Super Joe says his American debut will see him become the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the sport - as well as defeat former middleweight world champion and current light-heavyweight number one Hopkins.

Proving himself for the first time on U.S. soil, Calzaghe ended Saturday night in a familiar posture-with his arms raised in victory after a split decision that kept him unbeaten and dethroned Hopkins for the Ring Magazine and linear heavyweight championship of the world.

The fight follows a stunning points victory over Mikkel Kessler to add the WBC and WBA super-middleweight titles to his WBO crown in a career-best display at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff in front of a record 50,000 fans last November. Calzaghe switched tactics mid-way through the fight to ensure a thrilling win and impress the Americans watching live on HBO.

Now Joe will look to go up to light-heavyweight and beat Ring number one Hopkins and extend the reign of terror that has seen him dominate the 168-pound division since 1997. Calzaghe took on Kessler after a previous appearance at the Millennium Stadium in April when he fought Peter Manfredo Jr in front of 35,000 people. Then he was simply too good for the Contender runner up, forcing referee Terry O'Connor to intervene with Manfredo trapped on the ropes and not firing back as early as the three round. Both ITV1 and HBO covered the win live. And it meant Calzaghe had equaled the world title defenses record of both Bernard Hopkins and Larry Holmes, who each made 20.

Calzaghe, 35, went into the fight having retained his WBO and IBF super-middleweight crowns against Sakio Bika in October 2006 in Manchester, England. In a fight screened on a delayed basis on HBO, Calzaghe had to contend with low blows, head-butts and numerous other infringements against the teak-tough Australian. Cut for the first time in his career in the fourth round by a stray head, Calzaghe refused to take a backward step as he ground out a 117-110, 117-110 and 116-111 decision. After the fight he vacated the IBF title. Six months earlier, in one of the most impressive displays ever by a British fighter, Calzaghe had won it by scalping Lacy in front of a packed out Manchester Evening News Arena.

The cavernous MEN was the scene of a master-class against highly touted and big-punching Lacy, who had been hailed as the saviour of boxing Stateside. Almost everyone thought he would beat Calzaghe, who started the fight as an underdog, and some feared for the Welshman's future career. But Joe peppered him with more than 1,000 shots, and hardly shipped a blow himself, as he romped home in one of the most one-sided world title fights ever seen. He almost stopped Lacy in the last, having spent the previous 11 rounds toying with him almost without mercy and won 119-105, 119-107 and 119-107. Had it not been for a harshly deducted point, it would have been a complete shut out.

It confirmed Calzaghe's status as the best man at 168 pounds, and delivered him a second world title nine years after winning his first.

After a sensational amateur career that included three consecutive ABA titles, each at different weights, Calzaghe looked a sure bet to rule the world when he first turned professional in 1993 - and four years later he fulfilled his dream.

On October 11, 1997, Joe faced his moment of truth on 'The Full Monty' card in Sheffield. That night he faced British boxing legend Chris Eubank for the vacant WBO super-middleweight championship. Taking part in his 22nd WBO world title fight, Eubank obviously had the experience over his untested southpaw rival. What Chris did not have, however, was the youth, speed and fitness of his opponent, and it showed. Eubank was unceremoniously dumped on the canvas in the first round and after 12 ferocious rounds Calzaghe was declared the new champion.

Calzaghe's concussive fists had ushered in a glorious new era in British boxing. Since that night in Sheffield Calzaghe has made a staggering 21 defenses and has extended his winning run to and incredible 44 fights with 32 early finishes.

He is now the longest reigning world champion in boxing, and has been awarded an MBE by The Queen for his services to the sport. His ultimate target his Joe Louis' record 25 world title defenses, and he wouldn't mind equaling Rocky Marciano's 49-0 slate.

"Equaling Holmes and Hopkins means a lot to me and going for Joe Louis' record is a great incentive as well," said Calzaghe. "But to be honest, I don't know if I want to take his record because he's a legend."

Among the highlights of his 10 years as a world champion are hard-fought wins over big British rivals Robin Reid and Richie Woodhall, wars with Omar Sheika, Byron Mitchell and Charles Brewer and punch-perfect displays against Mario Veit and Mger Mkrtchian. In the Mitchell fight Calzaghe found himself on the floor for the first time as an amateur or professional, but rose from the canvas to sensationally stop his American opponent in the same round.

Kabary Salem also had Calzaghe down, but apart from those two blips, his chin has proved resolute. Sheika couldn't budge him as the two went toe-to-toe at Wembley, while Brewer hit him with everything bar the kitchen sink but still couldn't make a dent. Even when the odds have been stacked against him Joe has found a way to win - in May 2005 he was forced to travel to Germany after Veit's backers bid more than £1 million for a WBO world title defense. Once there though Calzaghe did the business in just six rounds.

With his lightning fast hand-speed and power punching, plus his awkward southpaw stance, Calzaghe has been avoided by the top Americans like Roy Jones Jnr and, until now, Hopkins, for making unrealistic financial demands when offered fights, while current IBF 175 pound champ Clinton Woods has also turned down more-than generous offers.

A family man, Calzaghe is proud of his Italian roots and regularly holidays in the country where his father/trainer Enzo was born. Calzage has trained with his dad since the day he went professional, and the gym also boasts interim WBO cruiserweight king Enzo Maccarinelli, Commonwealth light-middleweight champion Bradley Pryce plus WBA light-welterweight champion Gavin Rees, and prospects Nathan Cleverley, Harry Miles and Kerry Hope.