ENZO Calzaghe, the father and trainer of Newbridge's WBO super middleweight champion Joe, pictured, has defended his son's performance in the hard-fought points win over Kabary Salem in Edinburgh on Friday.

Several boxing commentators and less qualified parties have criticised Calzaghe accusing him of being well below par but father Enzo believes that there are a lot of positives to come out of the fight.

He said: "This was always going to be a war against a real warrior. Joe has come through 12 hard rounds, which he has not done for some time, and beat this guy at his own game.

"There are times in a boxers career that they have to overcome a brawl and that will help Joe.

He added: "At the end of the day, the record shows that he has made 15 defences and that is a great achievement.

"People will look at the record and not the performance and the main thing is he won the fight. "I did keep telling him to box him rather than get involved in a brawl but I don't think there are many boxers who could avoid getting involved with this guy."

Joe Calzaghe admitted that he was not at his best. He said: "I was disappointed because I wanted to put on a show, maybe too much and I got dragged down to his level.

"But I was a bit ring rusty and will be looking to be a lot more active in the next year." Calzaghe senior admitted that they expected Salem, nicknamed the Egyptian Magician, to be full of dirty tricks but even he was surprised by the extent of his unsporting tactics.

He said: "He was unbelievable with the head and was lucky to only have one point deducted. "I was just worried as the fight went on that he would catch Joe and cause a cut and somehow get the fight stopped.

"He's done that before but fortunately Joe was smart enough to out do him"

The champ's attention will now turn to who he fights next and he is still harbouring hopes of stepping up to light heavyweight and becoming a two-weight world champion.

Promoter Frank Warren said: "I am in talks with Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson and still hopeful that something can be done but there are also a few options at super middleweight. "Jeff Lacy (WBC champion) says that he wants to fight Joe but I don't l continued from back know if his management want it."

Warren even apologised for pitting Calzaghe against an opponent with little skill who was just out to spoil the bout.

He said: "I apologise for that, he is not the type of opponent that Joe should have to face but he is out of the way now and I will be working to get Joe the big fight that he needs."