Bernard Hopkins offers Calzaghe $8 million!!

ATLANTIC CITY--Bernard Hopkins tells Boxingconfidential.com that he and Oscar de la Hoya have made "a buyout offer" to Frank Warren and Joe Calzaghe to come to the United States next June for a BHop-Calzaghe super fight.

Hopkins, 43 and going on 44, said the Golden Boy offer is for more money than Joe. C. Wales has ever made in any bout. Hopkins said. Hopkins would not be specify about the amount but other sources tell us the guaranteed purse for Calzaghe would be about $8 million or about four million in British Pound Sterling. There might be, the source said, an additional $2 million available to go directly into Warren's pocket.

The world champ from nearby Philadelphia said that by a "buyout offer" he meant that GBP would be the sole promoter of the event and that he and de la Hoya would be paying a flat fee to Calzaghe and Warren. What may be a problematic isssue is that Warren is likely to insist on keeping the United Kingdom and other TV rights.

"The offer we put on the table is one they can't refuse," Hopkins said. "If Joe does refuse it, then the world will know that all they are doing is talking and issuing press releases. If they turn this down, then that means they never wanted to fight me."

Naturally, Warren and Calzaghe will argue that Calzaghe-Hopkins should happen in Wales where Calzaghe-Mikkel Kessler drew more than 50,000 paying fans at Milennium Stadium.

Over to you, Joe and Frank.

Source: Michael Marley (Boxing Confidential)

Calzaghe needs to say fuck Warren and sign for the fight.

I agree Calzaghe needs to force Warren's hand to take the fight.
A fight with a ring legend like Hopkins is the kind of fight Calzaghe needs to strengthen his own legacy.

Totally agree, Calzaghe should fight for his legacy now and not the money, saying that 4 million in the bank is a very, very nice. I would love Joe to beat Hopkins in his own backyard but I cant see it happening!!

If thats true, Calzaghe shouldn't need to Force Warren's hand, as Warren is getting $2m to do fuck all really.

I guess it's on then!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boxerharvey

Totally agree, Calzaghe should fight for his legacy now and not the money, saying that 4 million in the bank is a very, very nice. I would love Joe to beat Hopkins in his own backyard but I cant see it happening!!

---

Cant see what happening? The fight or calzaghe beating hopkins?

Calzaghe will smash hopkins all over the ring. It will not go 12 rounds.

I mean i cant see Calzaghe fighting in Hopkins backyard, I think Calzaghe beats Hopkins anyday!!

B-Hop get koed some how i dont see that happening especially when Calzaghe isnt a big puncher. It ll be a slow paced fight with Hopkins throwing single shot and joe throwing his quick flurries every now and then probably doing enough for UD based on his workrate

Hopkins will try to rough Calzaghe up and be as dirty as he can! Calzaghe will win by UD.

Calzaghe has difficulty with rough and "dirty" fighters. ie Bika & Salem.
The wiliest of all of these "special brand" of fighters is Hopkins.
I hope Joe is ready.

This match really doesn't interest me...I can see it being a snoozer. Well maybe not a snoozer but an ugly ugly fight.
For the money and the legacy though I guess Joe will want to take it.

How much would Warren be effectively losing by allowing GBP to buy him out of the promotion for £1m? Sounds like a bit of a bum deal for Warren and it's a bit cheeky for Hopkins to imply that Calzaghe would be ducking him, when with this offer the are really taking the decision away from Calzaghe.

First and foremost, Michael Marley is a clown

If I know Frank Warren...he'll turn this down...& honestly...that may very well have been what Hopkins was thinking.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wacko3205

If I know Frank Warren...he'll turn this down...& honestly...that may very well have been what Hopkins was thinking.

---

Possible......Could you imagine if Warren was Hopkins promoter ::**...the guy would never have a fight!!!!!....the two worst negotiator's in Boxing history!!!

Whenever these wheelers-and-dealers say - "The offer we put on the table is one they can't refuse" - you can guarantee it's not the best deal to be had.. especially if Hopkins said it. ;)

Plus Hopkins wanted a 60-40 cut didn't he? So he wants at least $12m. At least he's consistent at the double-up.. $3m. $6m. $12m. ;D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Violent Demise

ATLANTIC CITY--Bernard Hopkins tells Boxingconfidential.com that he and Oscar de la Hoya have made "a buyout offer" to Frank Warren and Joe Calzaghe to come to the United States next June for a BHop-Calzaghe super fight.

Hopkins, 43 and going on 44, said the Golden Boy offer is for more money than Joe. C. Wales has ever made in any bout. Hopkins said. Hopkins would not be specify about the amount but other sources tell us the guaranteed purse for Calzaghe would be about $8 million or about four million in British Pound Sterling. There might be, the source said, an additional $2 million available to go directly into Warren's pocket.

The world champ from nearby Philadelphia said that by a "buyout offer" he meant that GBP would be the sole promoter of the event and that he and de la Hoya would be paying a flat fee to Calzaghe and Warren. What may be a problematic isssue is that Warren is likely to insist on keeping the United Kingdom and other TV rights.

"The offer we put on the table is one they can't refuse," Hopkins said. "If Joe does refuse it, then the world will know that all they are doing is talking and issuing press releases. If they turn this down, then that means they never wanted to fight me."

Naturally, Warren and Calzaghe will argue that Calzaghe-Hopkins should happen in Wales where Calzaghe-Mikkel Kessler drew more than 50,000 paying fans at Milennium Stadium.

Over to you, Joe and Frank.

Source: Michael Marley (Boxing Confidential)

Calzaghe needs to say F*** Warren and sign for the fight.

---

:appl:
Golden Boy ;)
Starting to think this ain't gonna happen :-\ Joe's gotta swerve Warren if he can't get him mega bucks in his next fight (Wales or the US) especially after the Wicked Kessler fight.
Clinton Woods is a huge step back in terms of legacy and he has to fight Hopkins but there's no way B-Hop comes to Britain imo.
Joe's gotta go to the US now and stamp his feet and dazzle the world.
For me the best P4P fighter out their in every dept (i'm sure at least 50,000 paying public would agree with me),he's got the lot for me and constantly excites me when he fights.
He HAS to fight Hopkins next. >:mad

This is Hopkin's version of the offer they're making to Calzaghe. It may or may not be an accurate description of the offer they're making. I'm still convinced Hopkins is going to duck Joe again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kirkland Laing

This is Hopkin's version of the offer they're making to Calzaghe. It may or may not be an accurate description of the offer they're making. I'm still convinced Hopkins is going to duck Joe again.

---

Any version that excludes Warren is a good version.

Take the fight Joe! Win this & all the doors are open, the skys the limit for his last couple of fights!!!

I don't think it will be as easy a fight as some are saying. Hopkins has all the tricks, he's an expert at fighting dirty & crafty as hell!

Right down to Joe now, Bernard can't be seen as ducking now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by leftylee

Right down to Joe now, Bernard can't be seen as ducking now.

---

Until we know a little more about the offer, we don't know anything for certain.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Violent Demise

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kirkland Laing

This is Hopkin's version of the offer they're making to Calzaghe. It may or may not be an accurate description of the offer they're making. I'm still convinced Hopkins is going to duck Joe again.

---

Any version that excludes Warren is a good version.

---

Warren is no better or worse than any other promoter. He works with what he's got like everybody else.

Joe has to be very careful how he approaches the negotiations for this fight...
Should Warren try those strong arm tactics he used with Hatton in the past Hop will walk away and it will appear as if Joe is ducking him..
This could taint Joe's legacy....You no as Steve Collins memory is tainted by the fact he ducked Calzaghe at the ned of his carreer....

Anyhow, hope it happens, why not?

hopkins has proved he ain't ducking calzaghe. he wants the fight to happen, now it is up to calzaghe and unfortunately warren to decide

Well do it already, so we can all argue when Joe puts the shoe shine on Hop that Bernard was past his prime and it doesn't prove anything about Joe. Cause' that is what is going to happen if Joe beats Hopkins, just a bunch of "he was past it, and would have smacked Calzaghe in his prime" b.s. If Joe has to listen to that b.s., than he might as well get paid alot to hear it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LEGION

Well do it already, so we can all argue when Joe puts the shoe shine on Hop that Bernard was past his prime and it doesn't prove anything about Joe. Cause' that is what is going to happen if Joe beats Hopkins, just a bunch of "he was past it, and would have smacked Calzaghe in his prime" b.s. If Joe has to listen to that b.s., than he might as well get paid alot to hear it.

---

If Joe beats Hopkins he'll win the Ring LH championship, that would prove a lot IMO!
Undisputed SM & LH champion looks good for a legacy!

Again Galaxy, you're right, and it does look good. But it will still be said about how he didn't face a prime Hopkins, by alot of people anyways. That's also assuming Joe wins ;D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LEGION

Again Galaxy, you're right, and it does look good. But it will still be said about how he didn't face a prime Hopkins, by alot of people anyways. That's also assuming Joe wins ;D

---

Yeah cc bro I know where you're coming from, your always gonna get the naysayers. But beating the undisputed champ is better than beating a belt holder so they can say what they want.

I to think it's gonna be a tough task, at this age Hopkins is still a tough fight!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Galaxy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LEGION

Again Galaxy, you're right, and it does look good. But it will still be said about how he didn't face a prime Hopkins, by alot of people anyways. That's also assuming Joe wins ;D

---

Yeah cc bro I know where you're coming from, your always gonna get the naysayers. But beating the undisputed champ is better than beating a belt holder so they can say what they want.

I to think it's gonna be a tough task, at this age Hopkins is still a tough fight!

---

CC back and yeah, I bet he will give Calzaghe fits all night. And the naysayers just give us something else to take up pages of written word with ;D

The obstinate politician in me would like to see Calzaghe indicate that he might want to make the fight, then double the demands just like Hopkins did to him a few years ago.

However, I think its a very good offer IF it is as Hopkins says it is, and because he's a wily negotiator just like many others in this business all may not be what it appears.

I'd like to see this fight made, and we all know Hopkins likes to fight in the summer, so seems like a good match for all concerned, but I'd like to see Calzaghe face Woods in he spring just so that he can take a legitimate title into the fight with Hopkins and give it even more gravitas, and to look good on his record for generations to come.

I don't see how Calzaghe improves his legacy by fighting and beating a 44 year old fighter!!!
Kessler is still the next best out there, bring on JC V the Kman 2.
Calzaghe wins a UD against an old Hopkins, June is to far away for a match up of any importance IMO.
I would rather see Joe Balls fight Kessler again or Taylor, Woods or Pavlik before Hopkins.

if the offer is as stated then joe has to sign the contract, £4 million is the biggest purse he's ever had as it was said the £3 million he got for the kessler fight was the highest, if warren turns it down then joe should break away from him like hatton did

joe has to sign the fight

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Joe has to be very careful how he approaches the negotiations for this fight...
Should Warren try those strong arm tactics he used with Hatton in the past Hop will walk away and it will appear as if Joe is ducking him..
This could taint Joe's legacy....You no as Steve Collins memory is tainted by the fact he ducked Calzaghe at the ned of his carreer....

Anyhow, hope it happens, why not?

---

Like anybody even cares about Steve Collins

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by THE THIRD MAN

I don't see how Calzaghe improves his legacy by fighting and beating a 44 year old fighter!!!
Kessler is still the next best out there, bring on JC V the Kman 2.
Calzaghe wins a UD against an old Hopkins, June is to far away for a match up of any importance IMO.
I would rather see Joe Balls fight Kessler again or Taylor, Woods or Pavlik before Hopkins.

---

Outta the guys you mentioned only Pavlik is a champion! I agree that would be a good match-up, but Taylor & Kessler are coming of legitimate loses... what would Joe gain from fighting either of those two. Hopkins is the LH champion like Pavlik & is where the money is...

i really hope they take this- £4mill is the most joe has got a fight and i would love to head over to new york in june!

am i just being blindly optimistic? ???

seems the he artile is far from true.

Joe nor his promoter have heard of this "offer".

Frank Warren said in his shitpaper column today that it's been reported Golden Boy offered Calzaghe a career high payday to fight Hopkins BUT in fact what they offered was LESS than Calzaghe made against Kessler.

Calzaghe would mutilate Hopkins. I cannot see the fight happening. Hopkins is too sensible to go through with it.