Shadow Boxing
The returning champion comes out to Simply the Best by Tina Turner and Calzaghe to Breathe by Prodigy. Within the first fifteen seconds, Calzaghe delivers a left jab sending Eubank to the floor. Chris stands up with a smile and nod of admiration, catching Joe’s eye to mouth “Good shot”. I sit back and think “By God, I wish I could face inner demons with that kind of sportsmanship.”
Eubank leans in, trying a few quick shots and Calzaghe leans back, avoiding almost everything before they merge and are broken up by the referee. Calzaghe energises and delivers a clean right and left, getting in close to give a flurry of body shots and uppercuts. Eubank goes for the slow, hard blows like he is playing chess. Calzaghe works at the pace of performing music, with footwork to match.
The bell rings for the first round and Chris raises his glove to Joe, nodding. The second round seems evenly matched but they are both playing at the rate Calzaghe dictates. The bell rings and Eubank walks about with a compensating swagger.
The third round comes with Eubank slightly raising his pace, getting in a few body shots but Calzaghe keeps landing and wears the old champ down. The bell. Eubank starts the fourth round leaning in with heavy body punches, Calzaghe blocks most of them and runs around alternating left and right hooks to the head. Prince Naseem sits ringside shouting instructions for Eubank but Chris tells him to shut up with eyes locked on Joe's. Calzaghe digs away, maintaining a bounce in his step and energy in his shoulders.
The fifth round starts with Eubank at 36 points and Calzaghe at 40. Running around the ring, Eubank struggles to keep up, delivering heavy methodical punches to Calzaghe’s torso. Calzaghe leans in with hooked headshots pushing Eubank to the ropes. Calzaghe moves into a barrage of body shots with Eubank fighting his way into the centre of the ring, his legs starting to wobble. Calzaghe lands a right and left to Eubank’s head, shocking the commentators by standing after receiving such a combination. Ding ding ding. Round six begins with Eubank meeting Calzaghe's pace, leaving himself vulnerable. Calzaghe knocks Eubank's pace back down.
Six more rounds pass with Calzaghe working Eubank further into the ground. A second wind takes Eubank in the final round with the commentators expecting a knockout from the champion and the fight is over. Calzaghe wins on points.