Welsh · Newbridge, Wales · Born 23 March 1972Joe Calzaghe is a Welsh former professional boxer who retired undefeated after unifying three of the four major super middleweight titles.
Joseph William Calzaghe was born on 23 March 1972 in Hammersmith, London, England, to a Welsh mother and Sardinian-Italian father, Enzo, and grew up in Wales, joining Newbridge Boxing Club at ten. He won Amateur Boxing Association titles at three different weight divisions between 1990 and 1993, the first British boxer to achieve the feat, compiling an amateur record of 110 wins from 120 fights. Calzaghe turned professional in 1993, trained throughout his entire career by his father, Enzo, a musician with no formal boxing background who nonetheless became one of Britain's most respected coaches. Calzaghe, nicknamed "The Pride of Wales" and "The Italian Dragon," won the WBO super middleweight title in 1997 by defeating Chris Eubank, beginning what would become the longest continuous world title reign in boxing history at the time. Calzaghe delivered career-defining victories over Jeff Lacy in 2006 and Mikkel Kessler in 2007, unifying multiple super middleweight titles, before moving up to light heavyweight to defeat Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. in the final two fights of his career, closing out his career against two of the sport's most respected champions. Calzaghe retired undefeated in 2008 with a perfect professional record of 46 wins, and won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2007, becoming the first Welsh winner since 1960. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014, and remains one of only a handful of boxers to retire completely undefeated after a lengthy world championship career.
Retired undefeated; longest-reigning super middleweight champion
How They Played
Southpaw boxer-puncher with exceptional hand speed
Lasting Impact
Greatest British boxer of modern era, southpaw legend
Career Honours
- International Boxing Hall of Fame 2014
- retired undefeated