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:
WEIGH IN RESULTS IGLESIAS VS SILYAGIN - TOMORROW NIGHT IN MONTREAL!
Thu, 09 Apr 2026Kristian Prenga Headlines “Crossroads in Brick City” on June 6 in Newark
Thu, 09 Apr 2026Macala, Silva, Lopez to play in 14th Atty. Jong Guevarra Cup
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 09 Apr 2026Former World Champion Miguel Berchelt Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Thu, 09 Apr 2026Sem Japet Enano Stuns Hometown Favorite Tyrell Adams to Claim IBO Oceania Featherweight Title
Thu, 09 Apr 2026IBF lightweight eliminator tops IBA.PRO 17 card in Ufa
Thu, 09 Apr 2026Biasong fights Bustrillo on April 18 in Bukidnon
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 08 Apr 2026Olmillo fights Boquiren on April 18 in RFL
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 08 Apr 2026Overweight Paradero cancels bout
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 08 Apr 2026Biado's World 8-Ball Title Bid Ends
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 08 Apr 2026WBC Champion Lester Martinez will be honored in Guatemala Congress
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 08 Apr 2026Full Card Announced for this Saturday, April 11, Mielnicki Jr. vs. Huerta Event from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City & Live on ProBoxTV
Wed, 08 Apr 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 7 APRIL 2026: Santiago Retains WBA/WBO Titles in Tokyo; Taduran KOs Perez in 5; Price Decisions Aquino; Wins by Wilder, Bentley and Tim Tszyu
By Eric Armit, Tue, 07 Apr 2026Carlo Biado is the last Filipino standing in the 2026 Yalin WPA Men's 8-Ball World Championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 07 Apr 2026Unification next for Taduran?
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 07 Apr 2026