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April 5th
Joe Calzaghe says he is "100 per cent sure" that he will beat Bernard Hopkins when the pair meet in Las Vegas in a fortnight's time.
The Welshman will be making his debut at the heavier 175lbs limit when he takes on Hopkins in a light-heavyweight contest at the Thomas & Mack Center on April 19.
He insists he will prove stronger and more powerful and says Hopkins faces the prospect of the first knockout loss of his career.
Calzaghe said: "Fighting at 175lbs will be a massive help. I'll be stronger and more hydrated.
Punching power
"My speed will still be there but the big difference will be in my punching power.
"Until you actually fight you don't really know how things will go, but as far as I'm concerned I'll be much better at the weight. I am 100 per cent sure I am going to stop Hopkins and win the fight."
Calzaghe will put the finishing touches to his preparations in Las Vegas with his Cwmcarn stablemates Bradley Pryce and Nathan Cleverley, both of whom also appear on the card.
On the advice of Ricky Hatton, Calzaghe will eschew the bright lights of the Strip hotels to keep a low profile in a rented apartment in the suburbs along with his sparring partners and father and trainer Enzo.
Calzaghe added: "It's going to be a bit different but it's not going to affect me in a bad way. I can't wait to get to Las Vegas and finish off my preparations for the fight.
"People say I haven't travelled much because I don't want to and all that rubbish, but the fact is a lot of the reason I haven't had the big fights abroad is down to the politics.
"I was begging to go to Denmark to fight Mikkel Kessler but it just happened that fight was made in Wales in the end. I'm not bothered where I fight and I'll prove it to the Americans on April 19.
"The only difference is whether the referee or judges will be against you but it won't matter in this fight. I have every respect for (referee) Joe Cortez, and all he'll have to do anyway is count Hopkins out."
Joe Calzaghe says he is "100 per cent sure" that he will beat Bernard Hopkins when the pair meet in Las Vegas in a fortnight's time.
The Welshman will be making his debut at the heavier 175lbs limit when he takes on Hopkins in a light-heavyweight contest at the Thomas & Mack Center on April 19.
He insists he will prove stronger and more powerful and says Hopkins faces the prospect of the first knockout loss of his career.
Calzaghe said: "Fighting at 175lbs will be a massive help. I'll be stronger and more hydrated.
Punching power
"My speed will still be there but the big difference will be in my punching power.
"Until you actually fight you don't really know how things will go, but as far as I'm concerned I'll be much better at the weight. I am 100 per cent sure I am going to stop Hopkins and win the fight."
Calzaghe will put the finishing touches to his preparations in Las Vegas with his Cwmcarn stablemates Bradley Pryce and Nathan Cleverley, both of whom also appear on the card.
On the advice of Ricky Hatton, Calzaghe will eschew the bright lights of the Strip hotels to keep a low profile in a rented apartment in the suburbs along with his sparring partners and father and trainer Enzo.
Calzaghe added: "It's going to be a bit different but it's not going to affect me in a bad way. I can't wait to get to Las Vegas and finish off my preparations for the fight.
"People say I haven't travelled much because I don't want to and all that rubbish, but the fact is a lot of the reason I haven't had the big fights abroad is down to the politics.
"I was begging to go to Denmark to fight Mikkel Kessler but it just happened that fight was made in Wales in the end. I'm not bothered where I fight and I'll prove it to the Americans on April 19.
"The only difference is whether the referee or judges will be against you but it won't matter in this fight. I have every respect for (referee) Joe Cortez, and all he'll have to do anyway is count Hopkins out."
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