Joe Calzaghe signed WBO World Champion official presentation replica boxing belt, Signed in black marker pen to the maroon leather belt, set with a be

Joe Calzaghe signed WBO World Champion official presentation replica boxing belt, Signed in black marker pen to the maroon leather belt, set with a bejewelled central spread eagle above a map of the world and WBO logo crest. Mirrored roundels set either side, further WBO roundel to velcro fastening at rear; sheepskin lining, in original aluminium carrying case, very good condition; sold with a photograph of Joe Calzaghe holding the belt with the current vendor (2) Joseph William Calzaghe (b. 1972), a Welsh professional boxer competing from 1993 to 2008, having held two world championships in two weight classes, including the unified WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO, ''Ring'' magazine and lineal super-middleweight titles and the ''Ring'' light-heavyweight title. Calzaghe being the longest reigning super-middleweight world champion, having held the WBO title for over 10 years with 21 successful defences, moving up to light-heavyweight. Began his professional career in September 1993 in Cardiff Arms Park against Paul Hanlon, winning in the 1st round. By October 1995 with 13 wins to his career chart he beat Stephen Wilson in the 8th round to acquire the British super-middleweight title. 1996 saw him defeat Guy Stanford, Anthony Brooks and Mark Delaney, Warren Stowe and Pat Lawlor, moving to the Frank Warren stable in November 1996. 1997 saw more defeats of Carlos Christie, Tyler Hughes, Luciano Torres and on 11th October 1997 in Sheffield he defeated Chris Ewbank for the WBO title with scores of 118-110, 118-109 and 116-111 in his favour. In 1998 he defended his title against Branko Sobot in the 3rd round with the referee stepping in to stop the fight. The 2000's saw Calzaghe defend his titles and defeat David Starie, Omar Sheika, Richie Woodhall, Mario Veit, Will McIntyre, Charles Brewer, Tocker Pudwill, Byron Mitchell, Mger Mkrtchian, Kabary Salem, Evans Ashira, Jeff Lacy, Sakio Bika. Calzaghe relinquished the IBF super-middleweight championship to take the fight against Peter Manfredo Jr in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on the 7th April 2007 to defend the WBO super-middleweight title, which he won in the 3rd round stoppage. On the 4th November 2007 in the Millennium Stadium Calzaghe defeated Mikkel Kessler by unanimous decision in the unification fight for the WBO, ''The Ring'', WBA (Super) and WBC super-middleweight titles. 19th of April 2008 in Las Vegas he defeated Bernard Hopkins to win ''The Ring'' light-heavyweight championship, then in June 2008 saw the split with Frank Warren with court judgements ending in Calzaghe's favour. On the 8th November 2008 at Madison Square Garden he defended this title with a fight against Roy Jones Jr, winning on a 118-109 decision. Calzaghe retired in February 2009 with a record of 46 wins and no losses, becoming one of only 15 world champions to retire as an undefeated world champion. Ranked by ''The Ring'' as one of the world's top ten active boxers reaching 3rd in January 2009 and ''BoxRec'' currently ranks Calzaghe as the best super-middleweight of all time. Winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2007 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.