Joe Calzaghe, one of the best British boxers ever, has named Charles Brewer as the hardest puncher he faced in his career. The Welsh fighter shared this insight during a recent interview with The Ring Magazine, reflecting on his impressive boxing journey.
Calzaghe, known as "The Pride of Wales," left an indelible mark on the sport. He held the WBO super middleweight title for a decade, successfully defending it 20 times. His reign as world super middleweight champion stands as the longest in boxing history.
The undefeated champion's career saw him face off against some of the biggest names in boxing. He battled Mikkel Kessler, Sakio Bika, Jeff Lacy, and Chris Eubank. Later in his career, Calzaghe moved up to light heavyweight, where he beat legends Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. He won and defended The Ring Magazine light heavyweight title before retiring with a perfect 46-0 record.
When asked about the hardest hitter he faced, Calzaghe didn't hesitate to name Charles "The Hatchet" Brewer. He explained:
"There's a few. Kessler hit hard, but I'd probably go with Charles Brewer. My game plan was to outbox him, but Charles 'The Hatchet' Brewer I had seen knock out lots of guys. So I figure I'll outbox him. I remember in the first round he came out and whacked me right in the solar plexus."
Calzaghe went on to describe how that punch changed the entire fight:
"If you watch the tape, you see me take a deep breath and then go toe to toe for the rest of the fight. He buzzed me up a few times in that fight. Heavy-handed and dangerous from the first round till the 12th."
Brewer, nicknamed "The Hatchet," started his professional career in 1989. He captured the vacant IBF title in 1997 with a TKO victory over Gary Ballard. Brewer defended his IBF title three times and scored a notable win over Herol Graham. His aggressive style and punching power made him a formidable opponent.
Calzaghe and Brewer faced off in 2002, with Calzaghe winning by unanimous decision. Despite the loss, Brewer's power left a lasting impression on the Welsh champion.
Brewer's career ended in 2005 with a record of 40 wins (28 by knockout) and 11 losses. He lost his title to Sven Ottke earlier in his career.
Calzaghe's career remains one of the most impressive in boxing history. His ability to overcome powerful punchers like Brewer while maintaining an undefeated record cements his status as one of the greats.
