Hopkins Vs Calzaghe - Mandalay Bay 12th April

Or so it says on the Las Vegas Review Journal website.

Article:

Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe have said all along they wanted to fight each other, and it appears the two champions will get their wish.

MGM Mirage has set aside April 12 at Mandalay Bay Events Center for Hopkins-Calzaghe. All that remains is for the attorneys for both fighters to approve the contracts.

The fight would be for Hopkins' Ring Magazine light heavyweight title and would be televised on HBO Pay Per View.

Frank Warren, the veteran British promoter who represents world super middleweight champion Calzaghe, said a deal is imminent.

"Nothing can ever be definite until the contracts are signed," Warren told The Guardian newspaper in London. "But the paperwork is with the lawyers, and it looks as though it will be done.

"It is a huge fight for both men, and it would give Joe the big American date he has been looking for."

Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which promotes Hopkins, said the deal is close but not quite finished.

"I'm comfortable we'll get it done in the next few days," Schaefer said Wednesday. "This is my first time working with Frank, so it's taken a little longer than when I negotiate with (Top Rank president) Bob Arum."

If the fight is made, it would be the third major bout in three months for Nevada.

Middleweights Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor will meet Feb. 16 at the MGM Grand Garden. Super featherweights Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez are scheduled to fight in a March 15 rematch at Mandalay Bay.

Calzaghe (44-0) never has fought in Las Vegas. The 35-year-old native of Newbridge, Wales, has held the WBO title for 10 years, the longest reigning titleholder in any weight class in boxing history. His most recent fight was Nov. 3, a unanimous decision over Denmark's Mikkel Kessler.

The last time Hopkins, 42, fought in Las Vegas, it proved to be costly. He shoved Winky Wright at the weigh-in before their July 21 light heavyweight fight, which Hopkins won by unanimous decision. Two months later, the Nevada Athletic Commission fined Hopkins a record $200,000 for starting the fracas.

Woo Hoo!

I'm just waiting for it to be officially announced then I'm booking up. Got my flight and hotel deals all lined up and bookmarked.

He isn;t the longest reigning champ in history? louis almost held his belt for 12 years?

I ain't going as I feel this fight will be boring and nothing like the atmosphere of Hatton's over there but I still feel Calzaghe will win.

i reckon if Paq man looses and Calzaghe wins its Calzaghe at no. 2 in the P4P rankings.

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Originally Posted by Conrad

All that remains is for the attorneys for both fighters to approve the contracts..

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So then it is not a done deal.

Dan Rafael of ESPN.COM reported in his PfP rankings today that it's Frank Warren that has been holding up the negotiations, and that B-Hop has been very reasonable.

Hopkins is a 8-5 Dog, I bet I can find a local book to give me 3-1. That might be tempting. Can't wait to see these 2 fight. Should be interesting.

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Originally Posted by leftylee

I ain't going as I feel this fight will be boring and nothing like the atmosphere of Hatton's over there but I still feel Calzaghe will win.

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would have gone if this was New York but like you I don't think it will be much of a spectacle and am not ready to return to Vegas so quickly

Wonder how many fans will make the journey across ???

Tell you what, I always had a disliking toward Calzaghe but ever since the Kessler fight he has one me over as a fan,and I look forward to the asss lashing he gives Hopkins in April

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Originally Posted by lance Uppercut

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Originally Posted by Conrad

All that remains is for the attorneys for both fighters to approve the contracts..

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So then it is not a done deal.

Dan Rafael of ESPN.COM reported in his PfP rankings today that it's Frank Warren that has been holding up the negotiations, and that B-Hop has been very reasonable.

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P-shaw you say,Frank Warren overestimating his barganing position?
No never
Next thing you'll be saying is he childishly took out an add in all the British Papers that wouldnt goad a 5 year old in to a fight,let alone a guy from Germantown,who did 4+ in Graterford,who has a bigger production company then Frank.

I hope they get this done! Calzaghe is a great fighter & I picked him to defeat Kessler but I think Hopkins wins this one!!!

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Originally Posted by Galaxy.

I hope they get this done! Calzaghe is a great fighter & I picked him to defeat Kessler but I think Hopkins wins this one!!!

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hard to pick against Hopkins, but he lookin shit lately, lots of holding and uncouthness to try and make up for biomechanical deterioration . I think at this point I favor the Brit ? Interesting match as curiosity would have it .

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Originally Posted by Lords Gym

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Originally Posted by Galaxy.

I hope they get this done! Calzaghe is a great fighter & I picked him to defeat Kessler but I think Hopkins wins this one!!!

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hard to pick against Hopkins, but he lookin S*** lately, lots of holding and uncouthness to try and make up for biomechanical deterioration . I think at this point I favor the Brit ? Interesting match as curiosity would have it .

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:coolclick: I been saying that almost verbatim for a year now

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Originally Posted by JT Rock

Tell you what, I always had a disliking toward Calzaghe but ever since the Kessler fight he has one me over as a fan,and I look forward to the asss lashing he gives Hopkins in April

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CC, I agree with everything you wrote. The Calzaghe - Kessler fight made me a big fan of both guys.

I garuntee Hopkins victory.

If Calzaghe can't beat a 43 year old Hopkins, his entire career is a joke. He has nothing to gain(except several Million) and everything to lose in this fight. If he wins, well... he beat a 43 year old! I f he loses, well... He lost to a 43 year old.

If Joe C loses, he will be lambasted by fans worldwide and rightfully so. I wish this fight could've happened a few years ago.

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Originally Posted by GRBOXINGFAN

If Calzaghe can't beat a 43 year old Hopkins, his entire career is a joke. He has nothing to gain(except several Million) and everything to lose in this fight. If he wins, well... he beat a 43 year old! I f he loses, well... He lost to a 43 year old.

If Joe C loses, he will be lambasted by fans worldwide and rightfully so. I wish this fight could've happened a few years ago.

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I dont think it will take anything away from him if he beats old Hopkins, Tarver and Winky couldnt. I dont think Joe loses this one altho i think it will be the hardest fight of his career. He'll have to practice his wrestling to fight the Nard tho.

Why should he be lambasted, Hopkins is considered the dominant force at lt heavy regardless of him being 43 years old! Who else is their for him to fight at the moment? Pretty much nobody else has a name as big as hopkins and most everyone else he could fight would be deemed to have been "to green" after joe c got done with them.

Welcome to the forum. Have the Obligatory Wacko Welcome Wagon :coolclick:

I was a bit late in greeting you...now...that being said...considering the fact that I am a huge fan of both fighters being discussed...this has to be one of the more ridiculous statements that I have read...here's why :

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Originally Posted by GRBOXINGFAN

If Calzaghe can't beat a 43 year old Hopkins, his entire career is a joke. He has nothing to gain(except several Million) and everything to lose in this fight. If he wins, well... he beat a 43 year old! I f he loses, well... He lost to a 43 year old.

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No offense...but a win by Calzaghe would be shocking to some & impressive to most legit boxing writers & fans. Beating Hopkins is a huge statement...that's 43 years of experience that Joe will be going toe to toe with & Hopkins is one of the most respected craftsman of the ring. If Joe loses...that sure as shit doesn't equate to a career worthy joke. He has everything to gain by winning this fight...Joe has wanted this fight for nearly 5-6 years now. If he wins...again he beat one of the most savy & crafty techniciians of the game. I'm shocked that you even made that statement.

Surely you were joking?

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Originally Posted by GRBOXINGFAN

If Joe C loses, he will be lambasted by fans worldwide and rightfully so. I wish this fight could've happened a few years ago.

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If Joe loses & is lambasted by fans worldwide as you say...then it only shows there ignorance.

Wacko I hate to say it,he's right,Bernard is starting to seriously push his luck now,and Joe doesnt have enough big names on his resume
If,and thats a big if,Bernard pulls this off,its because he saw something he can exploit in Joe.But to most boxing fans,casual or hardcore,Joe is going to look very exposed
If I was a betting man(and Im not,I like keeping my money)Id bet Joe,but something is niggling at the back of my head saying,"Bernard saw something"the only two times Ive ever seen Bernard fight dumb,he still won one of those fights no matter what the judges said
Its either going to be the old guy finally gets exposed as way too old to continue,or its going to be the guy who doesnt travel,cant
I really dont like this fight either way,and I certainly wouldnt be laying money on the table

Yes GRBoxing fan you are showing a bit of ignorance if you think beating Hopkins proves nothing


Hopkins may be 43 but he is still at the top of his game and right up there in the P4P ratings - think The Ring currently has him at number 4 or 5



Beating him proves everything - and is the biggest fight out there for him

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

Welcome to the forum. Have the Obligatory Wacko Welcome Wagon :coolclick:

I was a bit late in greeting you...now...that being said...considering the fact that I am a huge fan of both fighters being discussed...this has to be one of the more ridiculous statements that I have read...here's why :

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GRBOXINGFAN

If Calzaghe can't beat a 43 year old Hopkins, his entire career is a joke. He has nothing to gain(except several Million) and everything to lose in this fight. If he wins, well... he beat a 43 year old! I f he loses, well... He lost to a 43 year old.

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No offense...but a win by Calzaghe would be shocking to some & impressive to most legit boxing writers & fans. Beating Hopkins is a huge statement...that's 43 years of experience that Joe will be going toe to toe with & Hopkins is one of the most respected craftsman of the ring. If Joe loses...that sure as S*** doesn't equate to a career worthy joke. He has everything to gain by winning this fight...Joe has wanted this fight for nearly 5-6 years now. If he wins...again he beat one of the most savy & crafty techniciians of the game. I'm shocked that you even made that statement.

Surely you were joking?

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Originally Posted by GRBOXINGFAN

If Joe C loses, he will be lambasted by fans worldwide and rightfully so. I wish this fight could've happened a few years ago.

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If Joe loses & is lambasted by fans worldwide as you say...then it only shows there ignorance.

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I disagree that beating Hopkins is any big feat at this stage. Calzaghe is worlds apart right now and will dominate Hopkins. B-Hop can try and spoil but that wont be enough to see off the work rate and Hopkins will be crushed. Hopkins has a great right hand, but he is older than the pyramids. Its a shame he is even fighting really.

Calzaghe will take him to pieces...step by step. It will get him a lot of attention but it would be a different fight a decade ago.

What Joe gains if he wins is the ring championship at a 2nd weight, and a victory over a guy still considered by many top 10 p4p, though Hopkins age will take away from the glory.

It's going to be a tough fight as Hopkins knows how to survive by any means, unless Joe gains some super strength by not having to lose the extra 7 lbs this one will be going the distance.

On the fact that Joe C is expected to win, nothing he can do about that, since beating Mikkel there isn't an opponent around for him he wouldn't be expected to beat, though perhaps Pavlik or Dawson might be considered sterner tests than Hopkins at the moment.

Hopkins is 43....43. I could care less about Rings P4P having him top 5. Calzaghe needs to win this fight to avoid a disaster. Maybe in the UK beating grand fathers garners a lot of points, but if Joe is even close to an all time great fighter, he mops the floor with a 43 year old counter puncher. I know beating a Eubanks, a green Lacy and Kessler who has fought no one is quite a feat. Hell Joe C is so tough he beat a Game show winner in 3 rounds when it took Slow Motion Lacey a whole fight to beat him. Thats impressive. I know that Calzaghe is the hero of the moment, just like Hatton and Hamed were before him, but he has a lot to prove to me still.

I've said it before, but GREAT fighters have fought more than just a few top notch opponents in their career. It seems some fans are impressed by a guy that fights 35 nobodies and then sprinkles in 5 pretty good fighters and maybe 4 guys who can be considered top competition (and that is arguable). Joe's card doesn't cut it in my book.

Compare Joe's card to anyone and he comes out on the short end. It is not a good card. He needs several more top fighters to impress me like he impresses his loyal fans.

Hopkins is still good, but he s 43, if Joe is this all time Great? Well, an all time great at 35 smokes an all time great at 43. But what if Hopkins wins? I'm sure Joe fans will elevate Hopkins to Godlike status as to make it look like their all time great only lost because he fought "one of the 2 or 3 best ever." Fact is, that a 43 year old Bernard Hopkins isn't a top 100 all time fighter (he has had a top 20 all time career). Joe C is just past his Prime and if he claims to be top 100 all time, this fight is a must win for him IMO. If he KOs Bernard he can elevate his status quite a bit. Not sure who I will bet on.

Bernard Hopkins is in for the shock of his life, Calzaghe is gonna own his ass big time!!!