By Mark Vester
In a recent interview with The Guardian , recognized light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins held nothing back when talking about his April 19 showdown with WBA/WBO/WBC super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe in Las Vegas. He also voiced his opinion on the British fans in general.
Hopkins says that when he confronted Calzaghe last December in Las Vegas, and telling the Welsh fighter that he would never "lose to a white boy," Calzaghe's face began to fill with fear. Last week, it was Calzaghe who claimed that Hopkins was the fighter with fear in his eyes.
"I looked him right in his face and said, 'I ain't ever gonna lose to a white boy,'" Hopkins said. "He looked petrified. Scared. Shocked. Uncomfortable. This is what I read in his eyes and his demeanour. Ninety-nine per cent of eye contact gives you a feel for the person you're facing. The first reaction is everything. And even though he will fight it, there is fear inside him - not of me but fear of defeat. A guy that never lost fears losing. But I have nothing to lose. I go into that ring fighting like I fought from day one when I came out of the penitentiary."
"He now has to train on emotion, to show that this white guy can beat me. That statement was important because he understands that I walk a dangerous line. It's dangerous because writers can twist it anyhow they want to. But isn't this, strangely enough, what Bernard needs to do to keep himself focused?"
Hopkins then spoke about the rivalry between Americans and Brits, and plans to use that rivalry to his advantage. He also notes that British fighters are known for getting exposed on the highest level and that is their ultimate downfall in the sport.
"You gotta understand that this thing now is also going to become a little ugly as we go on this press tour. A good percentage of Brits don't like Americans. In some ways we think we're better than them. In a lot of ways they think they're better than us," Hopkins said.
"This goes back in time with the Brits. They're very arrogant. They got this disposition about themselves. I'm going to bring out the worst in them because I'm going to need that - to fuel the fire. That's also promotional thinking, making this fight as huge as it possibly can be. But I'm not creating a false impression. They've already booed the national anthem [before Hatton fought Mayweather]. And the Brit fighter has always been known for being exposed at the highest level. That's their biggest downfall."
In a near evil tone, Hopkins presented his gameplan to viciously punish Calzaghe to the point where his father and trainer, Enzo, would be forced to run in the ring to stop the fight in order to prevent further punishment.
"I gotta get to the father. Punish him and take Joe to a place he never been. [Enzo] will become more of a dad on April 19. They're very close. Listen, they kiss each other on the mouth before every fight. That's love. That's blood. What man wants his son badly hurt? It's not going to be easy but they're going to see blood and busted up marks they've never seen. And, y'know, Joe takes pride in his good looks. I never took pride in that. I understand what God made me look like. This is the Executioner's resumé: take his speed, take his looks, and the father comes in to save him."
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