Almost Here: Calzaghe vs. Kessler

Tomorrow is fight day. That is all there is to it. I have been waiting for this one, and so have a lot of fight fans—for a long time.

If you don’t know what fight I am talking about, you probably are not much of a fight fan. However, in case you have been hiding out away from the media for some reason and do like boxing, allow me to correct the mistake you will make if you miss it.

Tomorrow, Joe Calzaghe (43-0) and Mikkel Kessler (39-0) will clash in a super-middleweight unification match that will be one of the fights of the century for many reasons. Not one, but two titles are on the line. National pride between Wales and Denmark is also on the line.

More importantly, so are two legacies.

While this fight could go either way, I am pulling for Joe Calzaghe. I’ve liked him for years and have always felt the pundits have given the man far less respect than he deserves, and indeed commands. The main reason for that lack of acknowledgment by ‘armchair experts’ everywhere? Because he doesn’t fight all his fights in America and, obviously, if you don’t fight in the land of rabid marketers and pray at the temple of Don King, well…you aren’t to be taken seriously.

He’s already accomplished things that are remarkable for a fighter. Winning three consecutive ABA championships in three different weight divisions? In over 100 years, that has only happened once. He since went on to become a professional and remains undefeated; he is the longest reigning champion active. Soon, it is possible he will break two other records if he continues the way he has.

It is possible Calzaghe can tie or surpass the 25 title defenses by Joe Louis if he makes it past Kessler tomorrow. If he wins tomorrow night, he will tie the 21 successful title defenses record for the light-heavyweight division.

I like Joe for a lot of reasons. One, is the fact that he and his father are a team and have remained so since Joe was 9 years old. Joe’s father, Enzo is his trainer, you see. I like, also, that Joe is not just from Wales, but that he has been to a degree insistent on fighting there and not just selling out to get bigger paychecks by hosting his fights in the USA. Instead, he is bringing attention to Wales and whether the pundits like him or not, it gets harder and harder to deny his legacy as one of the greatest fighters of all time.

Joe does not play ‘the game’ as so many boxers do. Instead, he does it his way, and he wins. I hope he wins tomorrow, because it will be a victory not just for Joe and Wales, but for fixing the sport of boxing and some of the things that are wrong with it.

Another thing a victory of his will accomplish? Perhaps I will thereafter be able to convince my buddies to get together and watch a non-heavyweight Pay Per View fight for a change.

Knock him out, Joe.

Not just for the win, for the additional title and belt, for your legacy…but because you will also be knocking out Glyn Leach, the Boxing Monthly editor who wouldn’t know greatness if it hit him with an uppercut.

Personally, I have nothing against Kessler. In fact, he is a great fighter and one of the reasons I like the super-middleweight division. He has helped make it an exciting division. And, an old friend of mine is from Denmark…and I know it would be a great thing for all Danes if Kessler wins. So if Kessler were to win, I would feel happy for my friend and the pride the Danish will feel from any such victory.

However it turns out, it will be a fight that defines the division and may provide a springboard for either fighter to enjoy more popularity and financial reward that they both deserve. In that light, the sport will win either way when this epic battle commences tomorrow night.