Joe Calzaghe reveals the hardest ever fight of his career "by far"

Joe Calzaghe reflects on the hardest ever fight of his career "by far"

Former two-weight world champion and British boxing legend, Joe Calzaghe , recently revealed who the hardest opponent of his 15-year pro career was.

The Welshman retired in 2008 with a perfect 46-0, 32 KOs professional record, defeating the likes of Hall of Famers Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr., and feared puncher Jeff Lacy.

However, it wasn't an American opponent who gave him the hardest fight of his life, it was a fellow British boxing legend.

When "The Pride of Wales" Calzaghe was just a British super-middleweight champion, back in 1997, he took on the former two-weight world champ, Chris Eubank, for the vacant WBO super-middleweight world title.

Although Calzaghe, now 53, won via unanimous decision, he fervently reflected on how it was the "by far" the hardest night of his life.

Joe "The Italian Dragon" Calzaghe looked back, “People say the best possible scenario is knocking your opponent down in the first round, but, for me, it was the absolute worst thing to happen.

“After I dropped him [Eubank Sr] in the first 15 seconds, I got excited and thought it was going to be easy.

“Believe me, after a few rounds, I was f----d, completely spent,” admitted Calzaghe, who started to feel the impact of a Eubank body attack in the third round.

“I remember sitting on my stool between rounds feeling sorry for myself, and my dad trying to wake me up, shouting things at me, trying to put some life back into my body. I then saw Eubank strolling around opposite me, banging his gloves together the way he used to do, and almost smirking at me. That was when I knew this was going to be a long, long night.

“That was by far my hardest ever fight!

“But, after it was all over, I realised it would stand me in good stead for the future. I knew I had experienced a real test – one that had pushed me past the pain barrier – and had come through it. I was still alive to tell the tale. I went through that fight and showed all the ingredients you need to have to become a champion.”

Calzaghe's test was well worth the pain, as he went on to defend the WBO bauble he worked so hard to secure a further 21 times, making him the longest reigning super-middleweight world champion in boxing history, reigning for over 10 years.

He ended his incredible career in 2008 after winning the Ring Magazine title at light-heavyweight against Bernard Hopkins, then defended it to RJJ.

He is widely regarded as the best super-middleweight of all-time .

DID YOU KNOW? Joe Calzaghe is a lifelong fan of Italian football club, Juventus FC.