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Joe Calzaghe
CBE

Calzaghe in 2007

Statistics

Real name

Joseph William Calzaghe

Nickname(s)

The Pride of Wales
The Italian Dragon

Rated at

Super-middleweight
Light-heavyweight

Height

6 ft 0 in

Reach

73 in

Nationality

Welsh

Born

23 March 1972 (age 53)
Hammersmith, London, England

Stance

Southpaw

Boxing record

Total fights

Wins

Wins by KO

Medal record

Men's amateur boxing

Representing Wales
ABA Championships
Gold	1991 London	Welterweight

Joseph William Calzaghe (born 23 March 1972) is a famous Welsh boxer. He competed professionally from 1993 to 2008. Joe won many world championships in two different weight categories: super-middleweight and light-heavyweight.

Joe was the longest-reigning super-middleweight champion ever! He held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) title for over 10 years. He defended it 20 times, which is a record for that division. He then moved up to light-heavyweight. Joe retired from boxing in February 2009. He had an amazing record of 46 wins and zero losses. This means he was undefeated throughout his entire career.

In 2007, Joe Calzaghe won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. He was the first Welsh person to win this award since 1960. In 2014, he was added to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. People often called him "The Pride of Wales" and "The Italian Dragon."

Joe's Early Life and Family
How Joe Started Boxing
Joe's Amateur Boxing Career
Joe's Professional Boxing Career
Life After Boxing
Joe's Personal Life
Titles Joe Calzaghe Won
See also

Joe's Early Life and Family

Joe Calzaghe was born in Hammersmith, London. His father, Enzo Calzaghe, was from Sardinia, Italy. His mother, Jackie, was Welsh. Joe's grandparents moved to Britain after World War II. His father worked many jobs in Italy before becoming a street performer. He later came back to Britain.

Joe's parents met when his father visited family in Bournemouth. His mother was from a mining town in Wales called Markham, Caerphilly. They got married and briefly lived in Sardinia. But Joe's mother missed Britain, so they returned. They settled in London, where Joe was born in March 1972.

Later that year, his family moved back to Sardinia. However, his mother wanted to return to Britain again. So, they lived with his grandmother in Markham for three years. After that, they moved into their own home in Pentwynmawr, near Newbridge, in South Wales. Joe went to Pentwynmawr Primary School with his two sisters, Melissa and Sonia. He loved playing football and was a good midfielder.

How Joe Started Boxing

When Joe was eight, he received a boxing toy. This sparked his interest in the sport. His father even made him a punching bag from an old carpet! At age ten, Joe joined his first boxing club, Newbridge Amateur Boxing Club. Boxing quickly became his main focus. He stopped playing football after two years.

Joe went to Oakdale Comprehensive School at 11. He faced bullying as a teenager, which made him feel alone. Even though the bullying stopped after a year, Joe later said it affected him deeply. He left school without taking his final exams.

In 2009, Joe Calzaghe was given the Freedom of Caerphilly County Borough. This is a special honor. He was also made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2008.

Joe's Amateur Boxing Career

As an amateur boxer, Joe Calzaghe had 120 fights. He won four schoolboy ABA titles. He then won three British ABA titles in a row between 1990 and 1993. These titles were in three different weight categories: welterweight, light middleweight, and middleweight. His amateur record was 110 wins and 10 losses.

Joe's Professional Boxing Career

Becoming a Super-Middleweight Champion

Joe Calzaghe started his professional boxing career in September 1993. His first fight was at Cardiff Arms Park. He won quickly, stopping his opponent in the first round. By September 1995, Joe had won all 13 of his fights. Many of these wins came very fast, often in the first or second round.

In October 1995, Joe won the vacant British super-middleweight title. He stopped Stephen Wilson in the eighth round. At the end of 1995, Joe was named Young Boxer of the Year. Many experts believed he would become a huge star.

Joe continued to win in 1996. He defended his British title against Mark Delaney. Critics said Joe hadn't been truly tested yet. Joe replied that he could only beat the fighters who were willing to face him.

In November 1996, Joe joined Frank Warren's boxing team. Warren, a famous promoter, said Joe was "my fighter for the new millennium." Joe kept winning in 1997. He defeated Carlos Christie, Tyler Hughes, and Luciano Torres. Warren tried to arrange a fight for Joe against other world champions.

Winning the WBO Title

After another champion, Steve Collins, retired, a fight was set up for Joe. He would fight British boxing legend Chris Eubank for the vacant WBO title. This big fight happened on October 11, 1997, in Sheffield. Joe won against Eubank by a unanimous decision. He even knocked Eubank down in the first few seconds! Eubank later said Joe was "the proper article, a true warrior." This win made Joe very popular.

In 1998, Joe defended his title against Branko Sobot and Juan Carlos Gimenez Ferreyra. Joe was the first boxer to stop Gimenez Ferreyra, which even famous boxers like Roberto Durán couldn't do.

In 1999, Joe fought his rival, Robin Reid. Joe won by a split decision. This was one of his toughest fights. Joe also broke his hand in another fight that year against Rick Thornberry.

In 2000, Joe had more wins, including against Omar Sheika and his friend Richie Woodhall. In 2001, he won impressively against Mario Veit in the first round. He also won a fight in Denmark, his first outside Britain.

By 2002, Joe had defended his WBO super-middleweight title 12 times. He said, "I want to be remembered as one of the best British boxers ever." In 2003, he fought Byron Mitchell. Joe was knocked down for the first time in his career, but he quickly got up and won the fight in the same round.

In 2004, Joe continued his winning streak. He defeated Mger Mkrtchian and Kabary Salem. He was knocked down briefly by Salem but still won easily. In 2005, Joe fought Mario Veit again in Germany and won. He also beat Evans Ashira, even though he broke his left hand during the fight.

Becoming the Unified Super-Middleweight Champion

Joe had a big fight scheduled with IBF super-middleweight champion Jeff Lacy. This fight was delayed because Joe broke his hand. But it finally happened on March 5, 2006. Joe won easily against Lacy, who many thought would win. Joe won every round and gained the IBF title. He also became the first super-middleweight to be recognized as world champion by The Ring magazine.

On October 14, 2006, Joe faced Sakio Bika. Joe won the fight, even though he got a bad cut over his left eye.

In April 2007, Joe defended his WBO title against Peter Manfredo Jr. in Cardiff, Wales. Joe won by a third-round stoppage. He threw many punches, and the referee stopped the fight.

Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler

Calzaghe in 2007

In November 2007, Joe fought Mikkel Kessler. Kessler was also an undefeated world champion. This was a huge fight to unify the WBO, The Ring, WBA, and WBC super-middleweight titles. Joe won by a unanimous decision. This win meant he had defended his title more times than many other famous champions.

After beating Kessler, Joe was often called the "undisputed champion." This meant he held most of the major world titles in his weight class.

Moving to Light-Heavyweight

Joe Calzaghe vs. Bernard Hopkins

On April 19, 2008, Joe had his first fight in the United States. He fought Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas. Joe won The Ring Light Heavyweight Championship by a split decision.

Hopkins knocked Joe down in the first round. But Joe kept fighting hard and found his rhythm. He landed many punches. Joe won the fight, even though Hopkins disagreed with the decision. Joe said it was one of the toughest fights of his career.

Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones Jr.

In June 2008, Joe decided to promote his own fights. On July 8, 2008, it was announced that Joe would fight Roy Jones Jr. for The Ring Light Heavyweight Championship. This big fight took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Joe injured his hand, so the fight was moved to November 8. Joe was knocked down in the first round again. But he took control of the fight after that. Joe won by a unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight for him.

Joe's Retirement from Boxing

On February 5, 2009, Joe Calzaghe announced he was retiring from professional boxing. He ended his career with a perfect record of 46 wins and no losses. He is one of only a few world champions to retire undefeated. His friend, boxer Ricky Hatton, called him "the best British fighter we've ever had."

Joe Calzaghe in 2021

Life After Boxing

After retiring, Joe Calzaghe started his own boxing promotion company. He runs it with his father, Enzo Calzaghe.

Joe also supports the Beat Bullying campaign. He was inspired to do this because he was bullied when he was young.

In 2010, Joe played in the Soccer Aid charity football match. His team, the Rest of the World, beat England. Joe even scored his team's first goal! In 2012, Joe appeared as himself in an episode of the TV show Stella.

Joe's Personal Life

Joe Calzaghe has three sons. Two are from his marriage to Mandy Davies, and one is from another relationship. Joe also participated in the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing. He later had a relationship with his dance partner, Kristina Rihanoff.

Joe is a lifelong fan of the Italian football club Juventus FC.

Titles Joe Calzaghe Won

Major World Titles

WBA (Undisputed) super-middleweight champion
WBC super-middleweight champion
IBF super-middleweight champion
WBO super-middleweight champion

The Ring Magazine Titles

The Ring super-middleweight champion
The Ring light-heavyweight champion

Other Titles

British super-middleweight champion
WBO Super Champion