Calzaghe Ready for Kessler Cruise

Joe Calzaghe celebrated 10 years as a world champion yesterday by promising to produce one of the greatest performances of his career when he faces Denmark's Mikkel Kessler at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on November 3. It is a fight that will prove who is the best super-middleweight in the world, with Kessler's WBC and WBA titles at stake as well as Calzaghe's WBO crown.

Calzaghe, 35, is undefeated as a professional in 43 fights and will be making the 21st defence of the WBO title he won by defeating Chris Eubank on points at the Sheffield Arena in 1997. It makes him the longest reigning world champion since the legendary Joe Louis and his record of 25 world championship fights in the 1930s and 1940s.

"I honestly never believed it would lead to so much when I beat Eubank," said the Welshman. "I approach fights with total commitment and I know that I am as fit as I have been at any time in my life. I am head and shoulders ahead of all the super- middleweights in the world, including Kessler, if I bring my A game to the fight.

"At this stage of my career I need to fight the best to bring out the best in me. Jeff Lacy [the IBF champion whom Calzaghe defeated in March 2006] took me on to another level and Kessler will do the same. I know I will win."

Calzaghe's promoter, Frank Warren, revealed that plans are being made for the fighter to be formally greeted by Prince Charles, in his capacity of Prince of Wales, if Calzaghe defeats Kessler.