Boxing: Calzaghe battles to claim famous win.

Byline: BY MARK STANIFORTH Daily Post Correspondent

JOE CALZAGHE battled his way back from a first round knockdown to win a split decision war over Bernard Hopkins at the Thomas & Mack Center but the final bell did not spell the end of a fight week full of acrimony.

Veteran Hopkins fiercely protested the 116-111,115-" 112,113-114 verdict in favour of the Welshman, who had been sent to the canvas from a jolting right hand and struggled to combat the 43-year-old in the early rounds.

With victory, Calzaghe stretched his unbeaten professional record to 45 fights and assumed the position of the world's number one light-heavyweight on his debut at the weight. But it was a coronation bitterly opposed by Hopkins.

Hopkins said: "I believe I won the fight. I know questions will be asked and it was close. But when all is said and done history will reflect well on Bernard Hopkins.

"I got beaten tonight but it wasn't by Joe Calzaghe." Calzaghe, who bled from the bridge of his nose in the opening round and was harshly penalised for a supposed low blow in round 10 from which panting Hopkins was given three minutes to recover, was in no mood for niceties.

Calzaghe said: "Hopkins was head-butting me, hitting me with low blows and cheating. He was holding me with one arm on the blind side of the referee and he was sticking his head in my face. "He basically cheated and had five minutes off in the 10th round. He stopped my momentum by turning his back on me and feigning injury. It was ridiculous because I know I didn't touch him.

"I had to keep my composure because I knew that if I retaliated I might get a point knocked off.

"He came to steal the fight and he was just trying to survive.

"He was knackered and there was no low blow."

Calzaghe is now likely to see his future at the higher weight.

CAPTION(S):

A jubilant Joe Calzaghe