Hopkins told to put up or shut up

[JJay]

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.

[duffgun]

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.

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 ****** 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.

[NeXt In Line]

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.

[THe TRiNiTY]

It's not about who's esteblished, it's about who generates the money in the fight.

It should be a 50/50 split.

[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 ****** 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.

[NeXt In Line]

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.

[-EX-]

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

[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.

[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

[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.