Date: 16th December 2000
Venue: Sheffield Arena, Yorkshire, UK
Title: WBO World Super-middleweight Title
Promoter: Frank Warren
Tv: Sky Sports
Joe Calzaghe
(
29
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 167 3/4 lbs
Richie Woodhall
(
26
-
2
-
0
)
Weight: 167 1/2 lbs
Making the 7th defence of his WBO World Super-middleweight crown, Welshman Calzaghe came up against former WBC boss Richie Woodhall, a bronze medallist from the 1988 Seoul summer Olympic games and a consummate professional.
Although Calzaghe made a great start, rocking the challenger in the 1st round, Woodhall kept Joe honest right up until the end, winning rounds with his stiff jab and excellent footwork.
As the rounds went by Calzaghe's pace seemed to drain Woodhall's resolve until he was knocked down in the 9th round and when the champion drove Woodhall to the ropes at the start of the 10th round referee Roy Francis jumped in to stop the fight as the brave challenger was taking a shellacking on the ropes.