view photoBy 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)
Comment 63 - 82 of 102
English,Welsh,English,Welsh HE'S BLOODY ITALIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i take it the last comment was from a yank
Joe Calzaghe is no way near a legend, anyone that thinks that needs brain surgery, have you seen this guys boxing record, he’s fought nobodies throughout his entire career then come up against a bunch of old legends that have no business fighting, Roy Jones should be tried, he’s almost 40.
There are many great fighters around that Joe Calzaghe could fight, but he won’t, because he only fights opponents he knows he can beat, just like Ricky Hatton.
A LEGEND
Best boxer around today, gwych (hope that means fantastic/excellent as I have been led to believe lol)
great fight by joe hes up ther along side marciano great work joe
MY FAVOURITE TEA IS SAUSAGE AND MASH AND BEANS.
Well done Joe, You ARE A LEGEND.. Some idiots commenting on this site don't have a @#$% clue what they are chatting about, you stood toe to toe with Roy Jones Jr (who is no pushover even at 30) & the BEST MAN WON!!! You're a credit to British Boxing & a pleasure to watch!
WELL dONE jOE...GOD WHAT HAS THIS MAN TO DO TO GAIN RESPECT SOME BAD CRITICS HERE WHO OBVIOUSLY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BOXING I have followed MANY boxing great careers Joe is among the greats for sure
Well done “ Joe “
Certainly champion of champions, certainly a legend, certainly Welsh and certainly a WELSH Hero.....CYMRU AM BYTH.
Well done Joe, best fight i have seen for a while. I don't think the relevant questions are retire or don't retire? Wales or London? Who gives a @#$% where he was born or waste time arguing it, i thought this page was for comments on boxing?
But the one night only boxing fans know more than the rest of us about wats important right?
Can't wait to see the next comments after the Hatton fight.......Man city or Man Utd?
Come on people get a grip and if you follow the sport then follow it for the right reasons? Squabbling over countrywide lines of division is why Great Britain isnt so great anymore.....wat are we....kids?
As for Froch? Not in the same league, if you know your boxing you should know that too!
Joe is the man and did the business!!
He only has one more fight left and thats Froch simple. He might be a legend and he deserves the right to retire 46-0 but people will still ask why didn't he fight Froch
Yeah Mcintosh -that sounds like a real welsh name that does!! as for Joe there's always been someone else who he must fight to prove himself and he's fought them. After bernard Hopkins everyone said he wouldn't be respected until he fought Roy Jones-there comes a time when you have to say enoughs enough. If he fights again and wins there will be someone else up and coming to fight-that's the nature of boxing and sport. I'm Welsh and if you were a genuine welshman you would want Joe to retire on top as this would be a fitting tribute to the great boxer and ambassador for Wales he is.
Mark JONES
Calzaghe is the best in the world at his weight and has proved it many times. I am Scots and I love the guy for his boxing style. he is one of a kind. one of the all time greats.
Well done joe now retire and enjoy life you paid your due s
i'm welsh, i like joes style.. but i think if he doesn't fear knowone, he should fight froch,.. so what if he loses 1,.. get it on,.. better to give the crown away for someone else to reign,..thats boxing!! fight froch for less money!!! i would write this in welsh if joe and most of wales could understand welsh language. deano.
Joe has beaten everyone he has ever faced in a professional bout. All boxers have off days or walk into an underated opponent as has Joe. Yet he has still won every time. He has also done it without the foul mouth so often found with other boxers. He has brought credit to himself, his family, the sport and to Wales-what an amazing role model for whatever he chooses to do next!
I cannot believe the crtiticism here!! The guy is a legend in BRITAIN and deserves some credit! Irrespective of where he is born he has an Italian father and a Welsh mother was raised in Wales and sees himself as Welsh! So I guess that makes him Welsh with Italian heritage.
England has its own share of good boxers with Hatton, Khan etc so why the need to try and latch on to someones elses glory?!!
But then again what do I know? I am Scottish with Italian grand parents! But I see myself as British first but still pround of being Scottish - nothing wrong with that!
I do think some of the criticisms here are from small minded bitter people who are too jealous to give some credit! Does the cap fit?!!!
Well Done Joe! Forza Italia!!
If U R born in a sty it don't make u a pig well done Joe cymru am byth
Great fight and another win for Calzaghe. History repeats itself.
Anyone criticising him is just pathetic.
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