Boxing: Joe Calzaghe's finale against Roy Jones Jr at New York's Madison Square Garden
Exclusive: Joe Calzaghe will confirm in the next week that the mecca for some of the greatest fight nights in history - New York's Madison Square Garden - will provide the backdrop for the unbeaten Welsh fighter's swansong in the ring against Roy Jones Jnr, the former four weight world champion, on September 20.
Calzaghe will defend The Ring Magazine light-heavyweight title (175lbs) against Jones. A source close to the Calzaghe camp confirmed to The Telegraph yesterday that "it is 99 per cent certain" that the venue will stage the super-fight.
It is fitting that Calzaghe, 36, the world's longest reigning world champion – holder of the WBO super middleweight title for just short of 11 years – who is undefeated in 45 contests, should end his career in the Garden.
The September 20 date, known for some time, had been open to Calzaghe and Jones since Floyd Mayweather Jnr announced his sudden retirement last month, with Home Box Office, the American cable giants, having already scheduled that night for Mayweather's second encounter with Oscar De La Hoya as a pay-per-view event.
Calzaghe had stated publicly that he wanted to box again in front of 50,000 fans at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff against Jones, yet HBO have insisted that their backing would only be given to a pay-per-view contest in the US.
By Gareth A Davies
Last Updated: 09/07/2008
