How Calzaghe rates with Britain's modern greats

Round 1
Cagey opening by both. Calzaghe lands to the body, but is caught by Kessler’s jab
Ron Lewis’s score: 10-9 Kessler

Round 2
Calzaghe drops his hands, gets caught by a right and is forced back into the ropes. The first sign that he may struggle to shake Kessler off his game plan
10-9 Kessler (20-18 Kessler)

Round 3
Calzaghe lands a left and Kessler slips. The Welshman lands punches repeatedly, forcing Kessler back, while the Dane tries to get Calzaghe to walk on to his right
10-9 Calzaghe (29-28 Kessler)

Round 4
Good start again by Calzaghe but Kessler catches him with a straight right and lands two uppercuts
10-9 Kessler (39-37 Kessler)

Round 5
Calzaghe keeps his guard high and edges a close round
10-9 Calzaghe (48-47 Kessler)

Round 6
Calzaghe lifts his workrate, moving around, beating Kessler to the jab. Kessler puts all his power behind some straight rights, but cannot land
10-9 Calzaghe (57-57)

Round 7
Fantastic round by Calzaghe as he sets a pace Kessler simply cannot match. Kessler seems too slow and looks confused and off balance
10-9 Calzaghe (67-66 Calzaghe)

Round 8
Kessler puts all his effort into the round as the bout threatens to run away from him, landing with a powerful straight right. Calzaghe fires back with a body shot
10-9 Kessler (76-76)

Round 9
Calzaghe is caught by a right early on but stands toe-to-toe with Kessler and beats the Dane to the punch, forcing him backwards
10-9 Calzaghe (86-85 Calzaghe)

Round 10
The crowd livens up as Calzaghe goes forward, landing combinations that threaten to overwhelm the Dane
10-9 Calzaghe (96-94 Calzaghe)

Round 11
Kessler looks tired and Calzaghe drops his hands as he tries to draw Kessler forward
10-9 Calzaghe (106-103 Calzaghe)

Round 12
Calzaghe believes he is ahead but goes for a grandstand finish and enters a final tear-up with Kessler. The Dane puts in everything and edges a close final round
10-9 Kessler

The Lewis verdict: 115-113 Calzaghe

Judges John Stewart (US) 116-112, Massimo Barrovecchio (Italy) 116-112, Raul Caiz (US) 117-111

Personality stakes

Will Joe Calzaghe ever get the acclaim he deserves? Not to judge from the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. In December, the Welshman lost out to Zara Phillips. This time round, the bookmakers make Lewis Hamilton the favourite.

13 Lewis Hamilton

4-1 Ricky Hatton

10-1 Joe Calzaghe

10-1 Paula Radcliffe

12-1 Justin Rose

Odds: William Hill

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