From Calzaghe to Hatton to Wood: Five memorable nights in the Sheffield Arena
DALTON SMITH lit up the Sheffield Arena last night (March 23) with a knockout victory in the biggest fight of his career so far.
The 27-year-old drove a right hand to the mid-section of Jose Zepeda in round five leaving the Mexican in agony and unable to continue. Smith’s victory not only made a name for himself on the world stage but places him in a pack of contenders in a stacked super-lightweight division.
Smith’s triumph, which headlined an enjoyable card, was another memorable night for the Steel City which has staged plenty over the years. Boxing News looks back at five more unforgettable occasions that took place in the Sheffield Arena.
Joe Calzaghe v Chris Eubank – October 11, 1997
Frank Warren’s “Full Monty” card featured wins for Paul Ingle, Johnny Nelson, and Naseem Hamed but the night belonged to Calzaghe who faced a late change of opponent. The veteran Eubank stepped in to replace Steve Collins and found himself on the floor on the opening round against the Welshman. From there a thrilling contest ensued but the vacant WBO super-middleweight title became Calzaghe’s after winning on points in one of the toughest fights of his career.
Carl Thompson v Chris Eubank 2 – July 18, 1998
After a brutal 12-round encounter in Manchester three months earlier the two warriors collided once again for Thompson’s WBO cruiserweight title. At the end of round nine Eubank was ahead on two of the judges scorecards after another violent battle but with his left eye completely closed referee Paul Thomas was forced to call off the fight. It would prove to be the final fight in Eubank’s unforgettable 13-year career.
Joe Calzaghe v Richie Woodhall – December 16, 2000
The two super-middleweights put their friendship to one side to battle it out in the seventh defence of Calzaghe’s WBO title. Woodhall, a former WBC champion, was down in the final seconds of the ninth following a burst of shots from the champion. Woodhall was under immense pressure at the start of the 10th and an accumulation of rapid-fire punches forced referee Roy Francis to intervene and stop Woodhall’s admirable effort.
Ricky Hatton v Carlos Maussa – November 26, 2005
‘The Hitman’ returned to the Sheffield Arena seven years after winning a six-round bout on the Thompson-Eubank 2 card. This time Hatton was the toast of British boxing after beating Kostya Tszyu. Five months later Hatton added the WBA light-welterweight title to his IBF with a Joe Frazier-esque lunging left hook knocking out his awkward Colombian opponent in the ninth round. Hatton would then embark on a four-fight American adventure before returning to fight in the UK three years later.
Leigh Wood v Josh Warrington – October 7, 2023
Having become a must-see TV fighter Leigh Wood brought his Nottingham support to Sheffield to take on Josh Warrington and his Leeds army of supporters. After six rounds Warrington was in a good position to become a three-time world featherweight champion but Wood had other ideas. His durability and toughness got him to round seven where he unleashed a combination from hell which dropped Warrington who was stopped from continuing by referee Michael Alexander.
