Speedway: Calzaghe weighs in for Elite countdown (From Thisisdorset)

Speedway: Calzaghe weighs in for Elite countdown

7:00am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

RING legend Joe Calzaghe is adding some punch to Pirates’ 2010 Elite League title bid.

The undefeated former world super middleweight champion is a close pal of Pirates chief Matt Ford and local developer Brian Watts and paid a visit to the area last week along with his partner, dancer Kristina Rhianoff, to help launch Poole Castle Cover’s forthcoming league campaign.

Pirates kick off their season with a home challenge match against Swindon on Wednesday, before the return fixture at Blunsdon 24 hours later.

And with Calzaghe a frequent visitor to Dorset, Ford is hoping to introduce the Hammersmith-born fighter to the shale sport at Wimborne Road.

Ford told the Echo: “Joe was in the area last week because Kristina was down here talking to her choreographer. So he stopped down for a night and we met up.

“He’s been asked to do several speedway things before at the Millennium Stadium and he’s always been too busy to get in-volved, but he hopes to get down to watch the Pirates this year.

“He knew all about us and he was more than happy to endorse the club. He has always been shocked by just how many people turn out for the British Grand Prix in Cardiff and I’m hoping that, in July, Joe will come to Cardiff as my guest.

“He’s an absolute gentleman and it’s just wonderful that someone who was absolutely the best at his trade knows what Poole Speedway is about.

“It was great to have him pictured with the club shirt and it’s another one to add to the hall of fame after we had Phil Taylor down here a couple of years ago.

“I’m hoping to get Joe down for a personal appearance as well.”

Calzaghe racked up 46 straight wins across two weight divisions during a glittering career and held the WBO super middleweight belt for an astonishing 11 years.

His last three bouts saw wins against Mikkel Kessler, Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jnr, before Calzaghe linked up with Rhianoff for BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing last year.

Ford added: “He beat the very best in his natural weight division and then again at light heavyweight. The last four or five fights he had, against Kessler, Roy Jones Jnr and the like, left him with nobody better to beat.

“There are very few sportsmen who finish their careers as undefeated world champions and Joe is one to have that honour. He’s a great guy and very easy to get along with and I just look forward to getting him down to Poole to see what we’re all about.”