By April MacIntyre Nov 8, 2008, 21:09 GMT
Tonight will see the long-awaited boxing event: Calzaghe vs. Jones - LIVE
British world boxing champion Joe Calzaghe fights tonightEPA/ANDY RAIN
These men are two of boxing's superpowers, both Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones, Jr., will clash for the Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Championship.
The Pay-per-view event on DirecTV will air Saturday, 11/8 at 9PM ET/6PM PT on Channel 123 (98 HD).
Born in London, the handsome Italian-Welshman Joe Calzaghe has boxed since he was age nine in his small town in Wales.
His nickname, the "Italian Dragon," is a tip of the hat to his mixed heritage (the dragon a Welsh emblem and a Sardinian myth), having an Italian father and Welsh mother.
Joe is currently the Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight champion. He is also the former WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, The Ring Magazine and the British Super Middleweight champion
Calzaghe, 36, has told British reporters repeatedly that he always imagined himself fighting at New York City's Madison Square Garden.
The looker enters the ring against Roy Jones Jr, 39, in a fight watched around the world. Jones measures two inches shorter than Calzaghe, and four inches less in reach.
Last we saw him, Joe blazed in Las Vegas and conquered the hit-man, Bernard Hopkins. By split decision, Welshman Joe Calzaghe kicked Bernard Hopkins' ass at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Numerous Welsh visitors and British celebrities were in the audience, as Joe inspired song and rousing cheer in the stadium.
But the Garden is another animal, as Calzaghe prepares to end to his career on a high note.
“What a fantastic way to finish it off,” Joe told Phil Blanche of the South Wales Echo.
“Madison Square Garden is the mecca of boxing, so this is a fairytale ending for me.
“I always wanted to be in this position and now I’ve got to make sure it’s a fairytale result.
“Over the years I’ve struggled with injuries, I didn’t get the big fights nor the respect from the boxing world.
“But my last few fights have been incredible.
“The Millennium Stadium was amazing and it was great to do the Vegas thing, but as soon as I walked into Madison Square Garden I knew I had to fight there.
“Just standing in that venue, looking around and realising what great boxers had boxed there in the past hit me.
“I just knew this was the place to finish off. I’m really excited and can’t wait to get into that ring.
“Hopefully I will leave my mark, fight the best fight I can and win in style."
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