Widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers Britain has ever produced, Joe Calzaghe looks back on his illustrious career, which spanned over a decade as a super-middleweight champion. He also reminisces about stepping up in weight to defeat two legends in the United States.
Thirty years ago, a pivotal moment in his journey took place at a leisure centre in Essex. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Calzaghe reflected on his first experience of being in the away corner as a professional, defending his British title against Mark Delaney.
At the time, Calzaghe had a perfect record of 16-0, with 14 of his opponents failing to make it past the fifth round. The fight against Delaney was a different story, with a hostile atmosphere that included booing, spitting, and name-calling. However, Calzaghe remained focused and 'fed off' the energy of the crowd.
He started strong, dropping Delaney in the first round and several times thereafter, before the fight was stopped in the fifth round. This dominant performance was a statement win for Calzaghe, who was just 24 years old at the time. Despite the confidence he exuded, there was one person in his corner who was left disappointed - his promoter, Mickey Duff, who had placed a bet on Calzaghe to win within the first four rounds. Calzaghe's corner was a formidable team, consisting of Duff, Terry Lawless, and his father and trainer, Enzo.
When asked about potential conflicts, Calzaghe made it clear that his father was the one in charge. Following this victory, Calzaghe was on the cusp of earning the Lonsdale Belt outright, but a freak injury - rolling his ankle in a pothole while out running - put paid to those plans. He was forced to withdraw from his next title defence and subsequently split with Duff, teaming up with Frank Warren. This move ultimately led to Calzaghe relinquishing his British title, but it paved the way for him to become a world champion.
By October 1997, Calzaghe had realised his dream, defeating Chris Eubank to become the WBO super-middleweight champion. Despite not having the Lonsdale Belt to show for his efforts, Calzaghe remains philosophical, suggesting that it simply wasn't meant to be. He has no regrets about his career path, which took him to the pinnacle of boxing, headlining fights in Las Vegas and Madison Square Garden.