By Mark Vester

Speaking with The Sun, light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins stood his ground when asked about the remark he made to Joe Calzaghe last December in Las Vegas. During an exchange of words at last year's Mayweather-Hatton event, Hopkins said "I ain't ever gonna lose to a white boy."

Hopkins told the paper that his comment should not be taken as racist. He explained that where he comes from, it's "unacceptable to lose" to a white fighter. Hopkins, who said he was playing head games, will collide with Calzaghe on April 19 in Las Vegas.

"I wanted to test the pulse. I knew it would get under his skin and it did. I smell fear in people that others can't because of where I've come from. Everyone knows I'm not a racist. Most of my team are white and that includes my coach. What I said was a social comment," Hopkins said.

"Where I come from, in the North Philly projects, in the State Penitentiary and especially in the boxing rings, I never saw a white face. So it's unacceptable to me that a white guy can defeat me after where I've had to drag myself up from."

"Whatever Joe throws at me in the ring, it's nothing compared with what I've faced up to and managed to overcome in life. Pretty soon after the first bell sounds, Joe's going to realize he's got one hell of a fight on his hands. That's why there's only one ending to this story. You know it, I know it and deep down, so does Joe Calzaghe."

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