Calzaghe Recalls His Humble Beginnings

To many boxing fans, Joe Calzaghe is the greatest boxer the UK has ever produced. With an undefeated record and a super-middleweight championship title that spanned over a decade, he cemented his legacy by defeating two legends in the US. Thirty years ago, a pivotal moment in his journey took place at an Essex leisure centre. Calzaghe shared his experience of being in the away corner as a professional with Sky Sports, recalling his first title defence. At the time, Calzaghe was 16-0 and had to face Mark Delaney, who was unbeaten, in his backyard. The atmosphere was hostile, with booing, spitting, and name-calling, but Calzaghe remained focused. He started as a slight favourite and was confident of a knockout win. The confidence was not misplaced, as Calzaghe dominated the fight, dropping Delaney in the first round and several times after, before it was stopped in the fifth round. It was a statement performance that built on his reputation and marked a significant milestone in his career. The win was also notable for being against a man who was 21-0 at the time. However, Calzaghe's promoter, Mickey Duff, was left disappointed, having put money on Calzaghe to win in the first four rounds. Calzaghe had to apologize for not finishing the job earlier, despite it being his biggest win to date. In his corner that night were Duff, Terry Lawless, and his father and trainer, Enzo, who was the central figure in his career. When asked if having multiple characters in his corner caused conflicts, Calzaghe made it clear that his father was the boss. Following the victory, Calzaghe was just one successful defence away from earning the Lonsdale Belt outright. However, a rolled ankle caused by a pothole in the Welsh valleys put paid to that dream. Calzaghe was supposed to defend his title against Paul Wright, but the injury forced him to withdraw. Shortly after, Calzaghe split with Duff and teamed up with Frank Warren, ultimately leading to him relinquishing his British title. By October 1997, Calzaghe's dream of becoming a world champion was realised, as he beat Chris Eubank to become WBO super-middleweight champion. Looking back, Calzaghe has no regrets about not staying in the domestic scene longer to win the Lonsdale belt. He believes that things happen for a reason and that his career turned out to be pretty decent nonetheless. From headlining in Las Vegas and Madison Square Garden to cementing his status as one of Britain's all-time greats, Calzaghe's journey is a testament to his dedication and perseverance.