CALZAGHE DEFEATS THE GREAT JONES JR.
By Lloyd Dyer (Webmaster, Sweetfightingman.com)

On Saturday 8th November, pound-for-pound Welsh superstar Joe Calzaghe defended the linear Light-Heavyweight title, against former pound-for-pound great Roy Jones Jr. at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The southpaw Calzaghe came out the more aggressive in round one, pushing forward consistently behind a sharp jab. Roy came out on the back-foot with his hands low looking to counter-punch. Joe effectively cut off the ring catching Jones on the ropes, but the punches appeared to land on his arms and gloves. In the last minute both fighters got into a clinch and Jones stuck out his tongue.

Seconds later Roy dropped Calzaghe with a counter-right hand, who got up and survived the round. In the replay it looked more like his forearm, but gave Jones a two-point round and opened a cut on the bridge of Calzaghe’s nose.

The champion came out more aggressive in the second looking to make a statement. Calzaghe again cut off the ring and got Jones up against the ropes teeing-off to the body. Jones counter-punched effectively however, and landed the cleaner power punches to head and body narrowly giving him the second session as well.

Calzaghe came back significantly in the third. Jones was forced against the ropes where Calzaghe took full advantage in throwing many quick power-punches to the body and head. Later in the round they fought in the centre of the ring, and this time it was Calzaghe who dropped his hands whilst Jones covered up trying to catch Joe during his intervals. A big round for Calzaghe, who continued to win the fourth session with his precise jab, while Jones went back to counter-punching on the back foot. Roy came back towards the end of the round with some right hands off the ropes, but it was Calzaghe’s round.

In the fifth Calzaghe came out again looking to box behind his jab, but although still on the counter, Roy began throwing more punches in terms of his jab and right hand. Joe’s punches were being caught on Roy’s arms and gloves in this round. Joe continued to pressure Jones against the ropes towards the end with success, but it was Jones who landed the cleaner punches overall, enough to clearly take the round. His eye-catching power punches continued in the sixth, most noticeably with the right-uppercut, although Calzaghe as before landed many more to outwork Jones and take the sixth session.

The seventh was dramatic, as Jones seemed again to be winning the round with the cleaner power-punches, but a left from Calzaghe opened a bad cut under Jones’ left eye. He covered up for the remainder of the session, and Joe came back to win the round beyond doubt. The blood ran into Roy’s eye and obstructed his vision, and his corner seemed unable to stop the bleeding. A similar pattern ensued in the eighth, as Calzaghe, sensing the tables had turned began to showboat, dropping his hands, while throwing and landing many more than Jones. Roy mostly covered up and looked to counter-punch, but with little success.

The doctor examined Roy’s eye at the beginning of the ninth but allowed him to continue. Jones pressed forward this round realising he needed the final rounds to win. Mid-way through the round however Calzaghe took over and forced Jones against the ropes again, landing to the body and head with flurries to win the round.

The carnage continued in the tenth, this time with Joe boxing from the centre of the ring while Roy covered up, where Calzaghe constantly landed with combinations. Joe dropped his hands again and appeared to be landing at will to head and body. The Welshman continued to dominate the eleventh, showboating and landing at will throughout the round from entre-ring. The Pensacola fighter kept talking to Calzaghe on the inside, citing that he was still in the fight.

The twelfth and final round was a quiet one, with both fighters looking tired and boxing strategically. Jones narrowly pulled out the final session with right hands to head and body, but it appeared too little too late as the fight closed to the final bell. 

All three judges Jerry Roth (Las Vegas), Terry O’Connor (England) and Julie Ledderman (Las Vegas) saw the fight 118-109 for Calzaghe. Although agreeing with the winner, I saw it closer at 115-112 for Calzaghe in giving Jones rounds 1,2,5 and 12. According to Compubox however, Calzaghe landed 344 punches on Jones, more than any other opponent had achieved against him.

After the fight Calzaghe commented on the first round knockdown “I didn’t see the punch coming hence why I was on the floor. It was a good shot”. He showed continued respect for his opponent in saying “It was an honour to fight Roy Jones. The guy’s a wicked fighter. He gave me a lot of trouble and it was great to share the ring [with him]”.