Hopkins and Calzaghe face off in Las Vegas this April but as part of the all important pre fight hype, the pair were throwing insults at each other recently in Leicester Square, London.
Hopkins is famous for saying, “I’ll never let a white boy beat me” when he bumped into Calzaghe in Vegas before the Hatton – Mayweather fight in December. Hopkins continued to rant and rave about how badly he was going to beat Joe Calzaghe, but Joe did not return with any verbal punches of his own.
As always Joe Calzaghe was softly spoken and quietly confident throughout the press conference.
Whereas Hopkins was the opposite.
“Get this into your heads and write it down,” Hopkins warned the crowd of reporters, “This fight is going to be the same outcome as Muhammad Ali and Bert Cooper. (Hopkins meant to say Henry Cooper!)”
“There will be no excuses on April 19,” he ranted on, “I’ll be at my best, he’ll be at his best. So far every fighter has had to go to Wales to fight Joe. Now it’s his turn to get a taste of that medicine. And he knows that if a fighter wants to prove his greatness he needs the US stamp of approval. I’m an old man at 43, but I’m an old man who can fight. Joe is 36, so he’s no spring chicken either.”
Joe Calzaghe didn’t seem overly bothered by Hopkins bad mouthing, but it did seem to be getting to Calzaghe Senior, Joe Calzaghe’s coach.
Personally I think this fight should have happened a long time ago, when both fighters were nearer their peaks. Joe Calzaghe may have a perfect record going into this one, but he hasn’t had to face boxers nearly as good as what Hopkins has been fighting.
Anyway, who do you think will win this one?
And what do you think of Hopkins the motor mouth?
Can a “white boy” beat Hopkins on April 19th?
Voice your opinions below.
Joe is too strong and has too much stimina. He will dominate fight and win via a 12 round decision.
Comment by Richard — February 16, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
Hopkins all the way man!
Comment by Abs — February 17, 2008 @ 4:42 pm
Calzaghe should take him for sheer fitness, age, punch volume and true hunger, but Hopkins is Wiley and people forget that and that Calzaghe is stepping up in weight!
Comment by Darren — February 18, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
im gonna go with bernard on this one cause joe hasnt fought any big names other than jeff lacy and mikkel kessler. bernard is too strong for joe and joe cant take a punch from bernard so im going with bernard with this one and for the record, bernard always backs his trashtalk up!!!
Comment by julio — February 22, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
White boy, black boy..is all this really necessary?? What an outcry there would be if the verbal assaults were reversed eh?? Oh my what a double standard. I liked Hopkins before I heard him spew his hatred. Whatever, were all just passing through anyway…….
Comment by ezlivn — February 27, 2008 @ 2:49 am
calzaghe has got this fight in the bag hopkins is a chump i cant wait to see him lose “to a whiteboy” lol
Comment by pikeman — March 5, 2008 @ 11:47 am
B-Hop shop should when in an “ugly” hard fought decision… Regarding the the “white boy” comment… This was coming from the promoter Hopkins… he stategically made that comment at one of the biggest media covered fights of the year… Also fanning the (often used) flames of cultural difference and racial animosity that exist to sell fights… The good white guy against the bad black guy always brings out your non-boxing casual fans… Anyone buying into the validity of his statement outside of sheer promotional intent is misinformed… The very fight this incident took place, Hopkins predicted Hatton to be victorious against “Money May”… My take on British fighters especially those who don’t venture outside their friendly shores is that they are often over hyped and not as good as advertised… Although I feel Calzaghe is one of the “Queen’s” better fighters I still feel he doesn’t know or have enough to defeat a “Hall of Fame” fighter.
Comment by Jack Johnson — March 6, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
I think they should keep to boxing and leave race out of it.
As a Brit I would like to see Joe win this one, but Hopkins has had bigger fights, and has a better record than Joe in my opinion. Hopkins wins have included victories against Jermain Taylor and Winky Wright, and these are worth 10 of Calzaghe’s non-fights.
Comment by Boxing Daily — March 9, 2008 @ 5:42 am
Joe calzaghe all da way best boxer ever he is too strong for hopkins
Comment by Habib — March 31, 2008 @ 10:21 am
abbass akhtar best amatuer boxer watch out for him east londons strongest
Comment by Habib — March 31, 2008 @ 10:22 am
Jack Johnson, GREAT POINT MAN! I agree 1000%. Hopkins will win this fight. Calzaghe doesn’t know what he’s getting into. He has been blinded by the European spot light for so long, and like Hopkins said he needs the US stamp of approval and you don’t get that by beating ONE “OK” US fighter (Lacey) in your on country. You need to have MANY top contender fights in AMERICA. Hopkins record out weighs Calzaghe’s by a mile, EASY! SO due to experience, power and his defense not to mention being in Championship fight situations MANY TIMES, Hopkins will win this fight. I believe he is going to frustrate Calzaghe and make him loose focus and fight Hopkins fight. We all know he “TRYS” to show off and dance around the ring. He will be laughed upon if he attempts that nonsense in America. Over all it will be an exciting fight. I’m REALLY REALLY surprised this event is free. I think that’s great for the NON-BOXING fans. I defiantly would have paid to watch. Anyway again, great point Jack! Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Comment by WES — April 10, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
As a proud Welshman from Swansea, I want nothing more than to see our boy whoop up on that trash talking piece of over the hill flesh. Joe will knock him out…. no questions asked!!!
Comment by Kyle Phelps — April 10, 2008 @ 8:37 pm
Joe will do nothing of the kind. IF, IMO IF Joe were to win, it would be a controversial decision. I don’t think either could win by way of KO. If there would be a KO, it would be B-HOP KO’ing Calzaghe early in the fight. Cal would fracture his wrists again if he tried to hit Hopkins head that hard. Anyway B-HOP As I stated before will frustrate calzaghe with his style (Smart, cautious, hit not be hit, counter puncher) and win the decision. Calzaghe can throw all his fast little punches (“piddle pats”) he wants, but when a fighter like Hopkins takes the punches he intends to throw and stops them from coming, you will be a assured it will frustrate him and make calzaghe loose focus and take him off his game plan. With a result of B-HOP winning. HOP is a master of defense; Calzaghe has NEVER faced anyone with this skill. He will falter to the LEGAND THAT WILL actually go down in history as a TRUE CHAMPION. Mayweather VS Hatton and now Hopkins VS Calzaghe: HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.
and about the white boy comment: wash the sand out of your vaginas, its all about promoting the fight and causing drama. Which ALWAYS MAKES MONEY! Someone is always crying over it.
Comment by Wes — April 14, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
This is going to be a tough one for both of them. If Joe can keep the pace high and not get clocked in the middle rounds then i think he will steal a points victory with more stamina and conditioning as the older man slows down.
If Bernards timing and clever defense allows him to counter with heavy shots to joes body i see bernard stopping him in round 8 to 11. Iether way its going to be a great show!
Comment by Leo Lanza — April 14, 2008 @ 11:33 pm
Nice way of putting it. I always end up sounding like I favor one fighter. Sometimes I do I guess. BUT LEO, that was a good neutral way of putting it. I like that. Defiantly Plausible, either way you might just be right!
Comment by Wes — April 15, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
comment 4 …..joe calzaghe cannot take a punch from hopkins? did you see the calzaghe kessler fight ? obviously not …joe took some instrumental right hands from kessler and shook them off with ease……joe is far fitter faster and hungrier than hopkins …..hopkins can talk the talk with joe …but i very much doubt he can walk the walk …..calzaghe win for me …..it may go all 12 rounds but still a ud win for calzaghe
Comment by will — April 17, 2008 @ 10:40 pm
wes i understand some of the points you are making about calzaghe however you continue to say that calzaghe has not faced boxer of hopkins calliber…..you can only play whats put infront of you and calzaghe has had many fighters put infront of him …..some good some not so good but the end result has been the same …calzaghe victorious ….hopkins is a good smart fighter i agree….but as i said in my other comment joe is far fitter faster and hungrier …..and when it comes to stamina theres only one winner and its joe …..this fight i believe will last the 12 rounds like you say ….and to last 12 rounds you need stamina and luckly joe has it in abundance …..i am confident its a calzaghe win !
Comment by will — April 17, 2008 @ 10:50 pm
WES, what you got to say now? Go wash the sand out of your vagina…. BHOP cheated his way to a… defeat. You gotta laugh. So go and make yourslef a nice hot mug of SHUT THE F**K UP
Comment by Russ — April 20, 2008 @ 5:10 am
haha cheated? Who was hitting low there guy? lol I already gave my thoughts on the fight. I’m glad we gave your boy the WIN. IT IS WHAT IT IS. WE “GAVE” him the win. HOP controlled EVERY ROUND, starting from when you’re BOY HIT THE FLOOR IN ROUND ONE. JOEY could’nt/did’nt do anything the whole fight but land more “little slaps”. HOP had the power and made him fight his fight. HE CONTROLLED EVERY ASPACT OF THAT FIGHT. JOE COULD NOT DO ANYHTING HE WANTED. Like I stated, HOP frustrated him and was going to make him fight his fight and win a controversial decision. One judge had a big score difference, and gave Cal the fight. Maybe because Joe kept walking into every punch and being the aggressor? Anyway HOP has every right to complain about the fight. Especially when Joe’s chin was tested and went down in the first round and lost the whole first half the FIGHT EASY…
Comment by WES — April 21, 2008 @ 3:47 pm
PRESS RELEASE:[April 22, 08]
” CALZAGHE SLAPS HIS WAY TO A SLOPPY VICTORY
By Jim Amato
Joe Calzaghe is still undefeated ( 45-0 ) and now has Ring Magazine’s endorsement of being the ” best ” light heavyweight in the world after slapping an aged Bernard Hopkins enough to win a split twelve round decision. Disappointed ? I know I was. What was projected to be a candidate for ” Fight of the year ” turned out to be the farce of the year. Other then Bernard catching Joe coming with a nice right hand and dropping him in the first round, there was little excitement to me. Calzaghe did what I thought he would do. He just plain out hustled Hopkins. Bernard can no longer fight at that kind of pace. Calzaghe out landed Hopkins almost 2 to 1 but not once did he even phase Hopkins other then a few low blows. There was a lot of wrestling and clinching and referee Joe Cortez earned his pay that night.
Where does Super Joe go from here ? Hopefully not a rematch with Bernard. In my eyes the fight was a let down, a real stinker. Is Roy Jones Jr. next on Calzaghe’s dance card ? It is starting to look that way. That will generate some fan interest and a decent payday for both Joe and Roy. Will I watch it ? Yes, but not if it is a PPV telecast. Who would win ? Roy spends way too much time on the ropes these days and that would be playing into Calzaghe’s hand. I think it would be another case of Joe landing 33& of 700 slaps and taking a decision.
I don’t know how long Calzaghe plans to stay around but there is one fighter he should flat out avoid. That is middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. After seeing this performance by Calzaghe I honestly feel that Kelly KO’s Joe inside of ten rounds. Pavlik is just not somebody you can slap around. Hopkins was able to land several counter right hands throughout the fight against Joe. Pavlik will do the same. The only difference would be that Joe won’t get up. ”
Only thing I disagree is that Kelly Pavlik is still a youngin in the ring. He wouldn’t just go in there and destroy Joe. But it would be a good fight. Other than that this was point on. “SLAPPING HIS WAY TO A VICTORY”. I would ADD in “Hitting Below the Belt to a VICTORY”! lol What a disgrace your hero STILL is. Lol
Comment by WES — April 23, 2008 @ 4:58 pm