By Mark Vester
During a recent interview with the Philadelphia Daily News , Bernard Hopkins spoke about a possible fight with WBO super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe. Calzaghe has called Hopkins out on a number of occassions, which only made the former middleweight champion angry. Hopkins is not going to return the favor by calling Calzaghe out in the media. He feels that it would only gives Calzaghe more press. If a fight were to take place, it won't be in England. Hopkins demands that Calzaghe travel to America if he really wants the fight.
"I'm not going to give Joe Calzaghe a forum to promote himself off Bernard Hopkins' back," Hopkins said. "I'm not about to say, 'I want him.' Legends don't call out other fighters. I'm not being big-headed. That's just how it is. And I wouldn't go across the water to fight Calzaghe in any case. If he wants superstardom in America, let him come here. They got TVs in England. The money's in pay-per-view, anyway.
A lot has been said about Calzaghe making the 20th defense of his title against Peter Manfredo, Jr. on Saturday. Should Calzaghe win the bout, he would tie Hopkins' record of 20 successful title defenses. It doesn't matter to Hopkins if Calzaghe comes up big in the fight. He made it very clear that he is not impressed with Manfredo, or Calzaghe.
"Calzaghe is just another good - not great - European fighter," Hopkins said. (Manfredo is) too small. Right in front of you. Not a big puncher. Not great defensively. Now, he does have an exciting style, but he's tailor-made for Calzaghe."
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