In a bout between two unbeaten fighters, Joe Calzaghe took on Mikkel Kessler in front of over 40,000 people in the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on 3rd November 2007. A lot was at stake in this fight, namely the WBA, WBC and WBO World Super Middleweight Titles, and the winner could argue that they were not only the best super middleweight around, but in the top five of the 'pound for pound' rankings.
Kessler vs. Calzaghe Round By Round
The first was rather tentative, but if anyone was doing the work, it was Calzaghe. He was coming forward throwing jabs and occasionally going to the body. Saying this though, Kessler also did some decent work, but he used this round as a 'range finder' more than anything else.
Round two was a better round for 'the Viking Warrior' though, and a straight right from the Dane even forced Calzaghe onto the ropes. He was countering well, and it was evident even at this juncture that Kessler had a definite power advantage.
Kessler was to end up on the canvas in the third, but thankfully for him, it was only because of a slip. Nevertheless, Calzaghe still won the round, and the overhand left was becoming a crucial weapon for him. At was at this juncture as well that Calzaghe started showboating with his hands down, reflecting the confidence this round gave him.
This resulted in sloppiness in the fourth on behalf of Calzaghe, and Kessler caught him with some big right uppercuts and right straights which won him the round. Kessler was more effective, while Calzaghe was walking onto things he shouldn't have.
Calzaghe's workrate improved in round five, but Kessler was the one who was landing the more meaningful blows. This round was very hard to score, although this writer gave it to Kessler for his lovely straight rights. However, the nose of Kessler was bloodied at this point.
The sixth was excellent for Calzaghe. The 'Pride Of Wales' wouldn't let Kessler find his rhythm, and his variety and workrate were simply too much for the undefeated WBA Champion.
The seventh stanza was a very close one though. Once again, there was the dynamic that Calzaghe was throwing more, but Kessler, despite not having the workrate of his foe, connected with harder power shots. This could have gone either way for the judges.
The Copenhagen, Denmark native was forced to hold in the eighth, as Calzaghe connected with a great straight left, which landed straight down the pipe. Kessler had started well, but Calzaghe took over in the mid point of the round, with body shots being his main offensive weapon. It was at this point the fight really turned in the Welshman's favour.
Rounds nine and ten were all Joe Calzaghe. His stamina and variety was quickly becoming an insurmountable problem for Kessler, who was really trying hard but just had no answer to his foe's skills.
Calzaghe's hands were down for more or less all of the eleventh round, and he was really turning on the style. It was as if he already knew that the fight was in the bag, despite the fact he had a game opponent in front of him and one round to go.
Kessler to his credit dug really deep in the final round and put everything into it, but it was to no avail. He couldn't stop Calzaghe, and even he knew that he needed a stoppage at this juncture. The Welsh dominated crowd roared after the final bell, confident that Joe Calzaghe had just unified the super middleweight division.
The Judges Give Their Verdict
Raul Caiz scored the bout 117-112 in favour of Calzaghe, while both John Stewart and Massimo Barravecchio gave the 'Pride Of Wales' the bout by the margin of 116-112. Therefore, Joe Calzaghe defeated Mikkel Kessler via unanimous decision.
Implications of Calzaghe vs. Kessler
Despite losing, Kessler's showing ensured that he lost no respect in the fight community. He gave Joe Calzaghe one of his toughest fights ever, and some analysts reckon that Calzaghe is the greatest ever super middleweight of all time. There was no shame in losing a fight with the 'Pride Of Wales'.
As for the victorious Calzaghe, this huge win vaulted him into superfights with the likes of Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. Only the outcome of the ongoing 'Super Middleweight Super Six' tournament will tell us if Calzaghe really is the greatest super middleweight ever.
How To Watch Calzaghe vs. Kessler
Calzaghe vs. Kessler was this week's 'Classic Fight of the Week'. Please visit my profile page for details on how to watch this, or any of the fights previously covered in this column.
