NEWBRIDGE super-middleweight Joe Calzaghe made short work of American Tocker Pudwill at Newcastle's Telewest Arena on Saturday night.

He sent the man from North Dakota to the canvas three times before referee David Parris stepped in to call a halt to the contest with just over 30 seconds gone in the second round.

The win earned Calzaghe his 12th successful defence of his WBO world title. Pudwill, 31, had taken the fight at short notice, after the withdrawal of original opponent Thomas Tate with a burst eardrum.

And after a display which can only be described as poor, he may wish he had had longer to prepare, though the obvious gulf in class suggested that he was in a no-win situation.

In his only previous world title shot, and also his only other fight outside of America, Pudwill had been clearly outpointed by IBF holder Sven Ottke back in June 2000.

But since then, his opponents have been of fairly mediocre and little was expected of him against Calzaghe.

The American was left holding on from the opening two shots of the contest, an overhand left and a straight right, which convinced Calzaghe that an early night could be on the cards.

The Welshman even found time for a little early showboating before slamming home a short left to the body and a right-left combination which saw Pudwill drop to the canvas under pressure. Referee Parris though ruled that Pudwill had merely slipped and no count was given.

However, there was no mistake just seconds later when two more short lefts sent him down again.

Pudwill was still shaky, despite scrambling up at a count of six to continue, and a big left from Calzaghe saw him back on the deck.

This time the referee reached a count of eight but, luckily for Pudwill, the bell sounded to end the round before Calzaghe could land another shot to finish the job.

Pudwill emerged for the second round with his right eye virtually closed and he soon found there was to be no escape as Calzaghe moved in for the kill.

A right to the body and two lefts began a furious barrage, and when the blond-haired American crumpled to the canvas again, referee Parris waved a halt without even bothering to count, as Calzaghe who had entered the ring in a Newcastle United shirt, acknowledged the cheers of the crowd of around 10,000.

Calzaghe said: "I've been the distance in my last two fights but I love knocking people out. "I rushed in a bit in the first because I was frustrated. I just wanted to knock him out."

The confident Newbridge boxer added: "I'm one of the best pound-for-pound fighters around. I'm ready for Bernard Hopkins. I will knock him out."

Father and trainer Enzo Calzaghe added: "He was fantastic tonight and did what he set out to do, but if we don't get the fights we want in the next six months, we'll be moving up to light-heavy. It's pointless hanging about."

Before heading back to the dressing room a relaxed Joe said he was 'happy with the performance'.

He added: "The bigger the crowd, the better I perform. I felt really strong out there. "The hand speed felt really good. I'm confident in my own ability and I hope to be back around March," he said.