Joe Calzaghe Dominates Roy Jones Jr., Retains Title In Unanimous Decision

For years, Joe Calzaghe was chided for not competing in big fights in the U.S., criticized for fighting mainly in his part of the world. On Saturday night in Madison Square Garden in New York City, the undefeated Calzaghe introduced himself a bit more formally, decimating Roy Jones Jr. in a unanimous decision in what might be both fighter's last bout.

The 36-year-old Calzaghe (46-0) retained his light heavyweight title over Jones (52-5) by simply being more busy and doubling up the legend's punch output. He worked continually on Jones' left eye, swelling it and eventually busting it open in the seventh round. Doctors looked at the cut later in the fight, but chose not to stop it. All three judges scored the bout 118-109, as did Ropes, Ring and Cage.

Post-fight, Calzaghe was uncommitted to whether he'd be retiring and said he'd make a decision at some point later, even when asked about Chad Dawson and a rematch with Bernard Hopkins. Jones was equally uncommitted when asked the question post-fight.

This is how we saw it live.

Round One:

I haven't seen any Calzaghe fights, but pre-fight, Jones looks more confident and ready for this moment...Calzaghe got dropped with :47 left to go in the round but got up with no issue. Replays show that it was a forearm shot as Calzaghe recoiled from a left jab...Jones looks more poised for this moment...Calzaghe looks like has a small cut on his nose. Jones wins the round 10-8.

Round Two:

The crowd is going ballistic for Jones, who smells blood already...At the 1:20 mark, Calzaghe finally got some punches through, working the midsection and some head shots...Jones is playing to the crowd, sneaking in those random quick shots which is getting people to their feet, but I'm not a fan of his "hands by his side" defense. We'll give the round to Calzaghe as Jones wasn't as active as in the first, 10-9. Fun fight so far.

Round Three:

Calzaghe keeps leaning his head in and is also dropping his hands down, trying to almost goad Jones into mixing it up....The champ is pouring it on now and is gaining confidence. Jones is not connecting on anything and Calzaghe is landing flurries repeatedly...Calzaghe ended the round by doing a little hip dance in front of Jones. He's getting a bit too cute, but Jones' workrate has slowed considerably. I wonder if Jones is holding back in hopes of doing more later on. Calzaghe wins round 10-9.
Round Four:

Calzaghe continues to unload, showing hand speed that Jones used to have...With less than a minute to go, Jones is backed into the corner and looking bad. He catches Calzaghe with a few shots late, but nothing of consequence. I remember loving Jones in his prime so to see him now at almost 40 like this is sad. Not Evander Holyfield sad, but I'm getting old sad. Calzaghe 10-9.

Round Five:

Jim Lampley discusses the astounding Punchstat numbers which are almost 3-to-1 for Calzaghe...Kellerman asks the question why Jones would just let Calzaghe stand in front of him without punching him. I think we know the answer...Jones' left eye is starting to swell. This is getting one-side really, really quickly. Calzaghe 10-9...his corner is telling him to not be careless.

Round Six:

Calzaghe works the body like no other. If this is his last fight, this is quite a display...the crowd has quieted considerably...a stat on the screen shows that Calzaghe is jabbing at an unreal rate where Jones is not....Jones sneaks in an uppercut to close out the round. Bernard Hopkins is shown at ringside, making an X and pointing toward the ring. Regardless of what happens here, Hopkins vs. Jones Jr. seems like an inevitability. We're halfway home and Joey C. is cruising, 10-9.

Round Seven:

Blood is flowing from Jones' left eye now, prompting Emmanuel Steward to say that he's never seen that before from RJJ. The cut is deep and nasty. This is going to get stopped unless something miraculous. The shot was a straight left that was the exclamation point on what Calzaghe had done to that point. Calzaghe 10-9.
Round Eight:

More of the same...the crowd erupts near the end of the round as Calzaghe is putting on a display that is too good to ignore. "I'm trying to get him, but I can't get him!" Jones exclaims while in the corner. Calzaghe 10-9.

Round Nine:

Just before the start of the round, the doctors begin inspecting the cut. Steward thinks this fight isn't going to go much longer, but we're almost near the end here anyway. 'Zags again, 10-9.

Round 10:

The doctor says they've shot Jones with adrenaline and something else to help stop the cut. How cutmen stop and slow bleeding is a very interesting science to me. 'Zags 10-9.

Round 11:

Jones has a Ric Flair-style faucet above his left eye...the question now reverts to whether Calzaghe can knock him out. He doesn't, but it's clear that Jones' boxing time has passed him by. Sure, Hopkins beat Kelly Pavlik recently, but this is a bit out of hand.

Round 12:

Destruction. Jones survives and the crowd gives a standing ovation for this display of dominance. Lampley says it might be the final time we see either fighter as Calzaghe says he'd retire if he won. I have a feeling that won't happen as the money is too green.

Josh Nason has written and maintained Ropes, Ring and Cage since 2007. He can be reached at [e-mail]. If you are using any portion of this report, please credit accordingly. Thanks!