CALZAGHE MOVES TO NO. 5 FROM NO.8 POUND FOR POUND
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 11 Nov 2007
In the Ring Magazine's latest pound for pound ratings released last November 5, 2007, Welsh world undisputed supermiddleweight champion Joe Calzaghe moved up from number 8 to number 5. This was the result of his unanimous decision win over Mikkel Kessler of Denmark on November 4 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
The fight was a unification bout for the WBO/WBA/WBC/Ring Magazine super middleweight titles. With the win, Calzaghe became the first undisputed super middleweight champion of the world and overtaking the 20 title defenses made by Bernard Hopkins and Larry Holmes at the middleweight and heavyweight division, respectively. He is now equal to the number of defenses of Sven Ottke (super-middleweight) and Ricardo Lopez (flyweight).
The only boxers with more successful title defenses than Joe are Dariusz Michalczewski (light heavyweight) with 23 defenses and Joe Louis (heavyweight) who made 25 defenses.
More significant is that Calzaghe is five fights away from equaling Rocky Marciano's unbeaten record for a champion in any weight division. The Pride of Wales is now 44-0-0 with 32 wins by KO. Marciano is 49-0-0 with 43 KO wins when he retired.
Also known as the ?Italian Dragon? because of his Italian descent, Calzaghe is the former IBF super middleweight world champion. He is the longest reigning title holder in any weight class in boxing, recently passing the ten year mark as the WBO super middleweight champion.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. remains in the number 1 position followed by Manny Pacquiao at number 2. At number 3 is still Juan Manuel Marquez and Bernard Hopkins stays at number 4. To complete the top ten are: 6. Israel Vasquez (from no. 5), 7. Winky Wright (from no. 6), 8. Rafael Marquez (from no. 7), 9. Ricky Hatton, and 10. Miguel Cotto.
Hatton and Cotto and have maintained their respective rankings so far. Rafael, the brother of Juan Manuel, is a former world champion at the IBF / IBO bantamweight and WBC superbantamweight divisions. Juan Manuel is also a former WBA and IBF featherweight world champion, and the current WBC superfeatherweight champion.
In the more widely accepted Ring Magazine rankings, Juan Manuel is number 2 to Manny Pacquiao?s number 1 standing in the junior lightweight/superfeatherweight division; while Rafael is number 1 ranked contender to the champion Israel Vasquez in the junior featherweight/superbantamweight division.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Luis Nery: “If Mike Tyson Can Lose His Unbeaten Record at Tokyo Dome, So Can Naoya Inoue!”
Wed, 24 Apr 2024Bulldogs prevail in Santa Maria
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 24 Apr 2024Wise Owl Boxing Fighters have a Knockout Weekend
Tue, 23 Apr 2024Sampson Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Bantamweight Bryan Acosta to an Exclusive Multi-Year Promotional Contract
Tue, 23 Apr 2024Will Manny fight again?
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 23 Apr 2024Almost But Not Quite for Lakers, Sixers as Nuggets, Knicks Escape With Close Wins
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 23 Apr 2024SINSUAT NETFEST: Lim survives Aquino for 21U boys title
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 23 Apr 20241st CNES Chess tourney set for May 1
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 23 Apr 2024Pacquiao Beats the Weight Bullies and the Travesty of Day Before the Fight Weighin
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 23 Apr 2024Robert Guerrero III Secures Spectacular Victory with First Round Knockout in Tijuana Bout
Tue, 23 Apr 2024MUHSIN CASON TRAINING CAMP NOTES
Tue, 23 Apr 2024Tickets on Sale for a Stacked Night of Boxing at Tropicana Atlantic City on May 11
Tue, 23 Apr 2024Baltimore Boxing to Honor Davey Steck Jr. May 11
Tue, 23 Apr 2024Thunder Averts Upset, Celtics Crush Heat; LAC Tames Mavs, Bucks Gore Pacers
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 22 Apr 2024Chipping at the Core at Light Flyweight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 22 Apr 2024