Joe Calzaghe came back from a long injury lay-off to keep his WBO super middleweight title with a points win over Robin Reid in Newcastle. But the 26-year-old Welshman faces at least six months more on the sidelines after injuring his left hand during his split decision victory.

Calzaghe showed off his badly swollen hand, which he injured midway through the contest, at a post-fight press conference before going on to hospital for x-rays.

"My left hand went after five or six rounds and obviously I lost a lot of concentration and my left hand did not carry a lot of power," he said. "All credit to Robin Reid. He gave me a tough fight at the end of the day and full respect to him.

"I wanted to be busy this year - I've been out of the ring for 10 months."

To some extent his injury explains his performance, which was below expectations even though the fight itself was not.

Calzaghe did not unduly trouble the sturdy Reid and his claims that he would knock his opponent out inside five rounds proved misguided.

Reid, whose last two bouts raised questions about his heart, came to fight, and while Calzaghe's hand speed got the quality vote, the former champion's right hooks more than once had Calzaghe in danger.

The champion, who still looks a little raw at times after 26 professional fights, proved a point about his chin but his punching style - he tends to slap often with or without a damaged hand - needs refining.

One judge, Englishman Paul Thomas, saw Reid a lopsided 116111 winner. The other two saw it the other way, giving Calzaghe a 10-round advantage.

Reid was naturally disappointed but he embraced Calzaghe after the fight and told him he had won. It ended something of a grudge match and Reid said: "We're never going to be best mates but I think we proved points to each other, that we are both good fighters. At times I was untidy, sometimes I looked a bit wild and rough and my timing was way out. "But I proved you can't write me off - I'm one of the best super middleweights out there."

Promoter Frank Warren suggested a re-match was a possibility, though he is anxious to project Calzaghe in America - and fit in a unification clash with WBC champion Richie Woodhall. Reid may find himself some way down the queue when Calzaghe gets back into the ring.

"There is a great re-match down the road but we've got to sort out the problem with Joe's hand," Warren said. "I think Robin and him both did so well given they've both been out for 10 months.

"What I find strange is that two judges should have the fight so far apart. I think it was a much closer fight - a cracking fight."

Meanwhile, Richie Woodhall has cleared up the maze of mandatory obligations he inherited along with his WBC super-middleweight title and wants to cash in on his reign.

Woodhall, now 30 and with a nine-year professional career behind him, knows time is running out so he has set out his stall for a lucrative unification fight - possibly against WBO champion Joe Calzaghe - while he still has the chance.

Woodhall can gain little from knocking over the likes of Vincenzo Nardiello, who he stopped in round seven in Newcastle last night.

"I am at the stage of my career where I have got to earn some good money," said Woodhall. "I am realistic, I've probably got about two years - there's not a lot left for me.

"The biggest fight out there for me is Joe Calzaghe - it's a hard fight for him and for me. I've got to talk with Frank Warren and see what is the most lucrative deal for me."