LAS VEGAS — Joe Calzaghe didn't stop punching after a terrible start against Bernard Hopkins, and now the Pride of Wales is the best light heavyweight in the world.

Calzaghe won a split decision Saturday night, desperately rallying in the final rounds against his cagey 43-year-old opponent to remain unbeaten in his long-anticipated debut in the United States.

Hopkins (48-5-1) put on a master class in the veteran skills of their sport, knocking down Calzaghe (45-0) with a sneaky right hand just 70 seconds in. But after floundering against Hopkins' defense through the early rounds, Calzaghe never stopped working and wearing down his older opponent, eventually gaining control of the final rounds.

Judge Ted Gimza scored it 115-112 for Calzaghe, and Chuck Giampa favored Calzaghe 116-111. Judge Adelaide Byrd gave it 114-113 to Hopkins, as did many reporters at ringside _ including The Associated Press, which also favored Hopkins 114-113 despite Calzaghe's dominance in the final five rounds.

Calzaghe landed 33 percent of his 707 punches, while Hopkins connected with 27 percent of his 468 blows. Calzaghe had the edge in power punches with both total and accuracy, and he heavily outjabbed Hopkins

Calzaghe has been a super middleweight champion since 1997, winning 21 consecutive defenses and adding two more belts last November with a unification victory over Mikkel Kessler. But the flying-phobic Welshman never found a matchup enticing enough to get him across the Atlantic Ocean to boxing's biggest stage.

Saturday's bout has been anticipated for at least six years by fight fans who craved its challenges and stylistic contrasts. After several false starts and disputes between the fighters' promoters, the bout gained steam last December when Hopkins and Calzaghe got into a shouting match one day before Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s fight with Ricky Hatton.

"I would never let a white boy beat me. Never," Hopkins proclaimed, and Calzaghe quickly agreed to find out whether the Executioner was correct.

Heavyweight Harrison wins on undercard

British heavyweight Audley Harrison began yet another comeback, stopping Jason Barnett in the fifth round.

Middleweight David Lopez stopped Ryan Davis in the third round, and Wales' Nathan Cleverly won a unanimous decision over Antonio Baker on a star-free card at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Harrison (22-3, 17 KOs) was a 2000 Olympic gold medalist who briefly gained great fame in his native England, but the 36-year-old's professional career has been an overwhelming disappointment. The British press dubbed him "Fraudley" for his all-talk, no-action reputation, and he hadn't fought in 14 months after a series of personal troubles.

Harrison managed himself early in his career, but promoter Frank Warren has taken over the reclamation project after years of sharply criticizing Harrison.

Harrison was knocked out by Michael Sprott in his previous bout last year in London. The Las Vegas resident has been through rough times since then, with the death of his brother, Vincent, followed by Harrison's own serious shoulder injury from a car crash.

Harrison still thinks he'll be a title contender with a few more victories _ and, judging by his pudgy physique, a few thousand more hours in the gym. His first bout back was little challenge, with Florida journeyman Barnett (10-7) gamely sticking in for 4½ dull rounds against his larger opponent before getting dropped by a body blow.

Cleverly (12-0, 3 KOs), who's trained by Calzaghe's father/trainer, Enzo, had little trouble against another journeyman American opponent, but couldn't land a knockout blow.