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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.

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