Sports | boxing Calzaghe Edges Hopkins in Split Decision After being knocked down 70 seconds in, Pride of Wales outpunches veteran By Mitch Pritchard Posted Apr 20, 2008 1:25 AM CDT Copied Bernard Hopkins, right, knocks down Joe Calzaghe, of Britain, during the first round of their light heavyweight boxing match at the Thomas & Mack center in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken) Joe Calzaghe didn't stop punching after a terrible start against Bernard Hopkins, and now the Pride of Wales is the best light heavyweight in the world. Calzaghe won a split decision last night, desperately rallying in the final rounds against his cagey 43-year-old opponent to remain unbeaten. Hopkins (48-5-1) knocked down Calzaghe (45-0) with a sneaky right hand just 70 seconds in. But after floundering against Hopkins' defense through the early rounds, Calzaghe never stopped working and wearing down his older opponent, eventually gaining control of the final rounds. Calzaghe landed 33 percent of his 707 punches, while Hopkins connected with 27 percent of his 468 blows. Calzaghe had the edge in power punches with both total and accuracy, and he heavily outjabbed Hopkins. Read These Next GOP Sen. Tillis suggests Pete Hegseth is 'out of his depth.' Visiting the Azores sounds dreamy, just not like this. Los Angeles tunnel collapses with workers inside. Authorities say a Maine paddleboarder was murdered. Report an error