Bernard Hopkins Rejects Defeat By Joe Calzaghe | Boxing

The judges gave the fight to Joe Calzaghe on a split-points decision. Bernard Hopkins said defiantly, "The whole world knows I won this fight," and drew attention to the fact that there wasn't a single bruise on his face.

The crowd was stunned when Hopkins floored Calzaghe with a straight right in the first round and Calzaghe suffered a cut to the bridge of his nose. But he got up quickly. That shook him up, but he managed to keep his wits about him.

The final scores were 114-113 for Hopkins, 115-112 and 116-111 for Calzaghe.

Calzaghe said it was one of his toughest fights. But he was joyous to have beaten Hopkins. "I'm a legend killer," he said.

Calzaghe had many fans in the crowd, including Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Tom Jones sang the Welsh anthem.

Will Bernard Hopkins Keep His Promise To Beat Joe Calzaghe? | Boxing

Bernard Hopkins, light heavyweight boxing champion, was all wound up to arrange a
match with Joe Calzaghe last November. Calzaghe had just won his bout against Kessler, and made a challenge to Hopkins.

Hopkins was watching it all on TV. He got so revved up that he immediately called Richard Schaeffer of Golden Boy Promotions to set up a match.

They had a face-off and almost came to blows during the Mayweather-Hatton weigh-in.

Hopkins said "I would never let a white boy beat me. Never." Not once but repeatedly.

The bout is set to take place in Las Vegas tonight. At the weigh-in Hopkins repeatedly prodded Calzaghe in the chest, saying "I'm going to bust your heart."

Many Welsh supporters of Calzaghe are already in town. Things are heating up.

Hopkins after his unanimous decision victory over Winky Wright