Boxing

Calzaghe tops Hopkins in split decision

Associated Press
April 20, 2008

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LAS VEGAS - Joe Calzaghe didn't stop punching after a terrible start against Bernard Hopkins, and now the Pride of Wales is the best light heavyweight in the world.

Calzaghe won a split decision last night, desperately rallying in the final rounds against his cagey 43-year-old opponent to end his long-anticipated U.S. debut with a flourish.

Hopkins (48-5-1) put on a master class in the veteran skills of their sport at the Thomas & Mack Center, knocking down Calzaghe (45-0) with a sneaky right hand just 70 seconds in before repeatedly frustrating Calzaghe's attempts to trade blows.

But after floundering against Hopkins' defense through the early rounds, Calzaghe never stopped working and wearing down his older opponent, eventually gaining control in the final rounds.

"I knew this wouldn't look pretty tonight," Calzaghe said. "He's so awkward. He gave me some good shots. It wasn't my best night, but I won the fight. The world title in a second division and a win in America is just icing on the cake for my career."

Judge Ted Gimza scored it 115-112 for Calzaghe, and Chuck Giampa favored Calzaghe 116-111. Judge Adelaide Byrd gave it 114-113 to Hopkins, as did many reporters at ringside - including the Associated Press, which also favored Hopkins 114-113 despite Calzaghe's dominance in the final five rounds.

"I just really feel like I took the guy to school," said Hopkins, who grimaced and shook his head when the verdict was announced. "I feel like I made him fight my fight, not his."

Calzaghe landed 33 percent of his 707 punches, and Hopkins connected with 27 percent of his 468 blows. Calzaghe had the edge in power punches with both total and accuracy, and he heavily outjabbed Hopkins.

Calzaghe has been a super-middleweight champion since 1997, winning 21 consecutive defenses and adding two more belts in November with a unification victory over Mikkel Kessler. But the flying-phobic Welshman had never found a matchup enticing enough to get him across the Atlantic Ocean to boxing's biggest stage.

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Copyright © 2008, The Baltimore Sun

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