25 years ago today, Joe Calzaghe became the WBO super middleweight champion of the world. 15 years ago today, he was still the WBO super middleweight champion. Nobody would ever take that burgundy belt from ‘The Welsh Dragon’ in the ring. When he abdicated his throne, he did so voluntarily, to pursue further challenges up at light heavyweight. Only two world champions retired with better records than Calzaghe; Rocky Marciano and Floyd Mayweather. His unblemished 46-0 remains the standard for British fighters to try and reach. It all started against Chris Eubank a quarter of a century ago.
Eubank was not even supposed to be in the ring with Calzaghe that night in Sheffield. The 22-0 Welshman had earned a shot at WBO super middleweight champion Steve Collins. ‘The Celtic Warrior’ had made his bones by ending the era of dominance enjoyed by Eubank and Nigel Benn, recording two victories over each man. But Collins’ incredible journey came to an abrupt end when the champion collapsed during a sparring session. While medical tests did not unearth any underlying issues, the fighter chose to heed the warning and walk away while he still could.
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This left the WBO with a title vacancy to fill and the Sheffield card without a main event. Enter: Chris Eubank. ‘Simply The Best’ had been campaigning up at light heavyweight, winning two fights inside the distance since his second defeat to Collins. He was in training for a third bout at 175lbs on the undercard when he was offered the main event. Eubank was willing to come back down to 168lbs to meet Calzaghe for the now-vacant WBO title. His trainer, Ronnie Davies, was not willing to let him. Eubank accepted the bout on eleven days notice, a window Davies just would not countenance.
Eubank had undergone a strange transition with the British sporting public. Initially viewed as too braggadocious to truly warm to, the two defeats to Collins had somehow made him more human. Sporting consciousness in this country has always favoured the brave loser over the unimpeachable winner. Frank Bruno was always more beloved than Lennox Lewis, despite the latter boasting a greater CV than the former. Now Eubank had shown he could overcome adversity, his peacocking persona was perceived as endearing rather than egregious. He had let the British public behind the monocle and they liked what they saw.
This put Calzaghe in the unfair position of being the villain of the piece. The unbeaten young star was too flawless to warm to. It was a problem that would plague him during his incredible career. He would eventually get his flowers and join Eubank, Benn, Hatton and Bruno in the pantheon of beloved British greats. But that tonal shift was a decade away when he stepped through the ropes in Sheffield.
The fight could not have started better for the ‘Pride of Wales’. Calzaghe dropped the iron-chinned Eubank in the first round. But any thoughts of an easy night were quickly wiped off the table. Calzaghe would later tell Boxing News that Eubank took him to “a dark place” over the course of the rounds that followed. He would manage to land his illustrious opponent on the deck again in round ten, but still Eubank kept coming.
“I dropped Eubank really early but I was gassed after six rounds.” Calzaghe recalls. Eubank was still in possession of one of boxing’s great engines and he made the pretender to his throne battle for everything he got. It was never less than competitive even if it wasn’t quite close. Calzaghe went into the trenches, matching Eubank punch-for-punch, and coming off better. At the end of twelve merciless rounds, his hand was raised. Calzaghe won via unanimous decision and Wales had a new WBO super middleweight champion of the world.
After coming through what Calzaghe still calls his toughest fight, his record would suggest it was plain sailing. But Joe’s battle in the next decade was not so much with his opposition as it was for attention and relevance. Calzaghe was excellent in defeating the likes of Robin Reid, Richie Woodhall, Charles Brewer and Mario Veit. But his achievements went unheralded while his critics cited the lack of a truly top class name on his resume.
The turning point came in 2006, when Calzaghe utterly decimated feared American knockout artist and IBF champion Jeff Lacy. That brutally one-sided decision win opened the door for a fight with WBA and WBC boss Mikkel Kessler. Calzaghe beat the Dane in an utter thriller before moving up to light heavyweight. He captured The Ring championship at the higher weight, ending his career with a pair of points wins over Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr.
Now Calzaghe rightfully sits atop the list of British greats. It is a battle he has had to fight hard to win. In many ways, his bout with Eubank was a sign of things to come. But like against Eubank, his grit, determination and boxing brilliance have seen him through. 25 years ago, Calzaghe did something special. Today he is finally getting the recognition he deserves for that, and for everything else he gave us between the ropes.
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