Don Marino on Joe Calzaghe

Posted on | August 6, 2008 | No Comments

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When an athlete reaches his early twenties, he is usually in the prime of his career, more so in the manly art of self-defense. Some prime examples of this are Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, and Muhammad Ali. Examples at twenty or below are Felix Trinidad, Wilfred Benitez and Mike Tyson – just to name a few on the list of Hall of Famer’s.

Joe Calzaghe, however, does not enter into this pattern. He won his title at 26, and acquired peak performance at the age of 34, an age when most fighters retire or are still plowing their trade as a means of sustainment.

At 34, Joe stepped into the ring against USA’s undefeated IBF 168 pound world champion, Jeff Lacy. The betting machines in Vegas had Lacy heavily favored, but when it was all over Calzaghe had scored a shutout victory. He had beaten the best from the USA at a moment when some unjustly questioned the quality of his past opposition.

At 35, he then further unified his title by clearly outpointing the WBC/WBA champion, Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler, who was also undefeated.

And this year, at 36 years of age, it was a quick jump to 175 for a “go” against the legendary Bernard Hopkins, universally recognized as the light heavyweight champion. Another win in a crowning achievement and in a most convincing fashion!

To add icing to Calzaghe’s cake, another icon is next on the menu. Boxing’s longest reigning #1 Pound-for-Pound fighter, Roy Jones Jr., is next on Joe’s list. Roy rejuvenated his career with his brilliant unanimous decision win over Felix Trinidad in his last start. Jones commented to WBO President Paco Valcarcel that he would be interested in Joe’s 168 WBO belt. However, Calzaghe sent a letter to the President Valcarcel where he reiterated his intentions of fighting to defend his 168 WBO belt against or after Roy Jones.

This fight could close the year as the most intriguing event of the year. One man is a former Heavyweight, 175, 168, and 160 pound champion who dominated the fistic scene for close to ten years, facing a Super Champion Calzaghe who has won the admiration of the American public, more so than any other figure from abroad. Two of the most skilled all-time technicians in the upper weight divisions in a traditional face-off!

There is, however, another goal within Calzaghe’s reach, and curiously has to do with another Joe. It is the record of the “Most Successive Years as World Champion in One Division” established by the immortal Joe Louis, who won his title from Jimmy Braddock on June 22nd 1937. His last successful title defense against Joe Walcott on June 25th 1948 places an exact 11 years and 3 days from the Braddock to the Walcott win.

Ironically, The Brown Bomber’s last defense was at the age of 34, an age when Calzaghe geared his performance into high gear. Having won his title over former Champion Chris Eubank on October 11th 1997, Calzaghe will surpass the immortal heavyweight champion’s last successful defense on October 14th 2008. By the time the Calzaghe – Jones bout comes around, Calzaghe will have broken the records of history as the champion with the “Most Successive Years as World Champion in One Division”. A true Super Champion!