Hopkins told to put up or shut up

JJay18y ago

Joe Calzaghe's camp have told Bernard Hopkins to put up or shut up. The 42-year-old American last night responded to Calzaghe's challenge and declared he is ready to fight the new undisputed world super-middleweight champion. But despite positive noises from both camps, it would appear some tough negotiations lie ahead before any deal can be done. Hopkins remains a big name in the United States, largely for his exploits as an explosive middleweight champion between 1995 and 2005. But promoter Frank Warren warned Hopkins any deal would have to reflect Calzaghe is now the draw after his weekend victory over Mikkel Kessler was shown live on prime-time American television. And Warren indicated that if Hopkins ducks the fight, it would be because "he knows he will be beaten by Joe Calzaghe". Warren said: "The ball is in his court. What has he got ahead of him? He has a rematch with Winky Wright, which I am sure Prozac would be queuing up to sponsor, or he has a fight with Chad Dawson which no-one cares about. "Bernard keeps saying what a big name he is. But is he a big-name fighter? Does he draw crowds like these other fighters? No he doesn't. "Taking Joe on means that if there is £100 on the table, he can't take £99 of it. He is not the attraction. "Joe Calzaghe has had a couple of fights now that have gone out on prime-time American TV and he delivered the goods, against Jeff Lacey and against Kessler. "We will go to the States, no problem. It will generate more money here but it is not about that. It is about getting the fight on. "The indications are we have got a chance of doing this." Warren is aiming for a date in March or April and made initial contact with Hopkins' representatives yesterday. Calzaghe would be prepared to fight in the United States for the first time and even move up to light-heavyweight if necessary. Warren added: "Bernard Hopkins is a student of boxing and he knows that he will be beaten by Joe Calzaghe. That is why I think we will struggle to get him to claim this fight." Hopkins is known to be a tough negotiator and Warren had his fingers burned five years ago when the American suddenly doubled his demands just 24 hours after a deal to fight Calzaghe had been agreed. Meanwhile, the impact of Calzaghe's victory over Kessler at the Millennium Stadium in the early hours of Sunday morning continues to grow. The Welshman will tomorrow receive the congratulations of the Prince of Wales in a special meeting at Cardiff Castle and, significantly, the BBC have secured the rights to show a re-run of the Kessler fight in full on Saturday afternoon. The fight will follow Football Focus and marks the return of boxing to a prime-time BBC1 slot following the departure of former controller Peter Fincham, who Warren believes was not a fan of the sport. More 300,000 tuned in to watch the fight live on Setanta - the channel received record subscriptions last week - and Warren is convinced boxing has a much larger place in the fabric of British sport than is often recognised.

Comments (20)

mick66

Hopkins will be fooked if he takes this fight.... I'd love to see this fight...But if he backed out 5 years ago...He'll shit a brick now.. And Calzaghe would make more money in the Uk....He'd go to the US...just to kick Hopkins ass... Still wouldn't be enough for people on this site mind..

18y ago

warp1432

Yet his biggest wins are Bika, Manfredo, Lacy and Kessler (who himself had beat absolutely no one) :cool: . You forgot Eubank and Reid. And manfredo? Calzaghe has some higher ranked names then him. And yes, Kessler beat people also.

18y ago

Unseen

Yet his biggest wins are Bika, Manfredo, Lacy and Kessler (who himself had beat absolutely no one) :cool: . forget about his wins, do you think he can beat those 3? ofcourse you need to use who someone has beaten as guidance but i think joe is good.

18y ago

raysan

Borenard fucked this up 5 years ago with his ridiculous demands. He didn't want the fight then so why will he want it now? He knows Joe is going to beat him. Joe is better than Winky , Taylor and Tarver. Joe's workrate is too much. Yet his biggest wins are Bika, Manfredo, Lacy and Kessler (who himself had beat absolutely no one) :cool: .

18y ago

kayjay

Hopkins is purposely pricing himself out because he doesn't want Calzaghe to embarrass him in the usa. I knew this fight wasn't going to be made. Hopkins is all talk, and should obviously retire. C'mon that's ridiculous. I would never pick Hopkins to beat Calzaghe, but Hopkins is no coward. Hopkins has big balls, you could send five guys in the ring with him and he's going to strut confidently to his right and cock his hands. Hopkins called Calzaghe out from the ring this summer. I've no doubt he meant it.

18y ago

KingTito

this is ridiculous, i'm sick of this make the money and venue right bullshit.. just get the fight on, but i guess it's not that simple, it's still a business, i just hope that they can work something out, and i'm sure they will

18y ago

2TOUGH3583

I understand that he says Joey isn't a bum, who should get like 20%, but there's no way Joey's more established than Bernard. 10 year middle weight champ vs 10 year super middle weight champ 50/50 SPLIT

18y ago

Unseen

So because Joe has faught on primtime television, he is now the draw? Bernard has done millions on PPV, is the guy retarded. Millions on PPV>55,000 of your hometown crowd showing up to watch you fight. 60/40 is fair for Hopkins, i just hope he isnt too stubborn to not make this fight happen. yeah but joe is also an undisputed super middle weight champ. he's got a fairly exciting style and has beaten manfredo and bika who are kinda famous from the contender in the US i assume. they aint big names but kidna amke joe stand out? if not then maybe jeff lacy and kessler repeats will make him stand out. anyway i don't think hopkins will sell that many ppv's since he fought winky.

18y ago

raysan

18y ago

FOS

Calzaghe would make more money from a rematch with Kesler, fuck Hopkins and the yankee stadium, lets fill Wembley.

18y ago

El_Jesus

You protect bernard because he is black, if hopkins was white. You wouldn't really give a fuck about boring ass bernard. its not that, its just...youre calling a man whos been stabbed, shot at, been to the state pen and is a professional fighter a "bitch", theres just something not right about that. i doubt it..he'd get sued. "Touch me an I'll sue ".. lol dude wasnt even in the sequal so you know he didint get shit

18y ago

Unseen

Even if you have lost all respect for "bitchnard", 60/40 says hed make you his bitch anally regardless. i mean 50/50 sounds fair to me. i eman if he wnats the fight then the 20% difference won't mean much to him.

18y ago

El_Jesus

Hopkins is ducking Calzaghe once again. He is a coward, 50/50 or no fight. Fuck Hopkins. I've lost all respect for Bitchnard. You know how dead Hopkins is in America? Most boxing fans didn't even go to his last match. If this fight happens Calzaghe will be the draw in bringing the Americans to the fight not Bitchnard. Even if you have lost all respect for "bitchnard", 60/40 says hed make you his bitch anally regardless.

18y ago

SHB

50:50. Hopkins brings the legacy, Calzaghe brings the gold, the P4P standing, probably the money and is conceding home advantage. Shouldn't be any other way. This was just in response to Hopkins' earlier comments. Its called negotiating folks.

18y ago

Unseen

Give Hopkins time. Calzaghe-Kessler was just a few days ago. I wouldn't expect Bernard to make a decision that quickly. erm bernard has already called joe out after his winky fight i believe? frank warren i guess is abit pissed because if it is true that hopkinds demanded double the money when they had a deal then ofcourse he doesn't wanna get burnt.

18y ago

deevel79

I say it goes about 60/40 for Hopkins, although 50/50 could be another way to do it. I remember Hopkins arguing with Roy Jones about it being 50/50. Its about who'd gonna put asses in seats, and who's the draw. Bhop is hardly a draw. Joe just filled a stadium with 55k fans at 1am. Given Bhop's accomplishments, and Joe's drawing power, i feel 50/50 is what it should be.

18y ago

crillz

as I have said before Bernard CAN go the distance just due purely to his tough and rugged chin and overall endurance BUT I just can't see him beating Joe.. Joe is too versatile for a guy that is fading quick at 42 (or 43, I forget at the moment), against Wink Bernard BARELY got past him and Wink is known for being just a defensive fighter so imagine against a mix of BOTH an offensive and a defensive fighter who is VERY clever in his attack, has enough power to hurt B-Hop and has been undefeated his whole career? it just doesn't look good for B-Hop because he doesn't have the tools left to defeat a Joe Calzaghe.. I would be ASTONISHED, literally amazed to see Bernard oull a W out of his ass against Joe, I would rank B-Hop VERY high in my all time greats thats for damn sure.. 100

18y ago

Super_Lightweight

Frank Warren is one bloated SOB full of hot air. He needs to step down and chill out. All this posturing on his part is not going to help anything. Hopkins wants the fight. Joe wants the fight. Just let it happen and don't let your defensiveness get in the way.

18y ago

Give Hopkins time. Calzaghe-Kessler was just a few days ago. I wouldn't expect Bernard to make a decision that quickly.

18y ago

El_Jesus

what does he mean by any deal would have to reflect calzaghe as the main draw i presume this means that warren will offer hopkins a stupid purse and say the fight should be in wales. calzaghe should drop this idiot warren and do the deal him self. sounds like warren is already trying to make an excuse for not making the fight. i agree, i think warren ruined calzhage's career because if he wasnt under him, by 28 hed be here like hatton doing his thing.

18y ago