Joe Calzaghe's 5 Most Career Defining Victories

5. Chris Eubank (11/10/1997)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_g9PDUNgyI Calzaghe captured his first world title at the Sheffield Arena in October 1997, defeating Chris Eubank by unanimous decision to claim the vacant WBO super middleweight championship. Calzaghe was originally scheduled to face previous champion Steve Collins, but the Irishman pulled out of the fight due to injury, so Chris Eubank stepped in at short notice. Eubank was a former middleweight and super middleweight champion at the time, although no-one's going to pretend that it was a prime Eubank that Calzaghe fought. That said, it was still a big step up for the Welshman and he still maintains to this day that Eubank was the toughest opponent he ever fought. It looked like it might be a short night's work for Calzaghe, as he knocked the granite-chinned Eubank to the canvas in the opening round of the contest. But Eubank was an in-ring warrior who battled to the end, but Calzaghe's youth, speed, punch output and accuracy was enough to dominate Eubank; Calzaghe claimed scores of 118€“110, 118€“109, and 116€“111 on the judges scorecards to record a unanimous decision victory. This win showed that Calzaghe belonged on the world stage and marked his first world title win; The WBO super middleweight title that he would hold for over 10 years and defend a record 21 times.