BBC SPORT | Boxing | Calzaghe hunts new rival

Joe Calzaghe's World Boxing Organisation super-middleweight title defence at Cardiff Castle on 17 August against David Telesco is off.

Telesco's promoter, Joe DeGuardia, told BBC Radio Wales that a number of problems had resulted in the American - who usually fights as a light-heavyweight - not signing for the fight.

"Obviously, David had to lose a lot of weight in the short time before the bout and that was just one of the reasons.

"The options weren't right, the numbers weren't right. I thought we could work things out, but we ran out of time."

So Calzaghe, who has been preparing for the fight at his regular gym in Newbridge, begins the search for another opponent.

Joe Calzaghe poses at fight venue, Cardiff Castle
Calzaghe wants to be king at Cardiff Castle

Richard Maynard from promoters Sports Network confirmed that Calzaghe will still make the 11th defence of his title as scheduled.

Victory in front of a partisan home crowd would take Calzaghe one step nearer to passing Chris Eubank's record of 15 super-middleweight defences.

The 30-year-old said: "I will not leave the super-middleweight division until I have smashed the record set by Chris.

"He was one of the best fighters to come out of this country and to beat him has been the biggest achievement of my career so far.

"I have held the world title for nearly five years and it would be another great accomplishment if I could beat the record for the number of super-middleweight title defences that is currently held by Chris.

"I believe that I can achieve this aim within another two years of regular fights."

He added: "I have not completed all the goals that I have set myself in my boxing career and this is one that I must achieve before I go on to other challenges.

"After this defence its five more fights to go and I hope that one of them will be the big-showdown against the American Bernard Hopkins."


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