Joe Calzaghe 16-0 (15 KOs) vs. Mark Delaney 21-0 (17 KOs)
Calzaghe entered averaging 2.4 rounds per fight, while Delaney averaged 4.1 rounds.
This bout was the first time Delaney had been knocked down or out in his professional career.

A flurry capped with a left hook put Delaney on his backside inside the opening minute of the fight. He made it to his feet quickly and action continued. Calzaghe was warned moments later for holding Delaney, the crowd favorite, behind the neck and hitting him with a series of left hands. An accumulation as both fighters exchanged caused Delaney to take a knee later in the 1st Round. He was again up quickly but was clearly hurt. At the midway point of the round, Calzaghe was again warned for holding Delaney behind the neck and hitting. Calzaghe closed the frantic opening round with his hands, down dodging punches and winging wide shots. Early in Round 2, Delaney was warned for holding and hitting very similar to that which Calzaghe did in the first. A big left hand at the midway point of Round 2 caught Delaney flush and sent him forward into the ropes and by the end of the round he was bleeding from the nose. Round 3 was an improved round for Delaney as much of the action occurred with both fighters in close. Calzaghe reclaimed control of the bout in Round 4. He worked from a distance, landed nice shots to the body and flurry combinations. In the 4th a cut opened below Delaney's right eye. In Round 5, a left hand at 1:35 staggered Delaney and a second left hand moments later sent him down to a knee. Delaney remained on knee before making it to his feet at the count of eight. A followup barrage caused that referee to step in and wave an end to the bout at 2:20 of the round as Delaney was taking punches and heading down again.

"I realized I was a lot faster than Mark, although he was a good fighter and I don't want to diminish him, but for super middleweight my arm speed is phenomenal and they just can't handle it. Plus, there is a lot of power in these punches." - Joe Calzaghe in the post-fight interview