JOE Calzaghe felt his first-round knockdown at the hands of Bernard Hopkins tarnished his big night in Las Vegas.

Calzaghe, 36, moved menacingly to 45-0 as yet another chapter of his glittering career saw him triumph by split decision at the Thomas and Mack Center.

In front of a large, partisan British crowd and a host of luminaries such as Tom Jones, Catherine Zeta, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Sly Stallone, Calzaghe was stunned by a brutal right hand that sent him sprawling to the canvas just seconds into the contest.

The Newbridge southpaw cheekily tried to write off the flash' knockdown as an accident, and said: "I lost my footing and he took advantage, it was a slip and I wasn't hurt, I knew he couldn't hurt me.

"It wasn't the most satisfying win of my career because of that, but I know I won the fight and one judge had me five points ahead.

"Bernard is slippery, I knew he'd fight dirty, but as it moved into the middle rounds I could see him starting to blow out of his backside."

Hopkins, 43, tried to take the spotlight away from the victor by insisting he'd executed' Calzaghe.

"Watch the fight back, I got beaten tonight but I didn't get beaten by Joe Calzaghe," he said.

"People saw what really happened and my position as one of the greats is already set in stone."

Calzaghe's father, Enzo, poked fun at the way Hopkins unsportingly tried to sap the momentum from Calzaghe's assault by theatrically claiming he'd been the victim of a low blow.

"He needed the break, Joe had got on top of him by that stage and he started doing anything he could to have a breather, he got desperate because he knew Joe was winning the fight," said Calzaghe snr.

Calzaghe's long-time promoter, Frank Warren, proudly proclaimed Calzaghe as the best in British boxing history.

"Joe is the greatest fighter I have ever worked with by a long way and people will recognise him and what he has done for the sport," he said.

"He is a true champion and is making a case of being the best we've ever produced. He has tremendous ability and unbelievable heart and he showed that on Saturday night."

Ringside observer David Haye told the Argus that Calzaghe deserved the narrow decision, having tipped Hopkins to sneak a win.

"Joe's stamina and workrate was absolutely amazing," he said.

"Hopkins had the craft and a dream start but Joe came back strong."

"I have come to America and beaten Bernard's arse, just as I said I would," Calzaghe concluded.

"I'd like to know how Bernard feels losing to a white boy, because I feel pretty great about it!"