With 50,150 fans in attendance at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Joe Calzaghe dominated Mikkel Kessler en route to a unanimous decision victory.
With scores of 117-111, 116-112, and 116-112 in tow, Joe Calzaghe climbed out of a boxing ring in the middle of a soccer field with Kessler's WBA and WBC belts. The bout started cautiously for both men with Kessler landing harder shots but Calzaghe landing more often, just as it was scripted. Then Calzaghe threw away the script.
Round 1
Calzaghe comes out at the bell and lands a right jab to Kessler's belly. Calzaghe's greater speed is immediately apparent. Kessler seems cautious. Calzaghe slightly busier.
Round 2
Calzaghe throwing punches from every angle. Kessler finds a home for his jab and pumps it often, snapping Calzaghe's head back.
Round 3
Calzaghe continues to throw punches from unusual angles, occasionally falling off balance. Kessler unable to capitalize.
Round 4
Calzaghe's right jab is relentless, backing Kessler up at will. Kessler lands the better jabs of the two men, then catches him with a hard right uppercut as Calzaghe leans inside. Kessler jolts Calzaghe with another uppercut before the round ends. Both men looking to counter-punch.
Round 5
Calzaghe hitting Kessler at will. He backs Kessler up with a combination. Calzaghe's head movement is making Kessler miss badly. Kessler misses wild combination. There is swelling above Kessler's left eye.
Round 6
Calzaghe landing left jabs and straight lefts at will. Kessler tentative, trying to counter. Calzaghe at times overwhelming Kessler.
Round 7
Calzaghe beginning to turn into his punches for more power now. Kessler mounts assault. Drives Calzaghe back. Kessler winded, chest heaving. Calzaghe busier at the end of the round.
Round 8
Kessler comes out aggressively and backs Calzaghe off of him with hard right hands Calzaghe returns fire. Kessler doubles over from Calzaghe right to the body. Kessler visibly shaken. The referee breaks the men up to warn Calzaghe for rabbit punching.
Round 9
Calzaghe leads the round off with a combination, snapping Kessler's head back. Kessler looks dazed--his legs unsteady. The fighters exchange briefly. Kessler throwing one-twos to Calzaghe's combinations. Kessler visibly slower now--his left eye swelling badly.
Round 10
Kessler presses the fight. They exchange punches in the center of the ring. Calzaghe now ducking under Kessler's wild rights.
Round 11
Kessler trying to press. Calzaghe backs him off with combination after combination.
Round 12
Kessler stepping straight forward and throwing bombs. Calzaghe takes and throws back. He still looks fresh. Kessler looks fatigued but still throwing hard shots. Kessler's best round of the fight--driving Calzaghe back. Calzaghe returns fire. Both stand toe to toe in the middle of the ring and fire punches. The bell rings to end the fight.
Suite101 scored the fight 117-112 for Calzaghe.
After the fight, Calzaghe said that he wants Bernard Hopkins as his next opponent, asserting that at light heavyweight (175 pounds) he would be an even better fighter. As it is, the performance he gave tonight puts him near the top of the pound for pound heap, if not alone at the top.
