On this day in 2004: Calzaghe outpoints Salem to keep WBO title
All three judges scored the 12-round fight in Edinburgh for the Welshman, the widest card reading 118–107 against Egyptian-American Kabary Salem.
Joe Calzaghe kept hold of his WBO super-middleweight world title 22 years ago today, beating Kabary Salem by unanimous decision at the Royal Highland Showground in Edinburgh on 22 October 2004.
The win over the Egyptian-American was Calzaghe's second successful title defence of 2004 and took a Welsh world champion's defence north of the border to Scotland.
The fight went the full 12 rounds. The judges scored it 116–109, 117–109 and 118–107, all in Calzaghe's favour.
The Welshman had opened the year at home, stopping the Armenian contender Mger Mkrtchian in the seventh round in Cardiff. Beating Salem meant he finished 2004 still holding the WBO belt.
Calzaghe, born on 23 March 1972, boxed as a professional from 1993 to 2008. He went on to win world titles in two weight classes, including unified and lineal championships at super-middleweight and the Ring magazine light-heavyweight title.
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Reported by the Combat Sports UK desk. Times are UK and Irish time, and we update the report when the facts change. How we work.