LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) — Unbeaten Welshman Joe Calzaghe made his first foray to the United States a successful one, winning a split decision over US veteran Bernard Hopkins in a 12-round light heavyweight bout.
Calzaghe, the reigning World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization super middleweight champion, survived a first-round knockdown to take his record to 45-0, with 32 wins inside the distance.
Hopkins, 43, fell to 48-5-1 with 32 knockouts.
The cagey American dropped Calzaghe with a straight right in the first round, and once again used his defensive skills to wrong-foot a talented opponent.
As the fight progressed, however, Calzaghe seemed to find his rhythm, and was able to step in and land effective punches.
"He caught me in the first round," Calzaghe said. "He caught me with a flash knockdown. It was only the third time I've been on the floor."
He admitted he found it difficult to solve Hopkins in the early going.
"I had to be patient," he said. "It's very difficult to pin Bernard down. He's very wiley. I knew it wasn't going to be pretty, but a win is a win."
Calzaghe's aggressive pursuit of Hopkins and his clean punches earned him the decision from two judges, with Chuck Giampa seeing it 116-111 and Ted Gimza making it 115-112 for the Welshman. Adalaide Byrd scored it 114-113 for Hopkins.
Hopkins was defiant in defeat, implying the decision should have gone to him.
"Look at my face, I don't have a bruise. I busted him up," Hopkins said. "I took a guy to school who was undefeated."
The aging warrior denied that he slowed down in the middle rounds, with his few punches losing their sting.
"I was just pacing myself for the long haul," he said.
Hopkins said he would talk to his partners at Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy promotions and his wife before making any decision about his future in the ring.
Calzaghe, who is the longest-reigning world champion in boxing and has defended his various titles 21 times, said he didn't yet know who he would seek to take on next.
Unbeaten WBC middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, who will defend his crown June 7 against Welshman Gary Lockett at Atlantic City, New Jersey, has been mentioned, as has the man Pavlik took his title from - Jermain Taylor - and another US legend, Roy Jones.
"I'm not sure," Calzaghe said. "I'm a legend killer - maybe Roy Jones."
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