calzaghe put in another commanding performance against the excellent WBC & WBA champion.

The fight lived up completely to its billing as both men put in career-best performances to produce a classic fight.

The early rounds gave no clue as to how dominant Calzaghe would end the fight. Indeed, there was nothing between them until the 35-year-old champion stepped up the pace and ran away with the points. Kessler stayed with Calzaghe but he was losing rounds, even if some of them were close.

There was no argument at the end as to who deserved the spoils.

Scores: Massimo Barrovecchio 116-112 | Raul Caiz Sr 117-111 | John Stewart 116-112