Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones Jr.
{{short description|Boxing competition}}
{{Infobox boxing match
| Fight Name = Battle of the Superpowers
| image = 230px
| caption =
| fight date = November 8, 2008
| location = Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
| titles = The Ring light heavyweight title
| fighter1 = {{flagicon|GBR}} Joe Calzaghe
| nickname1 = "Pride of Wales"
| hometown1 = Newbridge, Caerphilly, U.K.
| purse1 =
| record1 = 45–0 (32 KO)
| age1 = {{age in years and months|23 March 1972|November 8, 2008}}
| height1 = 6 ft 0 in
| weight1 = 174+1/2 lb
| style1 = Southpaw
| recognition1 = The Ring
Light Heavyweight Champion
WBC
No. 1 Ranked Light Heavyweight
The Ring No. 3 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
2-division world champion
| fighter2 = {{flagicon|USA}} Roy Jones Jr.
| nickname2 = "Junior"
| hometown2 = Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
| purse2 =
| record2 = 52–4 (38 KO)
| age2 = {{age in years and months|January 16, 1969|November 8, 2008}}
| height2 = 5 ft 11 in
| weight2 = 174+1/2 lb
| style2 = Orthodox
| recognition2 = WBO
No. 1 Ranked Light Heavyweight
WBA/IBF
No. 2 Ranked Light Heavyweight
WBC
No. 5 Ranked Light Heavyweight
The Ring
No. 6 Ranked Light Heavyweight
4-division world champion
| result = Calzaghe wins via 12-round unanimous decision (118-109, 118-109, 118-109)
}}
Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones Jr., billed as Battle of the Superpowers, was a professional boxing match contested on November 8, 2008, for The Ring Light heavyweight championship.{{cite web |title=Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones Jr. |url=https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Joe_Calzaghe_vs._Roy_Jones_Jr. |website=boxrec.com |publisher=BoxRec |access-date=2 September 2024}}Dirs B [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7714516.stm Joe Calzaghe v Roy Jones Jr] BBC Sport, 9 November 2008{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3691077|title = Calzaghe pummels Jones in unanimous decision|date = 9 November 2008}}
It ultimately proved to be Calzaghe's final professional bout, as he announced his retirement on February 5, 2009.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/7871918.stm |title=Undefeated Calzaghe quits boxing |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2009-02-05 |access-date=2009-02-06}}
Background
After Calzaghe's split-decision points victory over Bernard Hopkins (see Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe), and Jones's victory over Félix Trinidad, the two signed to fight each other for the Ring magazine light-heavyweight championship of the world. After having been originally scheduled for September 20, 2008, the fight was rescheduled when Calzaghe injured his wrist in training.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3500129|title = Calzaghe injures right wrist, calls off Jones fight|date = 22 July 2008}} The bout was then rescheduled for November 8, 2008.
The fight received considerable media coverage, including the HBO pre-publicity series, 24/7, in three episodes.[http://www.hbo.com/boxing/events/2008/1108_calzaghe_jones/news/instant_update.html Joe Calzaghe vs Roy Jones Jr] HBO Boxing, 8 November 2008
The fight
The fight did not start well for Calzaghe, who was knocked down in the first round.Hassan N [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7718196.stm Joe Calzaghe v Roy Jones Jr] BBC Sport, 8 November 2008 Replays showed the knockdown was caused by an accidental forearm by Jones (a two-punch combination). However, he composed himself and went out strong in the third round. In round 6 Jones landed a thunderous uppercut that had the crowd on their feet. But in round seven Calzaghe opened a cut above Jones's left eye.{{cite news| url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12183_4475038,00.html | work=Sky Sports | title=Calzaghe does it again | date=10 November 2008}} Jones was clearly having difficulty as the blood completely impaired his vision. Essentially Calzaghe remained dominant and in control, something that was reflected in the judges' scorecards as he outclassed Jones. The fight continued all the way to the end of the twelfth round, when all three judges awarded Calzaghe the UD win by a wide margin, each scoring the fight 118-109. Unofficial scorecards from media ringsiders ranged from 118-109 to 117-110 in Calzaghe's favour.{{cite web |author1=Gregg Roughley |title=Joe Calzaghe v Roy Jones Jr - as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/nov/09/boxing-joecalzaghe |website=The Guardian |access-date=2 September 2024 |date=9 November 2008}}
Aftermath
After the fight there were calls for Calzaghe to retire at the top. Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis felt that Calzaghe had nothing left to prove in the world of boxing.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7718413.stm Calzaghe should retire now - Lewis] BBC Sport, 9 November 2008 Ricky Hatton and David Haye echoed this view by saying there was nothing more Joe could achieve,{{Cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10112008/58/hatton-calzaghe-quit.html|title = Yahoo UK & Ireland - Sports News | Live Scores | Results}}
though double light-heavyweight champion Chad Dawson challenged the champion to one last fight before he retired.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/boxing/7718397.stm Dawson targeting Calzaghe fight] BBC Sport, 11 November 2008 In the end, Calzaghe chose to retire, telling the BBC,
{{blockquote|It was a difficult decision but I have achieved everything I wanted to achieve in boxing. I've been world champion for 11 years. I've got no other goals to go for. That's why I am calling it a day.}}
Joe was also challenged by the then undefeated British boxer Carl Froch.
Undercard
Broadcasting
| class="wikitable" | |
| align=center | Country
! align=center | Broadcaster | |
|---|---|
| {{flag|Australia}} | Main Event |
| {{flag|Hungary}} | Sport 1 |
| {{flag|Poland}} | Polsat |
| {{flag|United Kingdom}} | Setanta Sports |
| {{flag|United States}} | HBO |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Bernard Hopkins}}
{{s-ttl | title=Joe Calzaghe's bouts |years=8 November 2008}}
{{s-non | reason=Retired}}
{{s-bef | before= vs. Félix Trinidad}}
{{s-ttl | title=Roy Jones Jr.'s bouts |years=8 November 2008}}
{{s-aft | after=vs. Omar Sheika}}
{{s-end}}
{{Roy Jones, Jr.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Calzaghe, Jones}}
Category:2008 in sports in New York City
Category:November 2008 sports events in the United States
Category:Boxing matches at Madison Square Garden
Category:Light heavyweight championship matches