JOE CALZAGHE w pts 12 CHRIS EUBANK
October 11, 1997; Sheffield Arena, Sheffield
“I DROPPED Eubank really early but I was gassed after six rounds,” Joe Calzaghe told Boxing News as recently as this summer. “That was my toughest fight, getting through the 12 rounds. It got to the end of the sixth and I sat down on the stool and I looked up. I was in a dark place. I could see the round-card girl showing everyone the seventh round was next. F**k, I’m only at halfway. I was completely knackered and this guy ain’t going anywhere. I really earnt the title that night. I owe Chris Eubank a lot, it put me in good stead for the rest of my career. It taught me to pace myself. I often wonder if Eubank hadn’t have got up in that first round, would I have been as good a fighter?”
DID YOU KNOW? Ronnie Davies, Eubank’s long-time trainer, refused to work with his old friend for this bout, believing making super-middle too dangerous. Eubank was supposed to be fighting Mark Prince in a light-heavyweight bout before Steve Collins retired and pulled out of a fight with Calzaghe. The BBB of C monitored Eubank for each of the seven days before the contest to make sure he made 168lbs safely.
WATCH OUT FOR: Fly-on-the-wall footage of Calzaghe and Eubank in their dressing rooms, moments before they make their ring-walks.