Joe Calzaghe dominates a shopworn Roy Jones Jr.

Getting up from a first-round knockdown, light-heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe spent the next 11 rounds doing to Roy Jones Jr what Jones had spent the majority of his career doing to opponents. Using superior speed, reflexes and stamina, Calzaghe dominated and toyed with Jones on his way to a convincing 12-round decision to maintain his title and undefeated record.

Jones looked like he might be able to pull off an upset as he landed as strong right uppercut that floored and hurt Calzaghe. Slow to follow up, however, Calzaghe survived the round, muddled through Round 2 and then put on a display that showcased all of his considerable skills.

By Round 7, Jones was bleeding from a cut above the left eye (courtesy a perfectly placed straight left from the UK superstar) and was left with nothing else but occasional attempts to land another game-changing right hand. Through it all, Calzaghe was fast, flashy, furious and indefatigable, not just beating Jones, but truly humbling him. One stat truly stood out - in 12 rounds, Jones landed just 12 jabs.

It was a dominant performance for Calzaghe, and we’ll know soon enough whether his threats of retirement were just that. A lucrative rematch with Bernard Hopkins awaits him should he decide to take another chance with his perfect (46-0) record. Should he hang it up, he deserves tremendous respect for his brilliant career.

For Jones, he doesn’t have to say good bye, but he can’t stay here. Following Round 2, Jones was the definition of a shot fighter, unable to get his punches off and unable to land many of them when he did. While Jones showed plenty of heart and never stopped trying, he was truly an empty shell of his formerly brilliant self. A prime-time Jones always said he’d never stay in the game too long. But he did. Here’s hoping Saturday night at Madison Square Garden was his final foray into the squared circle.

-WKW