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Boxing

Millennium Stadium hosts Calzaghe bout

11/07/2007

Cardiff's Millennium Stadium will host Joe Calzaghe's super middleweight unification fight against Denmark's Mikkel Kessler on November 3rd.

The bout could have taken place in Denmark, and Calzaghe said he was prepared to travel, but a potential crowd of 60,000 fans helped keep the fight in Wales.

Calzaghe's promoter, Frank Warren, was delighted to secure the venue after holding the Welshman's previous bout against Peter Manfredo in the stadium.

He said: "This is the biggest fight in the world at the moment. Both Joe and Mikkel are at the top of their game."

Calzaghe is also excited at the prospect of fighting in front of 60,000 fans in the national stadium.

"It will be fantastic to have this fight in Wales in front of my own supporters," he said.

The 35-year-old is keen to overcome Kessler and prove he is the undisputed king of the super middleweights having successfully defended his crown since beating Chris Eubank ten years ago.

He said: "When I am under pressure and confronted with a champion opponent only then do you see the very best of me.

"When I beat Kessler I will have held all four major world titles, as well as the Ring belt. I don't think any other British boxer has ever done that."

Warren said the fight would be one of the biggest he has organised in the past 20 years and was excited about the match up.

Kessler, 28, holds the WBA and WBC titles and is undefeated in 39 fights.

Calzaghe claims he is still at his best despite being seven years older than Kessler and has promised to reproduce the form he showed in dismantling American Jeff Lacy in March 2006.

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