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JOE
CALZAGHE RETAINS WBO TITLE WITH A SECOND-ROUND TKO
OVER BYRON MITCHELL
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JOE
CALZAGHE RETAINS WBO TITLE WITH A SECOND-ROUND TKO
OVER BYRON MITCHELL
(Courtesy
of Showtime)
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CARDIFF, Wales (June 28, 2003) - In a devastating
performance, undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO)
Super Middleweight Champion Joe Calzaghe impressively
and emphatically retained his title for a 13th time
with a thrilling, come-from-behind second-round TKO
over former two-time World Boxing Association (WBA)
168-pound titleholder and WBO No. 9 contender, Byron
Mitchell, Saturday on SHOWTIME. The bout, which aired
at 10 PM ET/PT (delayed) from the Cardiff
International Arena in Cardiff, Wales, was promoted by
Frank Warren's Sports Network.
Calzaghe (36-0, 29 KOs), of Newbridge, Wales, got
dropped for the first time in his career when Mitchell
connected with a right hand approximately 30 seconds
into the second round. The defending champion,
however, roared back to floor Mitchell with a big left
hook. Britain's longest reigning titleholder and its
2001 Boxer of the Year continued to punish the tough,
courageous challenger along the ropes until the
referee stepped in and stopped the bout at 2:36 of the
round. Regarded by many as the world's premier super
middleweight, the talented southpaw was making his
seventh appearance on SHOWTIME. Calzaghe, who defeated
Chris Eubank on Oct. 11, 1997, to capture the WBO
crown, is two successful title defenses shy of
Eubank's British record of 15.
Mitchell (25-3-1, 18 KOs), of Ozark, Ala., stunned the
fans when he decked Calzaghe, but he had few answers
once the hometown favorite made it to his feet.
Mitchell, whose three losses have been in world title
fights, including two this year, was stopped for the
first time in his career. He captured the WBA title
with an 11th-round TKO over Frank Liles on June 12,
1999. He regained the crown with a 12-round TKO over
Manuel Siaca on March 3, 2001. In his other outing in
2003, Mitchell lost a 12-round split decision to IBF
Super Middleweight Champion Sven Ottke in Berlin,
Germany.
Photo
credit: Tom Casino
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