Joe Calzaghe battled back from a stunning first round knockdown to score a disputed split decision victory over Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas and reign as light-heavyweight world number one.

Calzaghe extended his unbeaten record to 45 fights but only after what proved the toughest test of his career.

Judge Adalaide Byrd thought the 43-year-old Hopkins edged the fight with a 114-113 verdict but Chuck Giampa (116-111) and Ted Gimza (115-112) both scored in favour of Calzaghe.

Calzaghe said: "I fought really hard tonight. As the fight wore on I had to really let my punches go. He was very defensive. A win is a win. I was only hurt once and he never caught me with a clean punch."

The brilliant Gwent man fought back strongly in the second half of a fight which was marked by frantic exchanges. But he had to work hard and made a nightmare start as he was dumped to the canvas straight away.

Calzaghe was quickly back on his feet to receive the mandatory eight count from referee Joe Cortez but he caught another big right which cut the bridge of his nose.

Calzaghe enjoyed his first moment of success in the second when he clattered home a wide left hook but rock-hard Hopkins shrugged off the shot and fired back with a strong right uppercut.

Approaching the halfway mark, Calzaghe scored a straight left through the middle as Hopkins began to blow but still landed a nice left hook. The sixth round ended chaotically with Calzaghe wrestled onto the canvas after a frantic exchange.

A big left hook from Calzaghe was his cleanest work of round seven, but Hopkins wobbled the Welshman with another jarring right on the bell. Calzaghe had the better of round eight, jolting home two lefts and finishing strongly.

Hopkins slumped to the canvas early in the 10th claiming a low blow. When the action resumed two minutes later, Hopkins landed a fine right but Calzaghe gave as good as he got. The Welshman started a furious final round well, drilling a left through the middle while Hopkins banked on powerful right counter-shots.

Afterwards, Hopkins said: "I controlled the pace like a true veteran. I never got hurt in the fight. I never got hit with any big shots. I have nothing to be ashamed of."

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