Calaghe was not tested by a weak opponent

Joe Calzaghe wasted little time in disposing of a hapless Tocker Pudwill as he successfully defended his WBO super-middleweight crown for the 12th time.

Calzaghe blew away his outclassed challenger after 39 seconds of the second round at Newcastle's Telewest Arena for his 35th straight professional win.

The Welshman was in dominant mood from the moment the fight began and his American opponent twice hit the canvas in the opening round.

The end of the first round saved Pudwill from further punishment but Calzaghe was in no mood to let up.

Moments into the second round, Pudwill, with his right eye virtually closed, was on his knees again and the referee ended the fight.

"I love knocking people out," Calzaghe said. "If I'm extra critical of myself I rushed at him too much in the first round.

"I'm one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. I want to be remembered as one of the best British boxers ever.

"I need to move up a level. And I'm ready to fight Bernard Hopkins."

Late substitute Pudwill was not ranked in the top 100 of any recognised world boxing rankings and it was immediately evident that Calzaghe had been given the easiest of nights.

The 30-year-old, who had endeared himself to a crowd which included Alan Shearer and his team-mates by wearing the black and white stripes of Newcastle United into the ring, blazed out of his corner.

Pudwill's first visit to the canvas after a sharp left from the champion was ruled a slip.

However, the second conclusive two-punch combination dropped the challenger to one knee for an eight count.

Calzaghe followed up with another booming right which left Pudwill sitting on the canvas as the bell went and sparking some confusion as to whether the contest was over.

But the inevitable conclusion came on the end of another precise Calzaghe shot in the second.