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Joe Calzaghe has NEVER faced another southpaw in the professional ring.
He has also said he would never like to fight one.
Bernard Hopkins has never lost to a southpaw, having faced 11 of them in his career. But that doesn't faze Calzaghe at all. "I've fought 44 right handers and not lost to one of them either, so I'm not bothered by that stat," he said. Interestingly, Calzaghe's left-handedness came up when it was suggested that he might fight WBC light-heavyweight champion Chad Dawson, or new IBF king Antonio Tarver next. "Why would I want to face a southpaw?" asked Calzaghe. "They are awkward bastards. I enjoy being the awkward bastard in the ring, not the other way around."
For those who like an omen or two before a big fight, how about this one. Joe Cortez, who will be the third man on Saturday night, took charge of Calzaghe's first world title fight, against Chris Eubank way back in 1997. "He showed in the Hatton-Mayweather fight that he doesn't take any messing around," said Calzaghe. "He likes straight up guys so that should be to my advantage."
Calzaghe has come along way since his first professional fight, which was under Mickey Duff. Instead of being paid per fight, Calzaghe drew a weekly wage against his purses, but by the time he signed for Frank Warren was struggling financially, and, says the Welshman, couldn't pay his mortgage. "Looking back, would I change a thing if I could?" asks Calzaghe. "Not at all. I know what it's like to have nothing, to have to graft all the time. I was hungry when I was coming through the ranks, and I've still got that hunger now."
You're Welsh, you're in Las Vegas for Calzaghe-Hopkins, you get to your hotel at 3.30am in the morning, do you: a) get as much sleep as possible b) get the beers in and go through until 8.30am. Our spy in the casino of Planet Hollywood says the answer's b, naturally.
Calzaghe-Hopkins is free to air on HBO and Setanta, but typically, Hopkins chose to put a positive spin on it. "We've got to help people in these times of economic hardship," he said. "We're just trying to do our bit."
Hopkins has two trainers for this fight - Naseem Richardson and Freddie Roach. So, who will take charge in thc corner? It was Roach who wrapped Hopkins' hands at the media work today, and according to the Executioner, he will be the number one on Saturday night.
He has also said he would never like to fight one.
Bernard Hopkins has never lost to a southpaw, having faced 11 of them in his career. But that doesn't faze Calzaghe at all. "I've fought 44 right handers and not lost to one of them either, so I'm not bothered by that stat," he said. Interestingly, Calzaghe's left-handedness came up when it was suggested that he might fight WBC light-heavyweight champion Chad Dawson, or new IBF king Antonio Tarver next. "Why would I want to face a southpaw?" asked Calzaghe. "They are awkward bastards. I enjoy being the awkward bastard in the ring, not the other way around."
For those who like an omen or two before a big fight, how about this one. Joe Cortez, who will be the third man on Saturday night, took charge of Calzaghe's first world title fight, against Chris Eubank way back in 1997. "He showed in the Hatton-Mayweather fight that he doesn't take any messing around," said Calzaghe. "He likes straight up guys so that should be to my advantage."
Calzaghe has come along way since his first professional fight, which was under Mickey Duff. Instead of being paid per fight, Calzaghe drew a weekly wage against his purses, but by the time he signed for Frank Warren was struggling financially, and, says the Welshman, couldn't pay his mortgage. "Looking back, would I change a thing if I could?" asks Calzaghe. "Not at all. I know what it's like to have nothing, to have to graft all the time. I was hungry when I was coming through the ranks, and I've still got that hunger now."
You're Welsh, you're in Las Vegas for Calzaghe-Hopkins, you get to your hotel at 3.30am in the morning, do you: a) get as much sleep as possible b) get the beers in and go through until 8.30am. Our spy in the casino of Planet Hollywood says the answer's b, naturally.
Calzaghe-Hopkins is free to air on HBO and Setanta, but typically, Hopkins chose to put a positive spin on it. "We've got to help people in these times of economic hardship," he said. "We're just trying to do our bit."
Hopkins has two trainers for this fight - Naseem Richardson and Freddie Roach. So, who will take charge in thc corner? It was Roach who wrapped Hopkins' hands at the media work today, and according to the Executioner, he will be the number one on Saturday night.
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