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Calzaghe dominates Jones to retain title

Sun 09 Nov, 06:34 AM


Joe Calzaghe Hits Roy Jones Jr. In Their Light Heavyweight Boxing Match

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By Larry Fine

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Briton Joe Calzaghe recovered from an early knockdown to dominate American Roy Jones Jr. and win a unanimous decision to retain his Ring Magazine light heavyweight title Saturday.

Calzaghe, 36, was cut on the nose and dropped by a left-right combination late in the opening round but then thoroughly overwhelmed the former eight-times world champion to improve his record to 46-0.

The 39-year-old Jones, who had blood pouring down his face after suffering a gash over his left eye in the seventh round, fell to 52-5.

The Welshman won every other round of the fight after the first, peppering Jones with swift combinations, taking the offensive and mocking the American's showy style by dropping his hands and daring him to hit back.

"He stunned me with a good shot in the first round but that is what champions are all about," Calzaghe told reporters. "I've been down before but I've also got back up. When you put me down, I come back stronger."

In his previous bout, Calzaghe's first in the United States, the Welshman bounced back from a first-round knockdown to win a split decision against American Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas.

"This year I beat two legends. I took the risk. I came to the United States and I beat both those guys. Tonight I beat Roy Jones," Calzaghe said. "I made it happen."

Jones caught Calzaghe on the bridge of the nose with a straight left and followed it with a right cross to the jaw, dropping the Welshman with about 40 seconds to go in the first.

UNRELENTING AGGRESSION

That seemed to incense the Welshman, who pinned Jones against the ropes and into the corners with unrelenting aggression and a steady stream of jabs and hooks as the American grew increasingly defensive.

By the end of the fight, Jones's cornermen could not stem the blood and the former champion bled throughout the final rounds.

"He won the fight, he definitely won the fight," said Jones, who before the bout described many of Calzaghe's punches as "pitty-pat."

"The pitty-pats were a lot harder than I thought."

All three judges scored the bout 118-109 for Calzaghe.

Before the fight, Calzaghe indicated he might retire from the ring after crowning his career with victory over Jones but the Welshman said he would take time before making a decision.

"I'm going to go home and talk to my family and think about it," he said, before thanking the raucous, singing Welsh fans among the crowd of 14,152 at the Garden, and delivering a message to his mother back home.

"Hey mom," he said, looking into a TV camera. "I love you. I'm sorry if I made you nervous in the first round."

(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Ed Osmond)

 

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  1. id love to see some of you knockers of joe last one punch that alone 46 fights get real the guy is awesome. well done joe

    From jase, on Sun 9 Nov 9:08PM

  2. jamie L joe has beaten everyone thats been put infront of him theres no denying that but the thing is joe picks these fighters and they are all has beens.

    From Shane B, on Sun 9 Nov 8:10PM

  3. dillan t how do we know the younger guys don't have the talent if we don't see joe fight them.

    From Shane B, on Sun 9 Nov 8:06PM

  4. richard w if the old ones r the best then y didn't hopkins beat him cos he's 44 surely he must be the best cos he's the oldest.

    From Shane B, on Sun 9 Nov 8:04PM

  5. people saying he fights old men but to be fair hes 36 himself....

    From sharon729goldsmith@..., on Sun 9 Nov 7:45PM

  6. ONE MORE THING, SAYING JOE CAN BEAT ROY JONES OR B-HOP IS LIKE SAYING McCAIN CAN BEAT OBAMA---CAN'T HAPPEN, WON'T HAPPEN, DIDN'T HAPPEN...THERE, THAT SHOULD PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE FOR YA! KEEP YOUR HEADS UP THOUGH, DAYS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER.

    From F250F, on Sun 9 Nov 7:09PM

  7. Big Money Business--can you say that, or better yet can you see that. This is for the so-called boxing fan(s)from the UK. People don't get it twisted, Joe can not beat Roy nor B-Hop. He's up and coming through the ranks for bigger money opportunities. He's the new cash cow. Understand the business before getting hyped like watching WWF. Open your eyes and see through the lies. Joes okay, but he's not ready!!

    From F250F, on Sun 9 Nov 7:01PM

  8. JOE ALL I CAN SAY IS YAR DA MAN, LIVING LEGEND , 10/10 MAN,
    YANKS YA SMELL, BOUT TIME U LOTS SHOULD LOOK FOR SOME OTHER SPORT, HERE A CLUE MAY B GYMNASTIC,NOW STOP CRITICISING AND ACCEPT IT WE,R DA BEST.

    HAIL BRITIAN

    From wabyx, on Sun 9 Nov 6:46PM

  9. shanebostockfc...... the old ones are the best.....!!!!!!

    From richard w, on Sun 9 Nov 5:26PM

  10. joe is fighting these guys because they are the best they may be older but the younger guys havent got the talent to compete his record speaks for itself 14yrs without a loss not even ali could do that

    From DILLAN T, on Sun 9 Nov 4:55PM

  11. blah blah, only fights bums or old guys!! WHAT A LOAD OF SHTI, Joe has beat any one put in front of him and will dismantle any world champ from middle to heavy. all you nay sayers are just regergitating the same rubbish your readind from other posts over and over again.First Hopkins was spent now hes a world champ after a demolishon of a so called world class champ and joe had to fight his socks of to beat him. Jeff lacy!!! Joe fought an amazing fight hitting with out getting hit in an entertaining, but yet a profesional and very clever way. that was no fluke!!! bums cant do that. I love bein british when i read all you yanks trash talkin tryin to save face!! Boxing isnt yours any more America!!!!!!!!

    From Jamie L, on Sun 9 Nov 4:29PM

  12. nice work joe, a crackin fight, once again youve proven that your the best in the world. and as for people bangin on about FROCH, ha. when are they gonna realize that uve already beaten guys with 10 times the ability and class of that useless c*@t. 46-0 figures that say all there is to say about the legendary JOE.

    From Dave, on Sun 9 Nov 3:53PM

  13. i really like the spice girls they are awsome especially scary spice she has big gazongas

    From bobby, on Sun 9 Nov 3:45PM

  14. Don't forget Roy Jones jr got caught taking roids in 1999 so no wonder nobody had a chance of beating him! Although i do think he should fight froch or a rematch with bernard hopkins because that fight was to close to call.

    From Parrot, on Sun 9 Nov 3:40PM

  15. 50 yrs of boxing richard w that means you must be in the age bracket to fight joe.

    From Shane B, on Sun 9 Nov 3:37PM

  16. what more does he have to do to get everyones respect????? what a comeback from first round...... followed boxing for 50 yrs..... joes in my top ten..........

    From richard w, on Sun 9 Nov 3:32PM

  17. sorry jennifurr i don't have my glasses on does it say 46-0 or was you predicting the age of his next opponent.

    From Shane B, on Sun 9 Nov 3:29PM

  18. he has to retire now cos there's no one in thier 40's left for him to fight.when is he going to fight someone thats still got thier own teeth.

    From Shane B, on Sun 9 Nov 3:04PM

  19. hey r dokoye your so full of s##t he went there to win and nearly killed the yank haha dumb @#$%!

    From dawson l, on Sun 9 Nov 2:58PM

  20. im a lass in lancs , my mate warren stowe (the british bulldog) wennt to south africa to fight joe , unfortunately someone fired a gun , it was cancelled , joe is a living legend, a down to earth boxer with heart and compassion , all you lot that critize him are armchair critics that probably never entered a gym , bk all our athletes , especially joe , hes but 110% into his career, what can yopu lots hold up your head and say .GO ON YOUR WELSH STUD JOE,,ALL THE WAY LAD XX

    From hayley, on Sun 9 Nov 2:58PM
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