By Mark Vester
Forget IBF light heavyweight champ Chad Dawson, forget Mikkel Kessler and forget a Jermain Taylor trilogy - Bernard Hopkins only has one fight on his mind. Hopkins dominated Kelly Pavlik last October to put himself back in the mix for another big fight. At age 43, Hopkins is only looking for one final fight - and that fight is against Joe Calzaghe.
Calzaghe won a close split decision over Hopkins last April. The Welsh fighter returned in November to dominate Roy Jones Jr. in New York. Last week Calzaghe said that he was relaxing with his family and he was "not thinking about boxing." Since the Jones win, Calzaghe has also said in several interviews that he will never take part in another fight with Hopkins. He called Hopkins a racist, holding an obvious grudge over Hopkins calling him a "white boy."
"Screw Hopkins, man. He got his a*** kicked by a white boy. He's got to accept that. He's an idiot. A complete a**hole. I don't want to give him a rematch. It wouldn't be a good fight. The guy's a racist. He was never going to give me any credit," Calzaghe told The Mirror. "The way he fought against me in Las Vegas was cowardly because he held on all night and feigned being hit by low blows. He tried to steal the fight."
During a recent ESPN chat, Hopkins continued to call for a rematch with Calzaghe.
"[I will only return] if Joe Calzaghe and I can come to an agreement to fight in spring or summer. That's the only fight that means something to boxing or myself. But Joe has to be willing to fight and make it happen. I propose to my handlers and negotiators. Joe and I will go where the money is at. I believe right now that European money is stronger than the dollar. I would fight anywhere. No problem. I suggested that, as a matter of fact," Hopkins said.
"Hopefully Bernard will be fighting Joe Calzaghe and leave the game on top in 2009 at 44 years old."
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