“It will be great to finally get Joe Calzaghe to fight at the Millennium Stadium,” said Sergeant.
“It’s something he has always wanted to do and an event we have always wanted to put on. Let’s face it, there are no bigger names in boxing than Joe Calzaghe and he is right up there amongst the World elite.
“It was a huge blow when he had to pull out of his scheduled fight here earlier in the year, but British fight fans were still able to enjoy a fantastic bill and a great night was had by all.
“From the Stadium’s perspective it was helpful to get that first fight night under our belts, because we believe we have a fantastic venue for boxing and the evening will be bigger and better this time out.
“There was a huge attendance for Frank Warren’s first bill here and with Joe confirmed as the star attraction for the 7th of April I think we can expect an even grander occasion.
“Joe is a Welsh and British sporting legend and it will be an honour for the Stadium to add his name to our roll of honour of star performers such as Ryan Giggs, Michael Owen, David Beckham, Gareth Thomas, Jonny Wilkinson, Amir Khan and Danny Williams.
“Not to mention the other stars of the entertainment world like Madonna, Robbie Williams, Tom Jones, U2, REM or the Manic Street Preachers – and Rod Stewart to come in the summer.
“We want to turn the Millennium Stadium into one of the great fight venues on the boxing planet. We have fantastic cooperation from all the emergency services in Cardiff and that allows us to put on shows at any time of the day or night.
“That’s important when you factor in the American TV market and if Joe wants to line-up another top ranked American like Jeff Lacy after this fight, then we’d love to have him back again and again.”
DID YOU KNOW CALZAGHE?
– The first boxing bout at the Arms Park was in 1944: it was a British lightweight title fight on the 12th of August, Welshman Ronnie James from Swansea beat Eric Boon.
– We had to wait 49 years until boxing returned to Wales’s national ground and Joe Calzaghe featured then in his first professional fight on the undercard for the Frank Bruno v Lennox Lewis world title clash.
– Joe was billed as Joe ‘The Cat’ Calzaghe when he knocked out Sheffield’s ‘Stinger’ Mason in the first round.
– At the time Joe told the local media “I’ve sparred with Nicky Piper and handled him quite easily so I’m confident that it won’t be long before I’m mixing with the Benns and Eubanks. I’m going to be world champion and make lots of money.” The rest is history.
– Next up was Danny Lewis v Matt Skelton, a Heavyweight clash earlier this year, which featured the likes of Amir Kahn and Enzo Maccarinelli on a 16 fight undercard. 15,000 people agreed it was a great night of boxing at the Millennium Stadium.
– We have the potential to become the biggest outdoor or indoor boxing arena Britain has ever had. 15,000 attended Sports Network’s debut appearance at the Millennium Stadium. Around 25,000 people watched Bruno v Lewis at the Arms Park in 1993.
– Joe Calzaghe once fought in front of just 150 people at the Splott leisure centre in Cardiff; on April 7th he could be fighting in front of the biggest boxing crowd Wales has ever had.
– Legendary featherweight Howard Winstone fought Vincente Saldivar in front of 30,000 fans at Ninian Park on the 15th June 1967 for the WBC World Featherweight title. Winstone lost by half a point. The Millennium Stadium could beat that figure.
– There were 46,000 at Wembley to see the then Cassius Clay beat Henry Cooper on the 21st of May 1966.
