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Hopkins and Calzaghe battle for legend status-FN
Although it is billed as “Battle of the Planet”, there is so much more on the line for Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe Saturday night.
“One fighter is a legend, and one wants to become a legend,” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer stated at the final press conference held today at Planet Hollywood.
On Saturday, April 19th at the Thomas & Mack arena in Las Vegas, boxing’s living legend, Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) meets “The Pride of Wales” Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) for Hopkins’ light heavyweight championship.
Calzaghe not only promises payback, but also lets it be known that a decision against Hopkins will not suffice.
“I don’t just want to win,” Calzaghe vehemently stated at today’s presser. “I want to knock this guy out and put him back into retirement.”
Calzaghe’s trainer/father, Enzo, presented a walking cane to the 43-year-old Hopkins, as a message that the old dog needs to be put to sleep.
Hopkins laughed it off, reminding both, the Calzaghe camp and the media, that this was the second time he’d received such a “gift” prior to the fight. Before he fought Antonio Tarver, Hopkins received a rocking chair from their camp.
Calzaghe did not mention neither Hopkins’ age, nor his legend status, at the press conference.
“I have no respect for my elders come this Saturday night,” he said. “I’m going to cut 1000 punches down to 500 or 600 punches and make them more powerful, and punish him.”
The undefeated Wales product enters this fight nearly a 3-1 favorite. But if you ask “The Executioner,” that’s just the way he likes it.
“Being an underdog, that’s not a negative to me,” said Hopkins. “That’s a positive. Everything I have I had to fight for.”
At the podium, Hopkins, once again, reminded those present of his past accomplishments—and victories as a so-called underdog, mentioning Felix Trinidad, Winky Wright and Tarver.
“You have seen guys labeled champions, and after they fight Bernard they have never fought the same way,” stated Hopkins’ trainer, ****m Richardson.
“This is going to be my third assassination of a southpaw in the last year and a half,” said Hopkins.
While Calzaghe has a resume no boxing aficionado could downplay (11 years as super middleweight champion), Hopkins feels that the Welsh champ has yet to be tested by a true American boxer.
“The competition that American and British fighters face is night and day,” Hopkins said. “They get the residue of U.S. fighters.”
Hopkins’ credentials and attempts to get into Calzaghe’s mind left “Super Joe” unaffected.
“Bernard had to go to prison to be hard,” he said. “To me that’s a sign of weakness. I don’t have to go to prison to be hard. He’s been to prison, big deal. In the end, you’re going to see a grown man cry.”
Outside of a few verbal jabs, there were no fireworks, though the two stared each other down, unwilling to concede any advantage.
Co-promoter Frank Warren brought up the question of “home field advantage,” mentioning that at least 9,000 Brits are expected to fly in from overseas to root for Calzaghe.
“When I walk in the ring I’m going to be the home fighter,” Calzaghe said. “With the support from my fans.”
Unfazed, Hopkins closed his speech at the podium, stating that the boxing media will miss his presence when he retires, for real.
“ I’ll be able to show the world how I’ll be missed when I leave the sport,” he said. “You’re going to see this athlete and man. It’s going to be an eye opener.
“Every time I’m not supposed to win I step up."
Although it is billed as “Battle of the Planet”, there is so much more on the line for Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe Saturday night.
“One fighter is a legend, and one wants to become a legend,” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer stated at the final press conference held today at Planet Hollywood.
On Saturday, April 19th at the Thomas & Mack arena in Las Vegas, boxing’s living legend, Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) meets “The Pride of Wales” Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) for Hopkins’ light heavyweight championship.
Calzaghe not only promises payback, but also lets it be known that a decision against Hopkins will not suffice.
“I don’t just want to win,” Calzaghe vehemently stated at today’s presser. “I want to knock this guy out and put him back into retirement.”
Calzaghe’s trainer/father, Enzo, presented a walking cane to the 43-year-old Hopkins, as a message that the old dog needs to be put to sleep.
Hopkins laughed it off, reminding both, the Calzaghe camp and the media, that this was the second time he’d received such a “gift” prior to the fight. Before he fought Antonio Tarver, Hopkins received a rocking chair from their camp.
Calzaghe did not mention neither Hopkins’ age, nor his legend status, at the press conference.
“I have no respect for my elders come this Saturday night,” he said. “I’m going to cut 1000 punches down to 500 or 600 punches and make them more powerful, and punish him.”
The undefeated Wales product enters this fight nearly a 3-1 favorite. But if you ask “The Executioner,” that’s just the way he likes it.
“Being an underdog, that’s not a negative to me,” said Hopkins. “That’s a positive. Everything I have I had to fight for.”
At the podium, Hopkins, once again, reminded those present of his past accomplishments—and victories as a so-called underdog, mentioning Felix Trinidad, Winky Wright and Tarver.
“You have seen guys labeled champions, and after they fight Bernard they have never fought the same way,” stated Hopkins’ trainer, ****m Richardson.
“This is going to be my third assassination of a southpaw in the last year and a half,” said Hopkins.
While Calzaghe has a resume no boxing aficionado could downplay (11 years as super middleweight champion), Hopkins feels that the Welsh champ has yet to be tested by a true American boxer.
“The competition that American and British fighters face is night and day,” Hopkins said. “They get the residue of U.S. fighters.”
Hopkins’ credentials and attempts to get into Calzaghe’s mind left “Super Joe” unaffected.
“Bernard had to go to prison to be hard,” he said. “To me that’s a sign of weakness. I don’t have to go to prison to be hard. He’s been to prison, big deal. In the end, you’re going to see a grown man cry.”
Outside of a few verbal jabs, there were no fireworks, though the two stared each other down, unwilling to concede any advantage.
Co-promoter Frank Warren brought up the question of “home field advantage,” mentioning that at least 9,000 Brits are expected to fly in from overseas to root for Calzaghe.
“When I walk in the ring I’m going to be the home fighter,” Calzaghe said. “With the support from my fans.”
Unfazed, Hopkins closed his speech at the podium, stating that the boxing media will miss his presence when he retires, for real.
“ I’ll be able to show the world how I’ll be missed when I leave the sport,” he said. “You’re going to see this athlete and man. It’s going to be an eye opener.
“Every time I’m not supposed to win I step up."