Boxing: SALEM'S POT-TY; Calzaghe lines up a capital cracker with Egyptian nutter.

Byline: By Hugh Keevins

JOE CALZAGHE'S defence of his world super middleweight title in Edinburgh next month will be against an Egyptian opponent known as the Cairo crackpot. Welshman Calzaghe is going for the 15th consecutive defence of his crown against Kabary Salem, which would equal Chris Eubank's British record.

However, Salem was previously involved in a fight that resulted in his opponent dying after suffering brain injuries.

And on another occasion he butted not only the man he was fighting but the referee too.

Calzaghe said: 'He is a dirty fighter who uses his head a lot and has had plenty of penalty points deducted as a result of his misbehaviour.

'But Salem will also know he's been handed the opportunity of a lifetime, so I intend to match him by training for the fight like the challenger and not the champion.

'My mission is to equal Eubank's record and get the respect I think has been denied me so far in this country.'

Calzaghe's rare appearance outside Wales has prompted a rush on tickets for the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston on October 22. The venue's capacity is 7500 and no empty seats are anticipated.

He may have defeated Eubank on points in 1997 to become world champion but Calzaghe has a gnawing suspicion that the boxer turned eccentric TV personality with his jodhpurs and monocle is more highly regarded than himself.

Calzaghe added: 'I think the quality of my record gets overlooked. I've fought six former world champions during my title defences - there were no easy rides along the way.

'If you take away Nigel Benn and Michael Watson from Eubank's list of previous opponents, you'll find he fought third and fourth raters.

'But I haveno bitterness because I am still chasing my dream of being a world champion at two different weights.

'I'm 32 now and if I don't get to fight someone like Roy Jones, within the next 12 months then the chances are it will never happen.

'I am looking for the defining fight of my career but I have to remember to take one step at a time and concentrate on having no slip-ups against Salem.

'I believe I am one of the best fighters ever produced in Britain and I provide entertainment.

'I want to put on a performance for the punters in Scotland's capital city by being a showman and revelling in the atmosphere of a sold-out arena.'

CAPTION(S):

RECORD-CHASER: Joe Calzaghe; CAIRO CRACKPOT: Kabary Salem has a reputation as a dirty fighter