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Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe Autographs
A very Rare Site Boxing Poster featuring
British World Boxing Champions Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe.
Signed by Both Boxers a real gem.
Hatton & Calzaghe
SOLD
Joe Calzaghe undefeated super middleweight
champion defended his WBO title 14 times after beating Chris
Eubank in 1997. Calzaghe turned professional in 1993 after
a glittering amateur career which featured three ABA titles
at different weights.
The Newbridge bruiser won the British super-middleweight
title in his 14th professional fight and made nine defences
before challenging the battle-hardened Eubank for the WBO
crown.
Calzaghe served notice of his punching power by flooring
the shop-worn Eubank in the opening round and went on to
take a bruising encounter on points.
But a series of uninspiring defences followed, leading
some to believe the great Welsh hope was nothing of the
sort.
It transpired Calzaghe had been hampered by an injury to
his left hand and he returned to form with an impressive
fifth-round knock-out of Omar Sheika in August 2000.
There followed striking wins over former WBC champion Richie
Woodhall (TKO 10), undefeated German Mario Velt (TKO 1)
and America's Will McIntyre, before a humdinger of a fight
against the dangerous Charles Brewer.
KEY FIGHTS
11/10/1997: Outpoints Chris Eubank to win WBO super-middleweight
title
20/04/2002: Outclasses Charles Brewer to increase his box-office
State-side
The dramatic bout at the Cardiff International Arena was
shown State-side, and a convincing win on points confirmed
Calzaghe's reputation as one of the world's best 168Ibs
fighters.
Calzaghe has since defeated Las Vegas doorman Miguel Jimenez
(W12) and journeyman Tocker Pudwill (TKO2), both fights
adding little to his reputation.
And he was not helped by the reluctance of fellow champs
Sven Ottke and Marcus Beyer to take him on in a higher-profiler
unification bout.
Calzaghe signed off at super middleweight with a pair of
good wins against well-respected American Byron Mitchell
and Armenian Mger Mrktchian.
RICKY HATTON
New IBF light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton may have
followed in his father's footsteps and played football for
Manchester City.
Instead, he chose boxing - after being told his legs were
too short for kickboxing - and the sport is so much richer
for his participation.
The self-confessed "Man City nut" is quiet, respectful
and unassuming out of the ring.
But the Mancunian, who still lives at home in Hyde with
his parents, is transformed once he crosses the ropes.
Hatton's trainer Billy Graham says: "Ricky's always
telling jokes, but in the ring he's cold, merciless and
an awful man."
It is those qualities, as well as considerable skill, which
have made Hatton one of the biggest attractions in British
boxing.
An all-action style and devastating left hook to the body
- reminiscent of Julio Cesar Chavez and Mike McCallum -
has helped too.
KEY FIGHTS
21/10/2000: Beats Jon Thaxton on points to win the British
title
26/03/2001: Stops Tony Pep in the fifth to win the WBU world
title
05/06/2005: Stops the great Kostya Tszyu to become IBF champion
of the world
As an amateur, Hatton lost to a Russian fighter in the
semi-finals of the world championships in 1996.
He was so incensed at the verdict, he threw his bronze
medal in a drawer and says he has never looked at it since.
Hatton signalled his professional intent in February 1999,
halting Tommy Peacock in two rounds to claim the vacant
Central Area title.
Then, in a British title bout, he showed he could battle
and won a classic fight against Jon Thaxton on points despite
being cut after 15 seconds of the first round.
Now I want to become a great champion
Ricky Hatton
It took just five rounds on 26 March, 2001 for Hatton to
emphatically defeat Tony Pep and win the lightly-regarded
WBU title.
That performance confirmed the "Hitman's" reputation
as one of the most ferocious fighters around as he sent
his opponent to the canvas three times.
But he had to wait a long time to get the chance to prove
his pedigree against legend Kostya Tszyu.
Appropriately fighting in front of his adoring fans in
Manchester, Hatton showed no fear, going after the Australian
champion from the start.
He showed endurance - as well as power and heart - in the
opening rounds.
And then dominated Tszyu - a recent pound-for-pound greats
- forcing him to quit on his stool after round 11.
A world of opportunities has truly opened up for Hatton
- who was typically modest in triumph - and no-one can begrudge
the loveable Hitman any of his success.
