Welsh Boxing Legend.

The Boy Who Trained In The Woods.

He was never defeated.

Joe Calzaghe is a boxing fan’s favourite.

His blurring hand speed & the fact he used to get caught quite often by a flash knockdown in the early rounds of a fight made him one of the most exciting boxers of his time. In the modern era, I believe he is the best boxer ever to fight from Wales & the U.k.

Now he is retired people are realising how good he was. During his career, you can argue that he didn’t receive the plaudits or wasn’t on people’s radar going quite underrated.

Joe Calzaghe is a World Boxing Hall of Famer. He was inducted into The Hall of Fame in 2014. In the 2008 Queen’s Birthday, Honours Calzaghe was awarded the C.B.E. for services to the sport of boxing.

He climbed under the ropes and into the ring 46 times, winning every single one of his fights, claiming 32 victories by knockout.

#1995 he became British Champion & was also voted young boxer of the year by the Boxing Writers Club.

#1997 he won the W.B.O. title beating the eccentric Chris Eubank on points.

The moment of greatness.

#2006 he won the I.B.F title, Ring Magazine & lineal titles against Jeff Lacy from the USA.

This was a career-defining moment as some pundits thought he was not good enough and the bookmakers even made him the outsider in the fight, all I can say from watching the bout live on television is he gave a boxing masterclass. In the M.E.N arena in Manchester.

He threw 1006 punches during the bout. In rounds 6 & 9 notably Calzaghe was throwing 7,8, & 9 punch combinations.

As he went about giving Jeff Lacy a boxing education.

Jeff Lacy was made to look like an amateur even though he was a world champion and hailed as a star in the making Calzaghe shattered those dreams it was awe-inspiring to consume the sweet science at it’s most beautiful yet in a brutal fashion.

I have enclosed a viewing of the fight. It’s breathtaking.

Defining points.

#2007 he won the W.B.C & W.B.A (super) titles against Mikkel Kessler again on points at the National Stadium in Cardiff.

It was another spell bounding display from Calzaghe. His work-rate and blurring hand speed was just a sight to behold.

He was the undisputed king of the Super Middleweight division for over a decade.

He defended his various world titles in 21 bouts. Calzaghe had nothing left to prove and decided to vacate his titles to move up in weight.

#2008; April. After moving up to Light Heavyweight. He won the Ring Magazine title defeating Bernhard Hopkins.

He landed more shots on Hopkins than any other opponent. The headline was written in USA Today “Legend Killer” as reporter J.M. Falgoust wrote “Calzaghe called the shots” praising him for his blistering hand speed and accuracy.

#2008; September. This was his final bout in the boxing ring as he beat Roy Jones jr again on points, also after an early knockdown.

It was a good fight to watch but maybe Jones jr was not at his peak of skills & power nonetheless Calzaghe gave another masterclass of the sweet science of boxing.

#2009; February. He decided to retire from the sport in the early part of the year he was “Undefeated” and still a “World Champion”. Only 14 other fighters have ever achieved this unprecedented record.

All of Joe Calzaghe’s triumphant victories were partly due to his extreme training regime.

This was undertaken in the Newbridge forest’s of South Wales under the guidance of his father Enzo. He trained Joe from 9 years old The only building for shelter was a large old tin shed in the middle of the welsh woods with many steps to climb to access it.

His actual sparing facilities were on the edge of Newbridge next to a Rugby pitch with not much else surrounding the area. It was quite medieval yet you could argue this kept him grounded & humble.

This became an integral component in his undefeated reign & making of a welsh boxing legend.

Brian Anthony Cumberlidge.