JOE Calzaghe once again proved himself one of Britain's greatest ever pound-for-pound boxers with a record-equalling 14th defence of his WBO world super-middleweight title at the Cardiff Ice Rink on Saturday.

In front of a vociferous full house who chanted "Super Joe, Super Joe", he gave brave but limited Armenian mandatory challenger Mger Mkrtchian a boxing lesson before ending his misery with a seventh-round stoppage.

Calzaghe's wife, Mandy, said afterwards: "I've seen him fight better but I've also seen him fight worse." That was probably the general consensus, but after an eight-month lay-off the unbeaten Newbridge southpaw showed he still has the ability to beat the best.

No British boxer has reigned longer as world champion and Calzaghe has beaten everyone in his division who will fight him, including three former world champions.

He will now certainly move up to light-heavyweight to take on the top Yanks, and that is a prospect to savour. Calzaghe entered the ring full of confidence on Saturday, with all his family around him, and with one of his sons parading his title belt in the ring.

After a minute's silence for the late, great Welsh soccer hero John Charles, Calzaghe looked as though he was out for a quick stoppage as he moved forward with rights and lefts, one to the face almost dislodging Mkrtchian's gumshield before a left and right to the chin rocked the Armenian right on the first-round bell.

But by the end of round three, Calzaghe realised that though of limited ability, and relying mainly on wild right swings, Mkrtchian was a tough character and that he would have to be patient.

He then proceeded to box Mkrtchian's head off with a stinging right jab, though still also catching him solid with left hooks.

By round six Mkrtchian was becoming frustrated, and when he rushed in wildly, Calzaghe caught him with a peach of a left hook which sent him back-pedalling for the rest of the round.

That gave Calzaghe renewed confidence to surge forward in the seventh, and a barrage of punches was followed by two clubbing left hooks, first to head and then to body, which sent Mkrtchian to the floor.

They had not looked quite strong enough to finish the challenger, but when Mkrtchian got up he was still unsteady on his feet when the count reached nine, and Paul Thomas, refereeing his 120th world title, stopped the contest after 65 seconds of the round.

"He was a tough, squat, awkward opponent," said Calzaghe afterwards, "so I had to use my boxing skills more. But I felt nice and sharp and my jab went well.

"It was my first fight in seven months and I really enjoyed myself.

"He was always dangerous and hit me with some good punches early on, and I didn't want to get caught by a silly punch over the top, so I stayed calm and patient and wore him down.

"I could see by round five he was getting desperate and disillusioned, so I stepped up the pace, moved up a gear and did the job.

"I was just about to get turbo-charged and knock him into the third row of the seats when the referee stepped in.

"I showed another side of my ability. Not every fight can be like the last against Byron Mitchell. They can't all be over in two rounds.

"Had I stood toe-to-toe I might have been caught by a sucker punch.

"I was very pleased with my performance and now I want to move up and fight the likes of Roy Jones and Antonio Tarver.

"I equalled Chris Eubank's British record of 14 world title defences tonight but I think I fought better-class opponents.

"I'm probably not as big a name as Roy Jones Junior, and that's another reason why I want to move up to light-heavyweight and fight people like him so that I can show the world, and that means going to America and taking the Yanks on in their own back yard, that I deserve to be regarded among the all-time greats."