Calzaghe Decisions Kessler

WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) in a dominating performance tonight defeated Mikkel Kessler (39-1, 29 KOs), winning the WBC and WBA super middleweight titles in the process at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Kessler, 28, did well in the early rounds fighting behind a solid jab and powerful right hand. However, after the 4th round, Calzaghe’s fluid punching style allowed him to take control of the fight over the much stiffer Kessler. From there on out, Calzaghe’s speed and unorthodox punching style created huge problems for Kessler, who was unable to match Calzaghe’s blazing fast punch out put. The finak judges’ scores were 117-111, 116-112, 116-112, awarding the unanimous decision to the 35 year-old Calzaghe.

Seeing that Kessler was not in his league, Calzaghe chose to engage him in the final three rounds of the fight, standing in close and trading shots with Kessler. However, even then, Calzaghe came out ahead, blasting Kessler with machine gun-like combinations and finishing every exchange on top.