Calzaghe set to fight Kessler

Joe Calzaghe has spent a decade chasing recognition as one of boxing’s great world champions.

If he adds Mikkel Kessler’s World Boxing Council and World Boxing Assn. super-middleweight titles to his World Boxing Organization belt tonight, Calzaghe may finally get the global respect he craves.

Unbeaten in 43 fights, including 20 straight WBO victories since taking the title from Chris Eubank in 1997, Calzaghe has been frustrated that he never got the fight he wanted against Roy Jones Jr. or Bernard Hopkins.

He takes on Kessler, unbeaten in 39 contests, in a fight being screened live in the United States on HBO and before a crowd of 50,000 fans at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in Wales.

The 35-year-old Welshman, who has never fought in the U.S., has given himself one more year before retirement and hopes to include a fight at Madison Square Garden, possibly moving up to light-heavyweight.

He knows he will only get that if he beats Kessler tonight.

“That’s why I took this fight,” the left-hander said. “I’m still hungry. I want another belt and then possibly a light-heavyweight title as well. I always said I’d be a lot better at light-heavy and I want to prove it before I get too old.”

His right hand healed, Juan Manuel Marquez (47-3-1, 35 KOs) says he’s ready to defend his WBC super featherweight title tonight against Rocky Juarez (27-3, 19 KOs).

The fight, originally scheduled for Las Vegas on Sept. 15, has been moved to the Desert Diamond Casino on the Tohono O’odham Nation near Tucson. A sellout of 2,400 is expected for the Showtime event.

A win for Marquez, and perhaps even Juarez, could set up a fight with Manny Pacquiao.

“I’m focused,” Marquez said. “The talks of rematches and the talk about other opponents doesn’t matter to me, because I’m 100% focused on Rocky Juarez. I know that the job at hand is a very tough one, and I know Rocky Juarez is a tough and dangerous opponent.”