Hopkins wants Calzaghe @ Yankee Stadium...& away we may go!!!

Wish granted: Hopkins open to fight with Calzaghe
By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/box...ory?id=3094912

Less than 10 minutes after dominating Denmark's Mikkel Kessler to win a decision Saturday night before a mammoth hometown crowd of 50,000-plus in Cardiff, Wales, super middleweight world champion Joe Calzaghe was already looking ahead to the man he hopes to fight next.

"Bernard Hopkins. Let's do it," Calzaghe said of the light heavyweight champion during his interview with HBO. "He wants a big fight. Fight me. I'm here, man. At 168 I beat everyone. [If I] step up to 175, with the extra seven pounds, I will be a different animal altogether."

Frank Warren, Calzaghe's longtime promoter, is also eyeing Hopkins.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Bernard Hopkins has no qualms about facing Joe Calzaghe, but the Welshman will have to cross the pond to make it happen.
"He can pick the weight. He can pick the date. He can pick the site," Warren said during the postfight news conference. "We don't care. We want this fight. We'll fight him in his backyard, if that's where he wants it. Joe Calzaghe wants that fight and he deserves it."

On Sunday, Hopkins was licking his chops while thinking about the prospect of the mega fight.

"The best fights are happening and being put together so hopefully, in 2008, we can get in the ring," Hopkins told ESPN.com from his home in Delaware.

"I would love to entertain his request to fight Bernard Hopkins. I think he understands now and [promoter] Frank Warren understands that he needs that final stamp of approval from the American boxing writers and the fans. He doesn't have that name of that elite opponent from America on his resume. Jeff Lacy wasn't a veteran fighter who had achieved a lot before he beat him.

"Bernard Hopkins is the guy that Calzaghe and Frank Warren believe they have to defeat to get that stamp of approval over here in America. Even though Joe had a great performance and took Kessler's game plan away, nobody here knows Kessler. They know Bernard Hopkins."

Hopkins, coming off a July 21 decision win against Winky Wright in his first defense, said he hopes the fight can take place as soon as possible, preferably in the spring.

Hopkins' proposed venue?

"He said after the fight that he would fight me anywhere, even in my backyard, but I'm not asking him to come to Philadelphia," Hopkins said. "I wouldn't ask him to come to anywhere but Yankee Stadium. Hopefully for boxing, and for our legacy, it will happen."

Hopkins is keenly aware of the storied boxing history of the fabled building that will close in 2008. Legends Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali, among others, all fought at Yankee Stadium, and Hopkins wants to be part of a final fight there.

"How great would it be," Hopkins said. "This is a big fight. What a great promotion. The Brits will come. They got a direct flight from there to New York City. So am I interested in the fight? Absolutely. Do I feel I can give him his first loss? Yes. Can I neutralize the best weapon my opponent has and use it against him? Yes. His best weapon is that he throws a lot of punches. I know how to adjust to any style out there."

Calzaghe, 35, has held his title for more than 10 years and made his 21st defense against Kessler, adding the two alphabet belts that Kessler held to his own.

Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) said he has great respect for Calzaghe because he understands how hard it is continually get up for fights. Hopkins made 20 defenses at middleweight and also had a reign that last just over 10 years.

"He's made 21 title defenses, and I don't care if it was against 21 Charlie Browns or Donald Ducks. I know what it is to get up for defense after defense after defense," Hopkins said. "I know what it takes to maintain that mental strength. I'd be a fool to not respect a guy who made all those defenses. I know what he had to do within himself to get up for those fights."

With his career winding down and having accomplished all he can at 168 pounds, Calzaghe is looking to move up in weight to challenge Hopkins, who jumped over super middleweight and easily outpointed Antonio Tarver to win the light heavyweight title in June 2006.

Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs), who has fought all but two of his fights in the UK, has said he hopes to come to the United States for a major fight before his career is over. It's a good thing, because Hopkins has no plans to go to Europe to fight him.

"That's impossible. It won't happen because I don't have to go there," said Hopkins, who has fought twice outside the United States, in Ecuador and France. "He said he would fight me anywhere. I have no interest in going there. Why do I have to go? He has to bring his butt here to fight the living legend Bernard Hopkins. We know he can do well in Britain, but step out of your neighborhood."

That's fine with Calzaghe and Warren.

"Joe Calzaghe will go to the States. He will fight Mr. Hopkins in his hometown," Warren said at the postfight news conference. "He'll go to Philadelphia to fight him. He will fight him anywhere it takes to get the fight on. If Bernard Hopkins is the warrior he says he is, then make the fight. Make that fight with Joe Calzaghe."

Hopkins, notorious for tough deal-making, said he won't be an impediment to making the fight.

"This thing can be easy. No stress," Hopkins, 42, said. "We ain't got to tease the public or go back and forth. My thing is, Joe is a respectful champion and fighter, but you cannot deny that Bernard Hopkins is the guy he needs on his resume. So let's sit down and talk like we all have business sense, and we can get it done.

"If it doesn't happen, I believe the problem at the end of the day will be Frank Warren. I believe Joe wants to fight me. I believe the only person who can stop this is Frank, because he's got one bullet in the chamber, one horse to ride in Joe."

This is not the first time there has been talk about a Hopkins-Calzaghe fight. In July 2002, Hopkins, who was then with promoter Don King, was on the verge of signing a three-fight deal with Showtime, which was televising Calzaghe bouts at the time. In the second fight of the proposed deal, Hopkins would have moved up from middleweight to super middleweight to challenge Calzaghe in early 2003. But the deal imploded when Hopkins, who had initially agreed, backed out.

"That's water under the bridge, and I don't want to go back over it," Hopkins said. "This is a new time, and my thing is, his career is where it is and my career is where it is. We should fight."

I was really thrilled to hear it come from the horses mouth...or from the horses mouth through ESPN. ;D

interesting match, both fighters are effectively awkward.. probably an ugly watch stylistically, hopkins has a bit foul in him, and if provoked Calzaghe will oblige. very interesting match .. foul filled i predict.

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Originally Posted by El Barto

interesting match, both fighters are effectively awkward.. probably an ugly watch stylistically, hopkins has a bit foul in him, and if provoked Calzaghe will oblige. very interesting match .. foul filled i predict.

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Welcome to the forum.

Have the Obligatory Wacko Welcome Wagon :coolclick:

Honestly...I think that this match is going to be fantastic...awkward...YES...fouls...YES...but two Hall of Famers & possibley set @ Yankee Stadium?

FANTASTIC!!!

thank you.. yes an interesting match to be sure !

If B-Hop wins they need to quit f@ckin' around and just rip down that Rocky statue in Philadelphia and put up a bronze Executioner!

Joe would have to be favourite, that bit younger and more active, a lot will depend on whether BHOP is allowed to rough things up or not. This would be a match for the ages. MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Good article Wacko.

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Originally Posted by smashcrusher

If B-Hop wins they need to quit f@ckin' around and just rip down that Rocky statue in Philadelphia and put up a bronze Executioner!

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:coolclick: Agreed. Heh heh heh.

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Originally Posted by eagle

Joe would have to be favourite, that bit younger and more active, a lot will depend on whether BHOP is allowed to rough things up or not. This would be a match for the ages. MAKE IT HAPPEN!

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I think that this will be a great match up...the only thing is...Hopkins WILL be allowed to get ruff...& that aint right. Speaking of which...if he performs like he did against Wright...I hope Joe stretches him out on the mat. That would indeed be a stretch...but Hopkins needs to be ruffed up one good time, IWHO.

Joe could be the fellar to do it.

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Originally Posted by eagle

Good article Wacko.

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Clap for ESPN. Dan Raph's a hell of a scribe.

There is no other choice than Yankee Stadium. It is the dream scenario.

Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren has called a press conference for Tuesday when he is expected to announce the bout, although there are still plenty of major promotional obstacles to overcome.

http://www.sportinglife.com/boxing/n...Nightlead.html

Frank Warren doing everything he can to get the fight on. :)

I hope Hopkins agrees to the fight. I have a feeling it won't happen though.

"If I fight Hopkins, it may not be a great fight because he is a crafty old fighter with cute defence. But who gives a shit? It would be a massive event and the public would love to see it. I will fight anywhere, if the money is right."

Warren's friend Jay Larkin, the former head of Showtime Television, will be asked to negotiate with HBO, the company that now dominates television coverage in the US, and Hopkins' promoters, Golden Boy, over the feasibility of the match and the money required to make it happen.



http://sport.guardian.co.uk/boxing/s...205900,00.html

Maybe it is just me, but I just get the feeling that Hopkins does not want to fight Calzaghe. Something in his words, saying stuff like Calzaghe needs him and then throws in demands. Calzaghe at this point gains really nothing from beating Hopkins in my eyes, but Hopkins will solidify himself if he beats Calzaghe. I guess Hopkins forgets that he is only batting .500 in his last four fights.

I am just getting a weird vibe from Hopkins.

Calzaghe is starstruck. He only wants this fight to satisfy his fantasy of fighting one his heroes. I wouldn't fight any fighter over 40 years of age.

If Calzaghe does fight in the US he will have plenty of support from British fans but he should also play up the Italian angle. That would fill Yankee Stadium.

I feel that Bernard would edge a dirty fight but you never know....

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Originally Posted by smashcrusher

If B-Hop wins they need to quit f@ckin' around and just rip down that Rocky statue in Philadelphia and put up a bronze Executioner!

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Lord knows theyve been looking for any excuse they could find for years.
The whole city hates that f-ing thing,we got Terrible Tim,the Fraziers and Bhop,and the statue is of a character based on a guy from Bayonne New Jersey
Shove a Tasty Cake in its mouth and send it away

I have to be honest here...This fight has been talked about for so long and everytime it looks as though something might be inked ETC...it falls through.....I can not get excited about it until there is a date and the fight is signed in full.....Then I'll start getting into the hype...Until then there are too many other guys out there who are fighting each other not just talking about that they MAY fight or IF this happens we will...Who my efforts can be focused on

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Originally Posted by sexydarin

Calzaghe is starstruck. He only wants this fight to satisfy his fantasy of fighting one his heroes. I wouldn't fight any fighter over 40 years of age.

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Its all about the ££££

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Originally Posted by sexydarin

Calzaghe is starstruck. He only wants this fight to satisfy his fantasy of fighting one his heroes. I wouldn't fight any fighter over 40 years of age.

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Yes thats Mike Moorer's opinion to , no oponant over 40 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

If Joe's only going to close out 2 fights for the rest of his career...I'd love to see him fight Hopkins & depending on how good Roy looks against Tito (I hate to even mention that) then maybe a Roy Jones jr fight...or maybe a 175 title fight against someone like Tarver or Woods or something...I don't know.

It's getting to be slim pickin's right now.

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

If Joe's only going to close out 2 fights for the rest of his career...I'd love to see him fight Hopkins & depending on how good Roy looks against Tito (I hate to even mention that) then maybe a Roy Jones jr fight...or maybe a 175 title fight against someone like Tarver or Woods or something...I don't know.

It's getting to be slim pickin's right now.

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I'd still like to see the RJJ/Calzaghe fight, mostly just because I've always been curious how that one would go. I think it would be a prettier sight than a Bhop/Calzaghe fight, anyway - I expect that one to be mean and ugly.

However, the idea of that fight at Yankee Stadium is pretty appealing...