By Mark Vester
In a conversation with The Mirror, recognized light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins promised to rearrange Joe Calzaghe's face if he ever decides to travel across the ocean to America.
"If the people of Wales want their champion to still look handsome then tell him to stay at home. But if he wants a face-lift, then come over to America and I'll rearrange everything for free," Hopkins said. "Calzaghe has called me out and said he's willing to come to the States. Well, I'll be the first to welcome him."
Hopkins, backing up his stance on a 60-40 split of the money, says that Calzaghe, the current WBA/WBC/WBO super middleweight champion, is still unknown to most American fans.
"If Calzaghe stood on Fifth Avenue in New York, no one would know who he is. If I stood in Cardiff city centre I guarantee people would recognize me because of my legendary status," Hopkins said.
Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren shot back. Pointing to 50,000 fans showing up for Calzaghe's bout against Mikkel Kessler as opposed to 10,000 coming to see Hopkins fight Winky Wright.
"How many fans turned out to see Hopkins the last time he fought? It's a fact the attraction has always been his opponent," said Warren.
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