By Nate Anderson: In the latest war of words, former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) is cutting though the pleasantries by calling undefeated super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) “amateurish” and promising punishment along the way. If one weren’t alaready aware of Hopkin’s history, they’d incorrectly assume that Hopkins was just making hyperbolic statements in order to sell a few more tickets to the boxing public.
Bernard Hopkins
Bernard Hopkins
Will Hopkins Execution Squad Help Him Defeat Calzaghe?
By Michael Tornay: Sometime when a fighter finds themselves in an almost impossible no-win situation, they reach for any aid they can in an attempt to cheat age, diminishing skills and the inevitability of their defeat by seeking outside assistance, for example, specialized trainers, gurus and what not. In light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins’ (48-4-1, 32 KOs) case, he has accumulated an “execution squad” consisting of trainer Freddie Roach, conditioning coach Mackie Shilstone and John David Jackson, a specialist on southpaw fighters. Hopkins, 43, hopes that somehow this group can help him pull out a victory over undefeated super middleweight Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs), whom Hopkins will be facing on April 19th at the Thomas & Mack Center, in Las Vegas.
So far, few people give Hopkins a chance at beating Calzaghe, despite the fact that Hopkins has pulled off major victories in the past two years over Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright, both of whom Hopkins looked impressive in beating.
Bernard Hopkins-Joe Calzaghe Update
Light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins took the news of Joe Calzaghe’s rebuttal to his training team statement as a sure sign of panic. “This poor guy used up all the air in his boxing gym to spew a bunch of nonsense about nothing really. I said what I had to say in one breathe. He knows what he is up against on April 19 and that’s all that has to be said. All those words are just like his punches-nothing on them and no damage done..”
Hopkins vs. Calzaghe “Battle of the Planet,” is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, Frank Warren’s Sports Network and the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The match-up will air live from the Planet Hollywood Ring on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET / 6:45 p.m. PT.
Hopkins: “I am That modern-day George Foreman”
By “Big” Nate Anderson: Comparing himself to former two-time heavyweight champion George Foreman, who recaptured the heavyweight title late in his career at the ripe old age of 45, light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins (48-4, 32 KOs) had this to say in yesterday’s press conference to promote his April 19th bout against undefeated super middleweight Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs):
Hopkins: “I said I’m going to punish Calzaghe slowly”
By Eric Schmidt: The war of words continued today between light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) and undefeated WBA/WBC/WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) in the first portion of their three city press tour to promote their April 19th bout at the Thomas & Mack Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada. As customary, it was the 43 year-old Hopkins who got in the better line when he said “I said I’m going to punish Calzaghe slowly, and I’ll repeat that today. I’ll ask that his father is merciful to him and pulls him out when he is getting hurt.”
Joe Calzaghe vs Bernard Hopkins
Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe, fighters with a combined 43 wins in world championship bouts met today in London to confirm that on Saturday, April 19, in the Planet Hollywood (PH) Ring in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a rare contest between linear champions, light heavyweight champion Hopkins will defend his title against Calzaghe, the undisputed super middleweight champion, in a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Championship to determine the true premier champion of this era. Tickets for this epic battle go on sale today..
Calzaghe-Hopkins: “I know what is going to happen. I am going to win the fight”- Joe
By “Big” Nate Anderson: In today’s press conference in London, super middleweight Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) and light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) continued to go at each other verbally in preparation for their April 19th bout at the Thomas & Mack Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada. If anyone was to be considered the victor in the press conference, I’d say that Calzaghe, 35, appeared to come out on top, as he said:
“I know what is going to happen. I am going to win the fight. I’m undefeated for 17 years and he’s going to realize April 19 that he’s never been in the ring with someone like myself with my hand speed and my work rate. He’s been a champion for years and I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect.”
For that, Calzaghe appears to be hitting it right on the head about Hopkins never having been in the ring with a fighter like him, nor one with Calzaghe’s work rate.
Calzaghe: “Bad things happen to people who mouth off to me”
By John Dower: Undefeated WBA/WBC/WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) is failing to let his wily opponent light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) with his latest rounds of trash talking and pointed insults. Calzaghe, 35, who has held the WBO super middleweight title for the past 10 years without one defeat or draw, is well conditioned to the typical insults and mind games that Hopkins is bringing into this their April 19th scheduled bout at the Thomas & Mack Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Calzaghe had this to say about Hopkins’ psychological warfare:
Calzaghe: “I don’t care what he [Hopkins] brings to the ring”
By John Dower: In the latest boxing news, undefeated WBA/WBC/WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) is predicting a victory over 43 year-old veteran Bernard Hopkins (48-4, 32 KOs) in their April 19th mega-bout at the Thomas & Mack Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Calzaghe, 35, had this to say to Setanta Sports: “He could bring a couple of his bodyguards into the ring and he’s still going to get done.” The prediction struck me somewhat of a young Muhammed Ali, whom would often make predictions about his victories.
To be sure, Calzaghe seems to be the one in the driver’s seat in this matchup, for Hopkins has shown little in the way of offense in the past few years that could come close to the high punch output of Calzaghe, who typically throws between 800-1000 punches per fight. This would seem to indicate that Hopkins has only two chances to try to beat Calzaghe: 1. Hopkins can try and load up with a big shot, and hope that he can hurt Calzaghe and finish him off with a flurry. 2. Hopkins can work on slowing the fight down by throwing a couple of punches and then immediately grabbing Calzaghe into a clinch to prevent him from getting his own punches off.
Should Calzaghe Skip Hopkins And Fight Jones vs. Trinidad Winner?
As super middleweight Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) appears locked into a fight with former light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins, I can’t help think that the 35 year-old Calzaghe will be better off canceling the bout with Hopkins and instead focus on fighting the winner of this Saturday’s bout between Felix Trinidad vs. Roy Jones Jr. The reasons are simple: Both Trinidad and Jones were much more popular than Hopkins was during their prime, and even though they’re both well past that stage now, they still remain very popular with large fan bases behind both of them.
Even more important, is that after Saturday’s bout, if it turns out to be an interesting fight, the winner will be even more in the forefront of the media, and will be able to pick and choose their next opponent. In contrast, if Calzahge he faces the 43- year-old Hopkins, the fight will almost surely be a boring, grappling-type fight in which Hopkins grabs and wrestles Calzaghe constantly to prevent him from drilling him with his fast hands. It will be the type of fight where Calzaghe will lose popularity because he’ll look bad against Hopkins, who turn the fight into a long stalling pattern, and stink up the joint in the process.