Calzaghe V Hopkins

[Howard_lfc]

Without trying to sound pesimistic, I would like to see Joe fighting fighters in the states that are in their prime, which is why I say Pavlik and Taylor rather than Jones who is going to be 39 (16th of Jan). Hoppkins who will be 43 (15th of Jan). Although Hopkins still does carry a resonable threat about him and could well give Calzaghe some problems.
IMO the real fights are Pavlik and Taylor.

Glad you said that and not me !!!

[bazza76]

Glad you said that and not me !!!

I know, Marty won't be impressed with me now
So you were thinking it aswell then

[Chris]

Theres no point in Taylor if he gets banged out again. Pavlik could be interesting though it's just a matter of avoiding the bombs and Calzaghe would win comfortably.

[Darth Marty]

ha ha I know what you mean and I completely agree. All im saying is that after he beats hopkins he will want a huge pay day and jones still guarantees that, plus its his last fight and jones would be a dead easy victory. Pavlik and Taylor are younger and harder options, not what id imagine Joe wanting to take on for his last ever fight!
That said I think that Pavlik & Taylor are only good fighters, a normal calzaghe performance would beat either, but I really think if, as I expect, he beats hopkins he will go for a slightly easy, big money clash for his last fight.

[spud_gun]

ha ha I know what you mean and I completely agree. All im saying is that after he beats hopkins he will want a huge pay day and jones still guarantees that, plus its his last fight and jones would be a dead easy victory. Pavlik and Taylor are younger and harder options, not what id imagine Joe wanting to take on for his last ever fight!
That said I think that Pavlik & Taylor are only good fighters, a normal calzaghe performance would beat either, but I really think if, as I expect, he beats hopkins he will go for a slightly easy, big money clash for his last fight.

Jones has never been dynamite at the box office. Aside from his heavyweight outings his PPV sales were very average for someone so good. Possibly his choice of opponent was a major factor.

Jones vs Calzaghe makes no sense at all.

[Darth Marty]

hope your right, I think Jones is a **** and dont want Joe to batter him. Id rather a superfight in Cardiff Milennium stadium with Pavlik. Go out on top!

[Kaip]

wish they hurry up and confirm the ****ing thing so i can book my cunting flights

[Tee]

Joe Calzaghe will fight Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas on April 19, his promoters have confirmed.

[bazza76]

Good news, att last we get to see Calzaghe in the states.

[Tee]

I think he will beat Hopkins comfortably.

[Kaip]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS




5 DAYS IN VEGAS

[Imy]

Calzaghe seals Hopkins showdown

Joe Calzaghe's super-fight with Bernard Hopkins will take place in Las Vegas on 19 April, it has been confirmed.

The non-title bout will see undisputed super-middleweight champion Calzaghe, 35, step up to light-heavyweight and fight in America for the first time.

Hopkins, 43, is widely regarded as the best in the world at the 175lb limit.

"This is a dream come true. People always ask me 'when are you going to America?' and now they've got their answer," said Calzaghe.

"I won't be taking Hopkins lightly, but I believe I have the tools to beat him."

The fighters, who will meet at the Thomas and Mack Centre, squared up in Vegas last month at the weigh-in for the Ricky Hatton versus Floyd Mayweather contest.

Pound-for-pound great Hopkins said he "would never let a white boy beat me" as he tried to taunt 10-year champion Calzaghe, who laughed off his boasts.

Calzaghe said the atmosphere generated by the many thousands of Hatton fans in Las Vegas persuaded him to seek a debut fight on American soil.

"I owe to the fans and myself to have at least one fight in America before I retire," Calzaghe told BBC Sport.

"That's the only thing missing from my record. I've been wondering for years if it would happen and finally it is going to happen.

"I've taken a big leap and I'm looking forward to going there. I wouldn't take this big leap if I didn't think 100% in my heart I would win the fight."

Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren last week confirmed the deal had been done to bring his man and Hopkins together.

"It's taken a lot of hard work but I'm delighted that we have a deal," said Warren at a media conference to announce the date and venue for the fight on Wednesday.

"I've always wanted Joe to fight Hopkins, because I believe he has the beating of him.

"We've seen in the past how many British fight fans have gone to America to see fights involving our guys, and I'm sure people will go in their thousands again."


BOXING'S 10-YEAR CHAMPIONS
Joe Louis, 1937-49
Archie Moore, 1952-62
Julio Cesar Chavez, 1984-94
Azumah Nelson, 1984-94
Ricardo Lopez, 1990-2001
Bernard Hopkins, 1995-2005
Joe Calzaghe, 1997-

New York had been suggested as a host city, with Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden mooted as venues.

But the extra glitz and capacity offered by the super-hotels and casinos of Las Vegas has won the day.

Newbridge-born Calzaghe has long been after a super-fight against former middleweight king Hopkins.

The Welshman has won all of his 44 fights, with 32 knockouts, and in his last outing he beat Mikkel Kessler to add the WBC and WBA titles to his WBO belt.

Hopkins, known as 'The Executioner', has a record of 48 wins, four defeats and one draw, and is one of only seven men (including Calzaghe) to have held world titles for 10 years.

The American's last two fights have been at light-heavyweight, where he secured unanimous points victories over Ronald Wright (July 2007) and Antonio Tarver (June 2006).

All of Calzaghe's fights have been at super-middleweight, but he believes the extra weight will benefit rather than hinder him.

"My biggest strength is my speed and I don't believe that will be blunted," said the 2007 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

"Even at 12st 7lb (light-heavyweight limit) I'll be struggling to get down to that weight - 12st (super-middleweight limit) only takes away my strength and punching power.

"So I believe the extra seven pounds will add to my strength and punching power. It's not a case of building up to light-heavyweight, it's just a case of not killing myself so much."

[Joey Jones]

I'm really looking forward to this fight

[felly]

Calzaghe looks towards Pavlik / Taylor after Hopkins

from Boxingscene
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''

Joe Calzaghe: "I Will Kick Hopkins' Arse"



By Mark Vester

WBC/WBO/WBA super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe has promised to "kick the arse" of light heavyweight champ Bernard Hopkins when they fight on April 19 at the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas.

The fighters exchanged unpleasant words at December's weigh-in for Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas, and the tension built from there. The highlight of the verbal exchange was Hopkins' comment of "I will never lose to a white boy," which received outrage from boxing fans of all colors.

"It did piss me off, but it was more embarrassing for himself," Calzaghe. "He made himself look like an idiot. I wasn't offended because I know what is going to happen. I'm not going to lose to a black guy, a white guy, a yellow guy, a purple guy or a green guy, I'm not going to lose full stop. It's a stupid comment from him. At the end of the day it takes a lot to get under my skin, and that doesn't get under my skin at all.”

"I know what is going to happen because when I get in the ring he is going to get beaten. He lost to Roy Jones, he lost to Jermain Taylor but I'm undefeated since 1992. Let's wait until the fight and then we'll see who the legend is."

Other than Hopkins' comment about his skin color, Calzaghe felt the weigh-in confrontation was the perfect spark to ignite his fire for the fight.

"I came face to face with Hopkins at the weigh-in which was brilliant," said Calzaghe. "I spoke to Frank Warren and I said that's the fight I want. Now the fight is on, I'm really, really excited. The next thing is the hard work, going out there and kicking his arse. Ricky Hatton fought a hard fight against Mayweather, but British fans are going to see a win and a spectacular win, Joe Calzaghe smashing it out of...what's his name...Mary Popkins."

Calzaghe is hoping that Hopkins actually fights and doesn't run around the ring or tries to use any kind of dirty tactics in the fight.

"Let's hope he doesn't run, let's hope the ring isn't as big as the arena, I'll smash him up and sort him out. I always come to fight. I always look to fight a hard fight. I fight with my heart as well as my brain. I hope he's not going to spoil and be dirty. He head-butted Winky Wright twice and got away with it. I'm hoping for a fair fight with a fair referee and fair judges. Hopkins says this is going to be his last fight, so he better enjoy it and come to fight."

As far as a possible future bout with Roy Jones, Calzaghe is more interested in fighting the winner of the Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor rematch, taking place on February. 16.

"I'm more interested in the winner of Taylor-Pavlik next to be honest," said Calzaghe. "I'd rather fight a guy in his prime. They are the fights I get up for, big, big fights."

[bazza76]

Calzaghe seals Hopkins showdown

Joe Calzaghe's super-fight with Bernard Hopkins will take place in Las Vegas on 19 April, it has been confirmed.

The non-title bout will see undisputed super-middleweight champion Calzaghe, 35, step up to light-heavyweight and fight in America for the first time.

Hopkins, 43, is widely regarded as the best in the world at the 175lb limit.

"This is a dream come true. People always ask me 'when are you going to America?' and now they've got their answer," said Calzaghe.

"I won't be taking Hopkins lightly, but I believe I have the tools to beat him."

The fighters, who will meet at the Thomas and Mack Centre, squared up in Vegas last month at the weigh-in for the Ricky Hatton versus Floyd Mayweather contest.

Pound-for-pound great Hopkins said he "would never let a white boy beat me" as he tried to taunt 10-year champion Calzaghe, who laughed off his boasts.

Calzaghe said the atmosphere generated by the many thousands of Hatton fans in Las Vegas persuaded him to seek a debut fight on American soil.

"I owe to the fans and myself to have at least one fight in America before I retire," Calzaghe told BBC Sport.

"That's the only thing missing from my record. I've been wondering for years if it would happen and finally it is going to happen.

"I've taken a big leap and I'm looking forward to going there. I wouldn't take this big leap if I didn't think 100% in my heart I would win the fight."

Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren last week confirmed the deal had been done to bring his man and Hopkins together.

"It's taken a lot of hard work but I'm delighted that we have a deal," said Warren at a media conference to announce the date and venue for the fight on Wednesday.

"I've always wanted Joe to fight Hopkins, because I believe he has the beating of him.

"We've seen in the past how many British fight fans have gone to America to see fights involving our guys, and I'm sure people will go in their thousands again."


BOXING'S 10-YEAR CHAMPIONS
Joe Louis, 1937-49
Archie Moore, 1952-62
Julio Cesar Chavez, 1984-94
Azumah Nelson, 1984-94
Ricardo Lopez, 1990-2001
Bernard Hopkins, 1995-2005
Joe Calzaghe, 1997-

New York had been suggested as a host city, with Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden mooted as venues.

But the extra glitz and capacity offered by the super-hotels and casinos of Las Vegas has won the day.

Newbridge-born Calzaghe has long been after a super-fight against former middleweight king Hopkins.

The Welshman has won all of his 44 fights, with 32 knockouts, and in his last outing he beat Mikkel Kessler to add the WBC and WBA titles to his WBO belt.

Hopkins, known as 'The Executioner', has a record of 48 wins, four defeats and one draw, and is one of only seven men (including Calzaghe) to have held world titles for 10 years.

The American's last two fights have been at light-heavyweight, where he secured unanimous points victories over Ronald Wright (July 2007) and Antonio Tarver (June 2006).

All of Calzaghe's fights have been at super-middleweight, but he believes the extra weight will benefit rather than hinder him.

"My biggest strength is my speed and I don't believe that will be blunted," said the 2007 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

"Even at 12st 7lb (light-heavyweight limit) I'll be struggling to get down to that weight - 12st (super-middleweight limit) only takes away my strength and punching power.

"So I believe the extra seven pounds will add to my strength and punching power. It's not a case of building up to light-heavyweight, it's just a case of not killing myself so much."

Am delighted to finally see him fighting in the states.
But without trying to sound pesimistic or pissing any Welsh fans off is this the reason (in bold) why he has never fought in the states before?.

"I've taken a big leap and I'm looking forward to going there. I wouldn't take this big leap if I didn't think 100% in my heart I would win the fight."

He could of course just be showing total confidence in himself, which I would prefer to be the case obviously.