Psyched up Calzaghe primed for Jones battle
Calzaghe, unbeaten in 45 professional fights after dominating the super-middleweight division for a decade, enters the “Battle of the Superpowers” at light-heavyweight against a boxer widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world in his prime.
At the age of 36, Calzaghe admits it is only this sort of challenge that can get him psyched up.
“For years and years I’ve been fighting guys I’ve never heard of with names I couldn’t even spell and fighters I’d never even seen tapes of,” Calzaghe said. “It’s been very difficult to psych yourself up for those sort of opponents. When I fought a guy called Sakio Bika (in October 2006), who came in at quite late notice, I didn’t know anything about the guy, so you go in blind.
“He was a lot tougher and stronger than I thought he would be and I got cut, it was a very dirty fight, but it wasn’t a good match up.”
Fights like his epic victories over American Jeff Lacy in Manchester in 2006 and Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler at the Millennium Stadium last year have brought the best out of Calzaghe.
“The bigger the occasion, the bigger the fight, the bigger the performance,” Calzaghe added.
“I’ve always said I’ve got more chance losing against fighters I’ve never heard of than the ones I have. We’re not robots, it takes a lot to get tuned up and get yourself in a certain zone. If you’re not in that zone you don’t perform.”
To underline that point, Calzaghe revealed that despite forging a friendship with Jones after getting together to promote their own fight, he had stopping talking to his opponent after their last media appearance together in the middle of September.
“I haven’t spoken to Roy in six weeks,” the Welshman added. “We know this is what we get paid to do. Make no mistakes about it, I respect the guy but now he’s in my way and he’s trying to stop something that I’ve worked all my life for and I’m not going to allow that.
“That’s why I’m going to go in there and leave everything in the ring and make sure I do my best to knock him out.”
Calzaghe was certainly bristling with confidence when he made his final media appearance alongside Jones ahead of tomorrow night’s weigh-in.
“I’m feeling good, I’m excited and when you’ve been boxing for 25 years and you’ve had 45 professional fights it’s not often you get really excited,” he added.
“Now I feel like I used to when I started boxing. I’m loving the atmosphere and enjoying every moment. I’m enjoying everything. All the hard work over 25 years, out of the spotlight, people writing me off, but look where I am now from my last few fights, it’s amazing.”
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