Great British Face-Off #12 - Calzaghe v Eubank

Joe Calzaghe was on the way up and with a vacant WBO title on the line, who else tried to get in the way and reclaim his old belt in the absence of Steve Collins?

What the winner said

"I put him down quite early in the first round and in a way I was disappointed that I couldn't knock him out. I had the capability to stop him. I had him down, had him in trouble a couple of times and it shows that I've got punch power. But is was an experience and I showed I had the fitness and I showed that I had the chin, because he hit me with some good shots - but it didn't even bother me. There's only better to come!"Joe Calzaghe

What happened next?

This was the end of one legendary era and the start of another. Joe Calzaghe would defend his super-middleweight world title for another 21 times, with Branko Sobot the opener three months later, with Wales welcoming their new champion at the International Arena. Eubank took longer off and finally stopped making the weight and moved up to cruiserweight, where he had a crack at Carl Thompson and his WBO title, which he failed to win in his last two fights - and before Johnny Nelson did what he couldn't!