Bernard Hopkins vs Joe Calzaghe ['08]
- Thread starter 2-0-Sixx
- Start date
Not to take anything away from Winky, but this just seems pointless. Looks like Joe wants to fight him next, not bernard, jones jr, chad dawson, etc.
This futher proves my point that Joe was/is ducking Bernard. Joe said it was about money, well, a fight with Winky would certainly be less money!
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Winky Wright Willing To Accept Calzaghe Fight
By Mark Vester
Dan Birmingham, trainer of Winky Wright, told BBC Sport Wales that his fighter is more than willing to accept a fight with WBO/WBA/WBC super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe in the first quarter of 2008.
In a recent interview, Calzaghe expressed his interest in defending his titles in the early part of 2008 to stay busy while waiting for a fight with light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins wants to return to the ring in either June or July, while Calzaghe wants to come back in March or April.
Calzaghe mentioned Wright as a possible opponent for the fight. According to Birmingham, Wright would have no problem with the date, or taking the fight in the UK.
"It could definitely be made and it would be a truly great match-up," Birmingham said. "It would be an honour and a pleasure for us to come over there and face Joe, who I consider one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. It would have to be on the right terms and at the right weight. Winky was too heavy against Hopkins and it was an ugly fight."
Birmingham feels that Calzaghe would much match up better with Wright, making the bout a more exciting affair than the Hopkins snoozer.
"The two southpaws would match up well. Winky has really good hand speed and movement and a lot of experience. He only wants the big fights and there aren't many bigger than Calzaghe. Calzaghe is a master of distance and timing, with great speed, chin and heart. He doesn't look intimidating, but when he gets into the ring he always takes care of business. I have a lot of respect for him. Winky is used to fighting overseas, so coming to the UK would not be a problem. We know all about what Calzaghe can do, but he should be concerned about what Winky can do."
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Hopkins: "No Jones, Trinidad, I Want Calzaghe!"
By Mark Vester
Light heavyweight champ Bernard Hopkins is not looking for the winner of Roy Jones Jr vs. Felix Trinidad. The veteran fighter is only interested in placing the first blemish on the undefeated record of undisputed super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe.
Hopkins told BBC Sport that he would love to face Calzaghe on date falling near July 4 (Independence Day) in America.
"If he's willing to come here, we can get the ball rolling. The man went on national TV and said: 'Bernard don't have to come over to the UK, I'll fight him in his backyard'. I hope some discussions take place while he's here and we can get the next big Europe-America fight on," Hopkins said. "The fight would be at 175lb for my undisputed light-heavyweight championship. I'll be ready when Calzaghe gets to Vegas, I'm always ready. If you want a time-frame, spring or June. I'd love it to be close to 4 July, because there's a lot of American history involved.
"I'm not interested in Roy Jones or Felix Trinidad, I've been there, done that. Joe's undefeated and I want to be the one who gets rid of his '0'. That would be an accomplishment at this late stage in my career - I'm 43 on 15 January. I need a reason to get up at 5.30 in the morning. I need to say 'this guy has a zero that I can turn into a one' to get me the hell out of bed."
Golden Boy Promotions recently made an offer to Calzaghe for the fight, which he shot down, because the amount of money being offered was lower than what he made for his Nov. 3 bout with Mikkel Kessler. The bigger problem is the date of the fight. Calzaghe has no interest in waiting until July or even June to fight again. In a recent interview, Calzaghe expressed his intention in making another fight at 168 to stay busy.
This futher proves my point that Joe was/is ducking Bernard. Joe said it was about money, well, a fight with Winky would certainly be less money!
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Winky Wright Willing To Accept Calzaghe Fight
By Mark Vester
Dan Birmingham, trainer of Winky Wright, told BBC Sport Wales that his fighter is more than willing to accept a fight with WBO/WBA/WBC super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe in the first quarter of 2008.
In a recent interview, Calzaghe expressed his interest in defending his titles in the early part of 2008 to stay busy while waiting for a fight with light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins wants to return to the ring in either June or July, while Calzaghe wants to come back in March or April.
Calzaghe mentioned Wright as a possible opponent for the fight. According to Birmingham, Wright would have no problem with the date, or taking the fight in the UK.
"It could definitely be made and it would be a truly great match-up," Birmingham said. "It would be an honour and a pleasure for us to come over there and face Joe, who I consider one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. It would have to be on the right terms and at the right weight. Winky was too heavy against Hopkins and it was an ugly fight."
Birmingham feels that Calzaghe would much match up better with Wright, making the bout a more exciting affair than the Hopkins snoozer.
"The two southpaws would match up well. Winky has really good hand speed and movement and a lot of experience. He only wants the big fights and there aren't many bigger than Calzaghe. Calzaghe is a master of distance and timing, with great speed, chin and heart. He doesn't look intimidating, but when he gets into the ring he always takes care of business. I have a lot of respect for him. Winky is used to fighting overseas, so coming to the UK would not be a problem. We know all about what Calzaghe can do, but he should be concerned about what Winky can do."
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Hopkins: "No Jones, Trinidad, I Want Calzaghe!"
By Mark Vester
Light heavyweight champ Bernard Hopkins is not looking for the winner of Roy Jones Jr vs. Felix Trinidad. The veteran fighter is only interested in placing the first blemish on the undefeated record of undisputed super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe.
Hopkins told BBC Sport that he would love to face Calzaghe on date falling near July 4 (Independence Day) in America.
"If he's willing to come here, we can get the ball rolling. The man went on national TV and said: 'Bernard don't have to come over to the UK, I'll fight him in his backyard'. I hope some discussions take place while he's here and we can get the next big Europe-America fight on," Hopkins said. "The fight would be at 175lb for my undisputed light-heavyweight championship. I'll be ready when Calzaghe gets to Vegas, I'm always ready. If you want a time-frame, spring or June. I'd love it to be close to 4 July, because there's a lot of American history involved.
"I'm not interested in Roy Jones or Felix Trinidad, I've been there, done that. Joe's undefeated and I want to be the one who gets rid of his '0'. That would be an accomplishment at this late stage in my career - I'm 43 on 15 January. I need a reason to get up at 5.30 in the morning. I need to say 'this guy has a zero that I can turn into a one' to get me the hell out of bed."
Golden Boy Promotions recently made an offer to Calzaghe for the fight, which he shot down, because the amount of money being offered was lower than what he made for his Nov. 3 bout with Mikkel Kessler. The bigger problem is the date of the fight. Calzaghe has no interest in waiting until July or even June to fight again. In a recent interview, Calzaghe expressed his intention in making another fight at 168 to stay busy.
Hopkins finds Joe in Vegas!!
Hopkins taunts 'white' Calzaghe
American Bernard Hopkins insisted he "would never lose to a white person" when he came face-to-face with Joe Calzaghe in Las Vegas on Friday.
And the pair almost came to blows at the MGM Grand ahead of Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather's weigh-in.
"I would never let me a white boy beat me," Hopkins said five times.
"You can print that. I would never lose to a white person. He said on record that he's going to take the fight and that's all you need to hear.
"I haven't ducked nobody in my career, my credibility is intact. Kessler is not in my league, man. Who is Kessler? You think Kessler was a true warrior?"
Calzaghe and Hopkins caused such a commotion in the MGM Grand media centre that former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis broke off an interview nearby to listen, as dozens of journalists circled the pair.
"He ducked me four years ago," said Welshman Calzaghe. "He thinks he's a legend but he lost to Jermain Taylor twice and, believe me, he will lose to me.
"He will not beat me throwing 12 punches a round. I throw 1,000 punches a fight. He'll get his arse kicked, full stop.
"I'm undefeated for 17 years - look at his face and look at mine. He's all mouth. When he fights he doesn't fight, he holds.
"He's 42 and can't throw the punches like me, and if we do fight he's going to get beat."
Former middleweight king Hopkins, now campaigning at light-heavy, has a career record of 48 wins, four losses and a draw from 54 fights.
Promoter Frank Warren confirmed an offer had been made to Hopkins and he was awaiting a reply.
He said: "We know Bernard wants the fight in America and we're happy with that. We've made him a good offer and we'll make it happen."
Hopkins taunts 'white' Calzaghe
American Bernard Hopkins insisted he "would never lose to a white person" when he came face-to-face with Joe Calzaghe in Las Vegas on Friday.
And the pair almost came to blows at the MGM Grand ahead of Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather's weigh-in.
"I would never let me a white boy beat me," Hopkins said five times.
"You can print that. I would never lose to a white person. He said on record that he's going to take the fight and that's all you need to hear.
"I haven't ducked nobody in my career, my credibility is intact. Kessler is not in my league, man. Who is Kessler? You think Kessler was a true warrior?"
Calzaghe and Hopkins caused such a commotion in the MGM Grand media centre that former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis broke off an interview nearby to listen, as dozens of journalists circled the pair.
"He ducked me four years ago," said Welshman Calzaghe. "He thinks he's a legend but he lost to Jermain Taylor twice and, believe me, he will lose to me.
"He will not beat me throwing 12 punches a round. I throw 1,000 punches a fight. He'll get his arse kicked, full stop.
"I'm undefeated for 17 years - look at his face and look at mine. He's all mouth. When he fights he doesn't fight, he holds.
"He's 42 and can't throw the punches like me, and if we do fight he's going to get beat."
Former middleweight king Hopkins, now campaigning at light-heavy, has a career record of 48 wins, four losses and a draw from 54 fights.
Promoter Frank Warren confirmed an offer had been made to Hopkins and he was awaiting a reply.
He said: "We know Bernard wants the fight in America and we're happy with that. We've made him a good offer and we'll make it happen."
Hopkins-Calzaghe Agree To a 50-50 Split
Recommend this page Printable version Search BoxingScene Database
By Mark Vester
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, revealed that Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe have agreed on a 50-50 split for a potential fight, at light heavyweight, in 2008. Talks between Golden Boy and promoter Frank Warren are ongoing to make the fight on American soil.
Talks hit a roadblock in the last few weeks with the money, first with Hopkins demanding a 60-40 split and then Golden Boy offering Calzaghe less money than what he previously made for Mikkel Kessler on November 3.
Cooler heads have prevailed and all parties involved are hoping the fight can made before the end of the year. Over the weekend, Hopkins and Calzaghe made headlines around the world when they verbally clashed in Las Vegas, adding more hype to the fight.
Recommend this page Printable version Search BoxingScene Database
By Mark Vester
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, revealed that Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe have agreed on a 50-50 split for a potential fight, at light heavyweight, in 2008. Talks between Golden Boy and promoter Frank Warren are ongoing to make the fight on American soil.
Talks hit a roadblock in the last few weeks with the money, first with Hopkins demanding a 60-40 split and then Golden Boy offering Calzaghe less money than what he previously made for Mikkel Kessler on November 3.
Cooler heads have prevailed and all parties involved are hoping the fight can made before the end of the year. Over the weekend, Hopkins and Calzaghe made headlines around the world when they verbally clashed in Las Vegas, adding more hype to the fight.
Hopkins-Calzaghe: Close For April 12 in Vegas
By Mark Vester
Various UK sources are reporting that WBO/WBA/WBC super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32KOs) will move up in weight to challenge light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32KOs) on April 12 in Las Vegas. The venue has not been set, although the MGM Grand and the Mandalay Bay are the two frontrunners.
The fight is close to being finalized with an official announcement possibly coming within the next two weeks. Back in December, the fighters agreed on a 50-50 split for the bout, with Calzaghe making a career-high purse.
By Mark Vester
Various UK sources are reporting that WBO/WBA/WBC super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32KOs) will move up in weight to challenge light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32KOs) on April 12 in Las Vegas. The venue has not been set, although the MGM Grand and the Mandalay Bay are the two frontrunners.
The fight is close to being finalized with an official announcement possibly coming within the next two weeks. Back in December, the fighters agreed on a 50-50 split for the bout, with Calzaghe making a career-high purse.
Bernard Hopkins Explains “White Boy” Comment
By Mark Vester
In a recent interview with Bernard Fernandez of the Philadelphia Daily News, light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) discusses one of the more controversial comments that he’s ever made.
During last December’s weigh-in for Mayweather-Hatton in Las Vegas, Hopkins told super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 Kos) that he would “never lose to white boy,” a comment aimed at Calzaghe’s skin color.
Speaking with Fernandez, Hopkins said the comment was not meant to be taken as a racial slur or a reflection of his feelings on white fighters. It was simply said to create some hype for his April 19 mega-bout with Calzaghe. Based on the public’s reaction to the comment, he feels the plan worked.
"One of my best friends is Dave Tiberi (former middleweight contender), who is white," Hopkins said. “Dave used to tell me about the [racial taunts] he had to go through when he trained at Champ's Gym in North Philly. Fighters say things, but it isn't always what it seems. It's just another way of talking trash. It doesn't mean I think white guys can't fight. I know better than that.”
"Look, Larry Bird was one of the greatest basketball players ever, but Isiah Thomas said that if he were black, he'd be just another player. Call it talking smack, call it a cultural thing. Whatever it is, it raises the stakes."
Based on past events, Hopkins feels the entire black-white angle will make his fight with Calzaghe even bigger.
"People choose up sides for whatever reason," Hopkins said. "Go back to Ingemar Johansson and Floyd Patterson. A lot of [white] Americans were for Johansson instead of for Patterson. Go back to Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney. That fight split along racial lines, with black people for Holmes and white people for Cooney.
"Those guys became very good friends afterwards, but their fights sold better because of the black-white thing. This is not anything new."
By Mark Vester
In a recent interview with Bernard Fernandez of the Philadelphia Daily News, light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) discusses one of the more controversial comments that he’s ever made.
During last December’s weigh-in for Mayweather-Hatton in Las Vegas, Hopkins told super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 Kos) that he would “never lose to white boy,” a comment aimed at Calzaghe’s skin color.
Speaking with Fernandez, Hopkins said the comment was not meant to be taken as a racial slur or a reflection of his feelings on white fighters. It was simply said to create some hype for his April 19 mega-bout with Calzaghe. Based on the public’s reaction to the comment, he feels the plan worked.
"One of my best friends is Dave Tiberi (former middleweight contender), who is white," Hopkins said. “Dave used to tell me about the [racial taunts] he had to go through when he trained at Champ's Gym in North Philly. Fighters say things, but it isn't always what it seems. It's just another way of talking trash. It doesn't mean I think white guys can't fight. I know better than that.”
"Look, Larry Bird was one of the greatest basketball players ever, but Isiah Thomas said that if he were black, he'd be just another player. Call it talking smack, call it a cultural thing. Whatever it is, it raises the stakes."
Based on past events, Hopkins feels the entire black-white angle will make his fight with Calzaghe even bigger.
"People choose up sides for whatever reason," Hopkins said. "Go back to Ingemar Johansson and Floyd Patterson. A lot of [white] Americans were for Johansson instead of for Patterson. Go back to Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney. That fight split along racial lines, with black people for Holmes and white people for Cooney.
"Those guys became very good friends afterwards, but their fights sold better because of the black-white thing. This is not anything new."
Calzaghe vs Hopkins press conference. First time meeting face to face since the confrontation in Vegas during the Mayweather/Hatton fight.
Bernard Hopkins says he's going to give Joe Calzaghe his first loss when they meet April 19. Calazghe says he'll end Hopkins' career.
The two fighters, who have a combined 40 title defenses, will meet at light-heavyweight in Las Vegas on April 19 in a non-title bout.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 7: Bernard Hopkins (L) has a laugh with Joe Calzaghe's dad and trainer Enzo Calzaghe during a press conference at Planet Holywood on February 7, 2008 in London, England.
Bernard Hopkins says he's going to give Joe Calzaghe his first loss when they meet April 19. Calazghe says he'll end Hopkins' career.
The two fighters, who have a combined 40 title defenses, will meet at light-heavyweight in Las Vegas on April 19 in a non-title bout.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 7: Bernard Hopkins (L) has a laugh with Joe Calzaghe's dad and trainer Enzo Calzaghe during a press conference at Planet Holywood on February 7, 2008 in London, England.
1). He is the Light Heavyweight Champion of the world (holds the only meaningful belt, The Ring championship, taken from Tarver which he got from Roy Jones jr. Source) and currently ranked P4P champion at light heavyweight by the Ring magazine, ESPN and Yahoo sports (among every other major sporting outlet).
2). 60/40 split I thought was a good deal, considering they are fighting for Hopkins belt (light heavy), and considering Calzaghe vs Kessler was the worst rated boxing event in the history of HBO boxing. Hopkins is clearly the big name (unless they were fighting in Wales, which they are not). Regardless, it's 50/50 now
2). 60/40 split I thought was a good deal, considering they are fighting for Hopkins belt (light heavy), and considering Calzaghe vs Kessler was the worst rated boxing event in the history of HBO boxing. Hopkins is clearly the big name (unless they were fighting in Wales, which they are not). Regardless, it's 50/50 now
I think so too, but whatever. Hopkins said yesterday that he's going to bet a lot of money on himself to win since he'll be the underdog, so he can win that money back if he can pull it off. He did the same shit against Trinidad when he was an underdog (I think $250,000), ODH ($100,000) and also against Tarver, if I'm not mistaken.