Calzaghe knocked down, recovers to beat Hopkins

LAS VEGAS: Britain's Joe Calzaghe recovered from a first-round knockdown to defeat Bernard Hopkins by a split decision in a light heavyweight bout in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Calzaghe was awarded the bout on two of the three judge's scorecards 115-112, 116-111, 113-114.

In a closely-fought battle, the 36-year-old Calzaghe showed little of his famed prodigious punch output in the first two rounds, as Hopkins gained the early initiative behind a tight defense and counter-punching with his right hand.