Welcome to Combat-Hooligans.com Live Round by Round coverage of Joe Calzaghe vs. Bernard Hopkins which is being broadcast live from Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on HBO. Coverage will begin at 9:00PM ET/6.00PM PT, please refresh your web browsers to keep up with the latest results and reports.

Well, can the UK claw back a win after last week’s disastrous Clinton Woods incident or will Hopkins prove that a “white boy” can’t beat him? We will find out at the top of the next hour but in the meantime here is tonight’s first fight of the night.

Heavyweight Division (8×3mins)

Audley Harrison (UK) vs. Jason Barnett (USA)

Harrison’s first fight after 14 months out of the ring, can he improve on getting knocked the fuck out last time out or will he continue his run down to obscurity? Well in traditional style, the arena is empty at the moment but it will fill up as we get closer and closer to our main event.

Round One:Harrison is landing more shots on Barnett but it is very slow going. He also has a huge reach advantage over Barnett and he is using this at times but nothing much to write home about. Harrison’s round. Some boos from the crowd, not happy at the lack of action.

Round Two:It’s only the second round and already the hugging game is coming into effect it seems. Harrison lands a nice let hand in the corner to Barnett’s left eye which is beginning to get marked. Another Harrison round which is greeted with more boos from the audience and i agree, there is not a heck of a lot to watch or recap at the moment.

Round Three:Harrison is dominating the fight but just in a really dull way considering this is an 8 round fight, you’d want to move stuff about quickly and get earning those points. After a stare off that lasts about 10 seconds in the middle of the round. we get some action but nothing to stop the boos. Harrison’s round.

Casey is covering tonight’s big UFC PPV tonight containing the main event of Matt Serra vs. Georges St.Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Championship so check it out and also if you are in a random mood, check out our sister site Darkside of the Hooligans.com

Round Four:Harrison has started to get the combinations going which will please the judges at ringside but doesn’t do a lot for me or the crowd. Harrison’s round.

Round Five:This is so dull, both fighters are content with standing in the middle of the ring not doing anything. But all of a sudden, Harrison hits some body shots and Barnett goes to the floor. He gets up for 8 but the ref waves the fight off and Harrison wins.

Result: Winner by TKO Audley Harrison R5 1:48

Not the comeback fight Harrison needed after so long away but i guess a win is a win when you are fighting a tomato can.

Tom Jones is singing Joe Calzaghe to the ring with the Welsh National Anthem…thank you God!

Hey, want to see how bad Harrison can be? Well…here you go. Here’s Michael Sprott knocking him the hell out with what Harrison called “a lucky punch”, i call bullshit on you Mr.Glassjaw

While we wait for the top of the hour, here’s the betting odds for tonight’s fight.

Bernard Hopkins: 5/2

Draw: 20/1

Joe Calzaghe: 2/7

So not too much difference between them as far as odds go but it only matters in the ring.

And with Michael Buffer collecting his paycheck for the night, we are ready to go.

Linear Light-Heavyweight Championship? (that’s what the man said)

12×3 mins

Joe Calzaghe (UK) vs. Bernard Hopkins (USA)

Sir Tom Jones singing the Welsh National Anthem for Joe Calzaghe = 5 stars! This time the British section of the crowd does not boo the American National Anthem as they did with the Ricky Hatton/Floyd Mayweather fight. Calzaghe looks increadibly relaxed as he walks down to the ring which is amazing considering and the crowd give him a great response and Hopkins comes out to a similar response.

Round One:It’s Chaos, there are punches flying everywhere but they get muddled up in the ropes. CALZAGHE IS DOWN! from a right hand of Hopkins but gets up at 8. Worrying moment for Calzaghe, he cannot afford that again. Joe is now being a bit more hesitant after that knockdown but is still pressing the action but this round has to go to The Executioner.

Round Two:Calzaghe comes out for round two strong but keeps falling for the same thing that cost him that knockdown in round one but he manages to avoid it so far. Hopkins lands another hard right hand and his confidence is growing with each second of the round. Calzaghe lands a couple of punches. Hopkins complains of a low blow and the ref gives him a few moments in the corner. Hard to separate them in this round.

Round Three:The holding game is starting to emerge for both fighters but Joe Cortez is having none of it and separates them if he sees nothing going on. Calzaghe tags Hopkins with a couple of good punches and the crowd livens up as the Welsh contingent start a “Wales Wales Wales” chant. Hopkins is playing the patient man, waiting for the perfect time to land the maximum impact of his punches but Calzaghe landed more good one in that round. Calzaghe for this one.

Round Four:Calzaghe is doing a great job of trapping Hopkins and hitting shots and he needs to ensure he is making the most of these chances with the earlier mishap. Unsure how to score that one but Hopkins did land more punches.

Round Five:Calzaghe lands a great right hand that rocks Hopkins for a second but he recovers, Hopkins is still going with his gameplan of patience and overall it’s working. Calzaghe needs to makes his move forward, land his shots and get back or else Hopkins has an opportunity to attack him on the counter. Calzaghe for the round.

Round Six:Fists fly once again in round six but there is a lot of holding going on that is slowing down the pace of the fight in general. Complete madness at the bell as the punches were flying in and Joe Cortez had to get in the middle to halt it. No idea.

Round Seven:Calzaghe ends the round incredibly strong with a flurry of punches that rock Hopkins. Calzaghe’s round

Round Eight:Both fighters exchange hard shots and the holding is down to a reasonable level. The crowd are starting to get into the fight at last but Calzaghe needs to pull something really special out of the bag if he is to leave Vegas with his undefeated streak intact. Round to Hopkins.

Round Nine:Calzaghe is taking too many shots and leaving himself more and more to do to recover lost points as at the moment. Another Hopkins round.

Round Ten:Hopkins is trying for an Oscar with a pathetic attempt at faking a bad low blow, replay confirms there was a low blow but nothing on the magnitude of what he is acting out at the moment. Calzaghe being the loveable rogue he is takes this time to wind the crowd up and get cheers going. We get some action to finish the round but the Academy will take note Mr. Hopkins. No idea how to score this round, answers on a postcard please.

Round Eleven:This is going the distance but not through lack of trying to end it, Calzaghe lands a nice right hand to the head but Hopkins always has another trick in his head and he proves this by getting a few good shots back. Fucking hell, Hopkins is once again complaining of another low blow. 1,2,3 AWWWWWWWWWWW…get over it. Round to Calzaghe as we go to the 12th.

Round Twelve:Calzaghe must stop Hopkins to win, there is no other way to do it. He comes out strong with some fast punches and Hopkins has not a lot of response to them. Calzaghe is going for the KO as he has become more aggressive but not at the cost of his defence. The final minute brings some more of Hopkins holding technique but no acting as the bell rings and we go to the scorecards as both men celebrate.

I’m saying Calzaghe via split decision.

Judges Decision: Joe Calzaghe via Split Decision!!!!!!!!!!!

JOE DID IT! The Thomas & Mack Center goes nuts and the celebration begins in Vegas and Wales. Calzaghe came back from being knocked down in the very first round to win this but by no means was it easy, Hopkins did not let up but the amateur dramatics is not needed.

Thank you for joining us, Casey is still doing LIVE Play-By-Play on UFC 83 St.Pierre vs. Serra 2 so check that out.

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