Calzaghe gets up to beat Jones Jr

Eurosport - Sun, 09 Nov 17:01:00 2008

Joe Calzaghe survived a scare to defend his Ring Magazine Light-Heavyweight Championship title from Roy Jones Jr at Madison Square Garden in New York City by unanimous decision.

BOXING GETTY Joe Calzaghe with kids after beating Roy Jones Junior - 0

Calzaghe was caught early with a clean left jab from Jones, who followed up with a right to put the Welsh fighter on the canvas and force a count.

Calzaghe, who is now unbeaten throughout a career spanning 46 fights, had suffered a similar scare against Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas earlier this year.

"He caught me with good shot," he said afterwards. "I didn't see the punch coming: it was like déjà vu. It was a shaky start.

"It's the fourth time I've been down and come back stronger. That's what it's all about. When you are put on the floor, there is not much time to think: I tried to keep my head clear and use my footwork.

"I adapted and I think I won every round after that. I showed what a true champion is about."

Calzaghe, 36, had a cut on the bridge of his nose that caused concern among the travelling hordes of British fans, but he took the fight to Jones - now 52-5, with 38 KOs - from that moment on.

Forcing his opponent on to the ropes time after time, Calzaghe rained blows upon Jones's body as the Floridian guarded his face closely. Calzaghe kept his face just behind Jones's guard as he tried to tempt him out.

That allowed the 39-year-old American to connect with the occasional clean blow, the most notable being a deadly right uppercut in the sixth round that rippled Calzaghe's jaw.

By that point Calzaghe was clearly ahead, having adopted a loose style with his guard down - he threw nearly a thousand punches during the fight.

"That's my style: sometimes I feel more relaxed with my hands by my side," he explained. "It gives me different angles and combinations.

"It is very hard to fight my style because I have so many of them."

The pivotal moment of the bout arrived in the seventh, when a massive left from Calzaghe went straight through to Jones's eye and opened a deep cut.

Almost immediately there was blood all over the latter's face and chest, while a great deal also ended up on Calzaghe's body and gloves during the remainder of the fight, staining the white parts of his get-up.

However referee Hubert Earle allowed the fight to continue without interruption. Jones continued to battle with a slightly more attacking approach as he realised he would have to KO Calzaghe to win.

"At the end of the day Jones is a wicked fighter," Calzaghe added. "He was fighting through it, rubbing his eye - he's a warrior.

"Roy will always be my friend: I've got the utmost respect for the guy.

"I've beaten two legends in Hopkins and Roy Jones in America, in Vegas and New York - I took the risk and came out on top."

If Calzaghe, as expected, calls it a day after this latest triumph, no one could blame him. It was a monumental battle, one which had most of the fans inside the famous New York venue on their feet in homage to both fighters at the start and end of the final round.

Both responded in the final seconds by saluting the crowd; yet after the expected decision was announced - with all three judges giving it to Calzaghe by a margin of 118-109 - neither confirmed that it would be last time they would appear in a ring.

"I have to sit down and think about it," Calzaghe said as he thanked his supporters. "This could be my last fight, but I won't make a decision yet."

Jones said: "I'm not sure. I'll go and talk to my friends and family and see how I feel.

"I came and did my best, gave my all, and he won. Congratulations to him: he caught me with a good shot.

"I have found a measure of redemption, coming back from three losses in a row - that is very difficult."

Veteran Jones, regarded as one of the greatest boxers of the modern era, secured points decisions over journeymen Prince Ajamu and Anthony Henshaw in his last two fights.

He suffered two devastating knockout losses to Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson in 2004 before Tarver beat him again in 2005 on points.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 77 - 96 of 116

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  1. Yes, I have heard it too, Joe wanted to meet all the best for the last 25 years. But the "others" allways ran from the fight, never Joe :-)
    And yes, he has a lot to prove. The world outside Britain look at him as the most dirty headbutting holding fighter today. Hits like a girl but with a dangerrous forehead. He also got a tendency to get knocked down now. A fit Kessler would sweep the floor with Joe. And Kessler is stronger now than ever, try to look at youtube for his latest fight, handspeed faster than Joe, and power like no-one else. Knocks out his German opponent with a loose left jab/hook. One shoot at a guy never been to the floor before. Let them meet at Madison in half a year, that would be the fight of the decade.........if just they both keep their hands healthy :-(

    From a61971, on Sun 9 Nov 4:08PM

  2. Calzaghe is originally Italian origin (the many Italians who settled in Wales at the turn of the century)... anywho boxing is brutal and should not be considered a sport.

    From Melanie, on Sun 9 Nov 4:08PM

  3. alan.darlow
    you fool you have got your facts wrong again wiTh alot of your silly people who claim to be ENGLISHMAN, THE TRUE ENGLISHMAN OF THIS COUNTRY ARE THE WELSH/SCOTISH AND IRISH(CELT) YOU LOT ARE NOTHING BUT LOST SAXONS WHO FORGOT TO GO HOME. SO YOU WATCH OUR CHAMPIONS ON OUR T.V. IN OUR BRITAN, SO PISS OFF.

    MAID 1953
    JOE WAS BORN IN LONDON WITH 100%WELSH BLOOD YOU GO CHECK YOUR FACTS.

    PLEASE FIND A PROPER CHAMPION WERE YOU ARE ORIGANALY FROM YOU DICKHEADS.

    IF JOE LOST LAST NIGHT YOU LOT WOULD'NT EVEN BE TRYING TO SAY HE WAS BORN IN LONDON.

    From p.marshall76, on Sun 9 Nov 4:06PM

  4. a61971 ali was a cheat pure and simple henry cooper would have won if ali,s corner hadnt cut open his gloves forceing the ref to let them change his gloves as for joe this morning well i watched the fight and all i can say is massive respect to both joe and roy for a good fight and the better man won and roy showing what a true fighter he is for fighting on after having that nasty deep cut on his eye RESPECT TO BOTH

    From , on Sun 9 Nov 3:56PM

  5. Yet again the winner haters and racist bigots are knocking a champion. It takes guts to get in a ring with another man and fight. Hat off to Joe for getting up and kicking Jones butt. I don't care where he comes from, the Welsh Valleys are his adopted home and I for one am proud to say I am Welsh and proud of what Joe has done for the sport. Don't forget the politics and drivel that goes on behind the fighters backs that has nothing to do with the job in hand. Joe did well and now is the time to call it a day and rest on his laurels. He has nothing else to prove and no-one else worthy of beating. Nice one Joe all the best!

    From TENKO, on Sun 9 Nov 3:46PM

  6. fantastic boxing and a reall pleasure to watch... this should silence all haters and dowters.. he has proved he is the best and thats that... fair play to jones he carried on with that terrible cut... good to see joe do what he does best... those who thinks he should fight hopkins again, get reall do you really want to watch that rubbish again, hopkins is a dirty fighter,, its about skills not headbutts, hugging your opponents, and faking injury,,, proud to have watch joe for the last 12 years super joe calzaghe

    From bowster12000, on Sun 9 Nov 3:39PM

  7. a6

    joe had a fight set up with hopkins in 2002 but hopkins broke a verbal aggreement about the payouts and asked for more money at the last moment.

    From cellan j, on Sun 9 Nov 3:38PM

  8. drunken sailer it isnt a problem for me i was replying to other posts on this article,

    i am proud to be british and only say i am welsh when asked what nationalitie

    From cellan j, on Sun 9 Nov 3:28PM

  9. Nope, both guys has weak hands, but Joe's was fine, Kessler fractured his hand 4 weeks before the fight, stopping him from any boxing training. Kessler just had surgery again this summer. I think it was brave of Kessler to take the fight, having lost his timing and boxing coordination. And I think he did fine at only 40 % ...or less. This bravery is seldom seen. And I think that Kessler was right to do it, if he had cancelled he would have missed the chance forever. It took Joe 25 years to leave his cave.....just to meet old boxers. Except Lazy, that was a good fight....This Jones fight was a awfull thing...pure money collectors.

    From a61971, on Sun 9 Nov 3:26PM

  10. Cellan j - that's rubbish - Lewis Hamilton is English but the majority of newspapers / TV stations refer to him as British. Maybe you have a chip on your shoulder?

    Also a quote from Calxaghe himself - "I consider myself to be British but I have a special relationship with the people of Wales, they have been very supportive of me throughout my career". So if being British and Welsh at the same time isn't a problem for one of the best boxers of all time maybe it shouldn't be for any of you either!

    From Drunken sailor's mummy, on Sun 9 Nov 3:15PM

  11. joe is not welsh he was born in london please check your facts !

    From mald1953, on Sun 9 Nov 3:09PM

  12. a6

    you got to remember boxing has alot of politics involved all british fighters was not rated at all by the us, so the fights would not and could not happen because the main players e.g. tv companys would not screen the fights the reputaion of fighters over there has only improved since joe and hatten started giving the us based fighters a kicking.

    p.s i think it was joe who had the broken hand not kessler

    From cellan j, on Sun 9 Nov 3:03PM

  13. And Kessler, he tried for years to meet Joe on neutral ground. Finally Joe accepted a hometown fight, this was Kessler's only chance to meet him. He grapped it, respect..And to be fair, Keseler did fine with one hand, he wasen't that far from it.
    Kessler need no excuses, he knew that it would be difficult beeing out of shape and a broken hand, -but what he hell, Joe can't knock Kessler's 80 yesr old grandmom out. Just keep Joe from head-butting, and you are safe. Did Joe want to meet Jones 10 years ago,- with Jones at his best?

    From a61971, on Sun 9 Nov 2:59PM

  14. alan the problem is when a person welsh or scotish person wins it is called a british victory, if someone who is english wins they are referred to as an english win it is a bias in the press and says alot about the english mentallity.

    but i dont think you got enough intelligence to notice that :)

    From cellan j, on Sun 9 Nov 2:56PM

  15. calzaghe is god, nearly 1000 punches again! And I missed it, gutted!

    From timshoebridge, on Sun 9 Nov 2:54PM

  16. alan

    the welsh and scotish was not refererred to as separate nationalities they where called celts :)

    From cellan j, on Sun 9 Nov 2:52PM

  17. Wake up!! If Joe is that good, why did'nt he fight Jones 10 years ago? He has been a homeboy for all his life. Yes, Lazy was a good win, -and a real one. Joe is on his collect the money and leave tour. Meeting other old boxers like Jones,- also wanting to make a little money. The only decent win he has is Lazy. Jones old, Hopkins won, Kessler with a broken hand. Did Ali or Tyson wait for 25 years before they wanted the real fights??? Nope,they stomped everything from they was 20 years old. This is show business destroying the sport. And I don't like this 2 headbutts and hold style.

    From a61971, on Sun 9 Nov 2:52PM

  18. you sound like a of kids the man is welch im not from england or wales so hold no favourite he is the best in the world just like mayweather dosent matter weather you like them or not kessler should have knowen better not to get in the ring if he wasnt 100 precent fit maybe it was him who wanted to have an excuse if he lost anyway i was born in london and i can tell you now that i am irish true and true

    From johndempsey1@..., on Sun 9 Nov 2:49PM

  19. It is funny how the Scots and Welsh have a problem with their sports stars being called British if it wasn't for them being shown on English tv they wouldn,t make any money

    From alan.darlow, on Sun 9 Nov 2:40PM

  20. What country are you referring to as the welsh and scottish can't both be the first people in any 1 country you @#$%

    From alan.darlow, on Sun 9 Nov 2:38PM
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