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:
Signed, Sealed… but Still Unsettled: Unanswered Questions Hang Over Fury-Joshua Ahead of Expected Ink
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , Wed, 29 Jul 2026VETERAN SAVVY VS UNDEFEATED POWER: MUGICHA NAKAGAWA VS LEMUEL DE BARBO AUGUST 1 IN LA TRINIDAD
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 29 Jul 2026SKYE NICOLSON TO DEFEND WORLD TITLE AGAINST MIYO YOSHIDA ON AUG 29 IN BIRMINGHAM AS MATCHROOM AND MVP ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE
Wed, 29 Jul 2026Tickets for Martinez vs. Plantic in Los Angles, Saturday, August 29
Wed, 29 Jul 2026Grandy Twins Celebrate Milestone 18th Birthday, Set to Shine at BiYu Promotions' "Fights Under the Lights" on August 14
Tue, 28 Jul 2026Sergeev and Lubkovich set for key bouts at WINLINE. IBA.PRO 20 in Naberezhnye Chelny
Tue, 28 Jul 2026Hard-hitting SEA Games bronze medalist Mark Ashley Fajardo signs with Sanman Boxing
Tue, 28 Jul 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 27 JULY 2026: Tszyu vs Spence, Return of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury Highlight Busy Week
By Eric Armit, Tue, 28 Jul 2026The Legacy Continues: Team Durán Prepares for Historic Panama-Mexico Showdown
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 28 Jul 2026NM Ric Portugalera Tops Hongkong Blitz Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 28 Jul 2026Nurghali gets second shot at Japparbergenov’s bantamweight title at International Boxing Day in Astana
Tue, 28 Jul 2026Champion's Mindset: Gustavo Trujillo Ready to Defend BKB Heavyweight Title Against Mark O'Neil at BKB 58
Tue, 28 Jul 2026Spanish boxer Eddine has been Hospitalized in Spain
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 28 Jul 2026PH football in group C, G
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 28 Jul 2026PHILBOXING.COM MONDAY ROUNDUP: Tszyu Outclasses Spence in Sydney as "The Truth" Retires; Heavyweight Drama in Pattaya and Jeddah
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , Mon, 27 Jul 2026