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This is a good interview I found from Brad Cooney today:
BC – Freddie thanks for joining BC. You guys are winding down camp, how's B Hop looking?
FR – Camp went well, were backing off now, just sort of light work right now. Working the speed bag, doing a little running, and just pacing this right as the fight closes in on us.
BC – Are you pleased with the camp overall when you look back on it?
FR – Yes, this was a much better camp then we had last time. We had better sparring, and look, we have a difficult job ahead of us. We had Winky Wright last time, and now we got Joe Calzaghe. Everyone is judging Calzaghe on his Jeff Lacy fight, well let me tell you, Bernard Hopkins is a different animal.
BC– What will be the key to Bernard's victory?
FR – Experience. Bernard knows how to handle situations, he'll break him down systematically. I think we'll get him out of there in the later rounds.
BC – Calzaghe has really fast hands......
FR – (Cutting in) Yes, he has fast hands but they are fragile. He doesn't throw a power punch anymore. He throws pitty pat punches, so we'll deal with that and Bernard will be throwing much harder back. Every time he throws pitty pat punches, he will open himself up for a counter puncher, and believe me we will be ready for it.
BC – Hopkins is a master at psychological warfare, do you think he has been successful at getting inside of Calzaghe's head at all?
FR – When the bell rings it doesn't matter anymore. It's about who shows up and who doesn't. Bernard has had a great legendary career, Calzaghe is undefeated and confident. Nobody is scared of nobody. They are two professionals, and they will get in there and fight. Calzaghe isn't a spring chicken anymore either though. It's unbelievable how they think this guy can't get beat, well I think he will be beat.
BC – Recently Bernard fired up the white boys across the boxing land by saying that he's not gonna get beat by no white boy. What are your thoughts on that?
FR – Well I am the only white guy in the camp, and he told everyone that what I say goes. He takes a white guy to be his trainer, and his trust is with me, so it's just about marketing. Don't be offended by what he said, he's just trying to get under Calzaghe's skin, that's all. It sells tickets, and Bernard is the master of that. Calzaghe is ****y, and he's undefeated, but to me it's more that he's confident, and so is Bernard. The fight is going to be a good one to watch, but I don't think it's going to be a toe to toe type of fight. These guys are both very smart fighters, so look for a strategic fight in this one.
BC – What's the latest with Manny Pacquiao
FR – The Pacquiao vs Diaz fight was settled before the Marquez fight. The contracts are made, and negotiations are going on. Manny has agreed to be here 8 weeks before the fight, so that's when I expect him here.
BC – This is a pretty quick turnaround for Manny coming off of the Marquez fight.
FR – It is a quick turnaround, the dates are there for us, so we'll take advantage of it.
BC – After Diaz, pending a victory, what's next?
FR – After we win the 135lb title, I see the next opportunity for us with Ricky Hatton. That's a huge, huge fight for us
BC – Marquez is flying around the globe screaming at Pacquiao to give him a rematch, what are your thoughts on that?
FR – Well Marquez may have gotten his rematch quicker, but since he's crying and jumping up and down whining about a rematch the way he is? Me and Manny discussed this, and at the Penalosa fight, we both agreed that Marquez tried to take Penalosa's thunder away from him in The Philippines. I don't like the way Marquez is going about this, and Manny isn't happy either. Marquez throws a contract at Manny at ringside at Gerry Penalosa's fight, and says, 'sign here I want to fight you.' That's not very respectable.
BC – Do you think Manny would go to England to fight Hatton, if that fight goes through?
FR – Yes, I think we would have to sacrifice that. The thing is when Hatton's people came to Vegas, they had a great time over here, so it could go back to Vegas. It's funny with Calzaghe, where are his fans? I am in Vegas now, I think I saw three Calzaghe fans here. When Ricky Hatton comes to town all of England follows him over here.
BC – Freddie I know it's late out there, so I will let you go. Do you have any closing thoughts for the fans
FR – I want to thank all of the fans for their support. Everybody is treating me great out here, and to all the Pacquiao fans, we are going for the 130lb title, the 135lb belt, and the 140lb belt. That's out goal!
FR – Camp went well, were backing off now, just sort of light work right now. Working the speed bag, doing a little running, and just pacing this right as the fight closes in on us.
BC – Are you pleased with the camp overall when you look back on it?
FR – Yes, this was a much better camp then we had last time. We had better sparring, and look, we have a difficult job ahead of us. We had Winky Wright last time, and now we got Joe Calzaghe. Everyone is judging Calzaghe on his Jeff Lacy fight, well let me tell you, Bernard Hopkins is a different animal.
BC– What will be the key to Bernard's victory?
FR – Experience. Bernard knows how to handle situations, he'll break him down systematically. I think we'll get him out of there in the later rounds.
BC – Calzaghe has really fast hands......
FR – (Cutting in) Yes, he has fast hands but they are fragile. He doesn't throw a power punch anymore. He throws pitty pat punches, so we'll deal with that and Bernard will be throwing much harder back. Every time he throws pitty pat punches, he will open himself up for a counter puncher, and believe me we will be ready for it.
BC – Hopkins is a master at psychological warfare, do you think he has been successful at getting inside of Calzaghe's head at all?
FR – When the bell rings it doesn't matter anymore. It's about who shows up and who doesn't. Bernard has had a great legendary career, Calzaghe is undefeated and confident. Nobody is scared of nobody. They are two professionals, and they will get in there and fight. Calzaghe isn't a spring chicken anymore either though. It's unbelievable how they think this guy can't get beat, well I think he will be beat.
BC – Recently Bernard fired up the white boys across the boxing land by saying that he's not gonna get beat by no white boy. What are your thoughts on that?
FR – Well I am the only white guy in the camp, and he told everyone that what I say goes. He takes a white guy to be his trainer, and his trust is with me, so it's just about marketing. Don't be offended by what he said, he's just trying to get under Calzaghe's skin, that's all. It sells tickets, and Bernard is the master of that. Calzaghe is ****y, and he's undefeated, but to me it's more that he's confident, and so is Bernard. The fight is going to be a good one to watch, but I don't think it's going to be a toe to toe type of fight. These guys are both very smart fighters, so look for a strategic fight in this one.
BC – What's the latest with Manny Pacquiao
FR – The Pacquiao vs Diaz fight was settled before the Marquez fight. The contracts are made, and negotiations are going on. Manny has agreed to be here 8 weeks before the fight, so that's when I expect him here.
BC – This is a pretty quick turnaround for Manny coming off of the Marquez fight.
FR – It is a quick turnaround, the dates are there for us, so we'll take advantage of it.
BC – After Diaz, pending a victory, what's next?
FR – After we win the 135lb title, I see the next opportunity for us with Ricky Hatton. That's a huge, huge fight for us
BC – Marquez is flying around the globe screaming at Pacquiao to give him a rematch, what are your thoughts on that?
FR – Well Marquez may have gotten his rematch quicker, but since he's crying and jumping up and down whining about a rematch the way he is? Me and Manny discussed this, and at the Penalosa fight, we both agreed that Marquez tried to take Penalosa's thunder away from him in The Philippines. I don't like the way Marquez is going about this, and Manny isn't happy either. Marquez throws a contract at Manny at ringside at Gerry Penalosa's fight, and says, 'sign here I want to fight you.' That's not very respectable.
BC – Do you think Manny would go to England to fight Hatton, if that fight goes through?
FR – Yes, I think we would have to sacrifice that. The thing is when Hatton's people came to Vegas, they had a great time over here, so it could go back to Vegas. It's funny with Calzaghe, where are his fans? I am in Vegas now, I think I saw three Calzaghe fans here. When Ricky Hatton comes to town all of England follows him over here.
BC – Freddie I know it's late out there, so I will let you go. Do you have any closing thoughts for the fans
FR – I want to thank all of the fans for their support. Everybody is treating me great out here, and to all the Pacquiao fans, we are going for the 130lb title, the 135lb belt, and the 140lb belt. That's out goal!
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