For many, Joe Calzaghe is the finest boxer to have emerged from the British Isles. With an unbeaten record and a super-middleweight championship title that spanned over a decade, he also made history by defeating two legends in the United States. Thirty years ago, Calzaghe faced a pivotal test at an Essex leisure centre, where he defended his British title against the undefeated Mark Delaney.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Calzaghe recalled his first experience of being in the away corner as a professional, saying, 'It was the first defence of my British title, and I was 16-0 at the time. Mickey Duff, my promoter, lost the purse bid to Barry Hearn and Matchroom, so we had to fight in Mark Delaney's backyard.' Up to that point, Calzaghe had dominated his opponents, with 14 of his 16 fights ending before the fifth round. However, this fight was different due to the hostile atmosphere, with the crowd booing, spitting, and name-calling.
Calzaghe remained focused and 'embraced' the atmosphere, using it to fuel his performance. He started strong, dropping Delaney in the first round and several times thereafter, before the fight was stopped in the fifth round. Calzaghe's confidence was well-founded, as he went on to build his reputation with a statement performance on ITV's 'The Big Fight'.
He dropped Delaney in the first round and controlled the fight before it was stopped in the fifth. The win was a significant one, as Delaney was 21-0 at the time. Calzaghe's promoter, Mickey Duff, was not entirely happy with the outcome, as he had bet on Calzaghe to win within the first four rounds.
Calzaghe's corner consisted of three prominent figures: Duff, Terry Lawless, and his father and trainer, Enzo. When asked about potential conflicts, Calzaghe made it clear that his father was the main trainer and the one he listened to. Following the victory, Calzaghe was just one successful defence away from earning the Lonsdale Belt outright. However, he was forced to withdraw from his next fight due to an ankle injury sustained while running in the Welsh valleys.
The injury led to Calzaghe splitting with Duff and teaming up with Frank Warren, which ultimately resulted in him relinquishing his British title. Calzaghe's goal was always to become a world champion, and by October 1997, he had achieved this by beating Chris Eubank to become the WBO super-middleweight champion.
When asked if he regretted not staying in the domestic scene longer to pursue the Lonsdale belt, Calzaghe expressed no regrets, stating that he had gone on to have a 'pretty decent career' and that 'things happen' for a reason.