Fist Impression

GIVE Joe Calzaghe credit for confidence. Undefeated in 44 fights (32 KO's) and with a 10-year reign as super middleweight champion, the Pride of Wales (as the 36-year-old resident of Newbridge is known) could have chosen a less problematic opponent for his U.S. debut—for instance, his bout with Peter Manfredo Jr. , the woefully overmatched runner-up from The Contender whom Calzaghe stopped in three rounds a year ago in Cardiff , could have been held here. But Calzaghe, the son of a rock 'n' roll guitarist, has more than a bit of showman in him, and he chose to move up one weight class and make his Las Vegas bow last Saturday night against light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (48--4, 32), whose experience, toughness, defensive mastery and just plain cussedness make him, even at age 43, a handful.

Though Calzaghe entered the ring at the Thomas & Mack Center as the favorite, most boxing observers agreed that the matchup would show whether he was the real thing or, like former welterweight champ Ricky Hatton , who was flattened by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Vegas in December, just another overhyped Brit. The answer appears to be the former. After an often inelegant but never dull 12 rounds, Calzaghe came away with a close majority win, another title and a new level of visibility. He had to weather a flash knockdown in the first round and never hurt Hopkins , but with his fast hands and furious work rate (he landed 232 punches to Hopkins 's 127), Calzaghe did enough to win. He is the first southpaw to beat Hopkins in 12 tries. "I knew this wouldn't look pretty ... but I won the fight," said Calzaghe, who termed the bout the toughest of his career. "The world title in a second division and a win in America is just icing on the cake."

Presumably Calzaghe, who earned $3 million for the Hopkins bout, will enjoy a bigger payday against his next opponent. Prospects include 39-year-old former light heavyweight champ Roy Jones Jr. and current middleweight king Kelly Pavlik . For now, though, Calzaghe heads home, having truly done his country proud.

The Pop Culture Grid
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