In the end, Joe Calzaghe did what most, but not all, thought he would do: stay far more active than Roy Jones Jr. and win a unanimous decision.
From rounds 3 – 12, Calzaghe routinely dropped his hands comfortably and launched combinations to the sides of Jones’ head and body. At times, he even showboated a little. It got to the point where in the final round, it almost seemed as if Calzaghe was intentionally showboating so that he didn’t have to go in and score the knockout that seemed to be coming due to the accumulation of shots he was routinely landing.
“I feel really relaxed with my hands on my sides. That’s just my style. In the first round I was a little bit weary, but I knew I would be okay because I know for a fact it is hard for anyone to fight my style. I was in my rhythm.” Calzaghe said following the bout.
In his winning effort, Calzaghe further cements his status as a first ballot Hall of Famer five years after he retires. Which could come as soon as 2013 if this Saturday night’s fight was his last as many have speculated.
“I am going to sit down with my family, take some time and think about it.”, he said in the ring after the fight. If it was his last hurrah, what a way to go.
For Roy Jones, he can hold his head high despite losing the bout. His first round knockdown caught many by surprise and he had Calzaghe not only down, but hurt.
“I really didn’t see the punch coming. I feel like I am having de JA vu.” Calzaghe said afterwards watching a replay of the knockdown, referring to being knocked down by Bernard Hopkins in the first frame of his previous fight.
Aside from the knockdown, Roy’s fighting spirit was there all night, not once giving up.
“Roy showed that he has heart. He fought all twelve rounds. It was almost dangerous, but he kept going.” said Calzaghe.
Jones did not attend the postfight press conference, instead heading to the hospital to get a bad cut over his left eye stitched up. This to may have been his final fight.
After being written off a few years ago following three consecutive losses, this fight can be seen as a moral victory for Roy. Not a bad way to go out if it is the end.
