Confident Calzaghe ready to prove a point in mouthwatering Kessler clash

JOE CALZAGHE will cement his place as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world at present if he wins his world super-middleweight title unification clash with Mikkel Kessler in the early hours of Sunday.

That is the opinion of the Welshman’s long-term promoter Frank Warren, who insists his extraordinary natural talent and longevity as champion lift him above the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

While Calzaghe himself professes little interest in the mythical rankings which are argued over throughout the boxing world, it is obvious he cares deeply about the legacy his career will leave.

Warren said: “We are not only going to find out who is the best super-middleweight in the world but in my opinion we are also going to find out who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

“This is two unbeaten guys fighting each other at the top of their game, so the winner has got be regarded as one of, if not the best fighter in the world today.

“I’m not the biggest Mayweather fan and Pacquiao has a couple of losses on his record. Joe has got that boxing brain, those fast hands, that tremendous work-rate and the will to win.”

Prominent members of the US boxing press have made rare trips across the Atlantic to watch the fight and will be joined by a European indoor record of more than 50,000 in the Millennium Stadium.

And it is not only Calzaghe’s fans who are relishing the contest. Calzaghe and Kessler showed plenty of eagerness to go to work when they met at a sparky head-to-head at the Hilton Hotel yesterday.

Calzaghe bobbed and weaved in front of his opponent and appeared particularly relaxed as he contemplated by far the biggest fight of his career at the age of 35.

“Most fighters are coming to the end of the road at the age of 35 but I’ve not had that many wars and I would hammer the Joe Calzaghe of five years ago. I’m so relaxed because I know this is my fight,” said Calzaghe.

Kessler too is hardly lacking in confidence. He has won all 39 of his professional fights to date and brings the WBC and WBA title into the ring. He looks fit and ready — a fact even Warren concedes.