Why isn't Hopkins fighting Calzaghe?

[Fenster]

If this is Hopkins' last outting, why not make it against the best available? I understand Tarver ko'd Roy Jones and may have a little bit more American recognition than Calzaghe, but he's still not a superstar in this country, nor is Calzaghe. So on the last fight of your career, why would you avoid the biggest challenge out there possible? It certainly changes the way I look at Bernard's legacy, and all those years of having the suspicion Nard was ducking Joe.... Well it doesn't look to be suspicion anymore if this truely is the last fight for him. I know some will stick up for Bernard which I understand, but don't say a damn thing about the money, he already has more than he's earned like most elite athletes. Cash in, or fight the best? It's clear what option Bernard took - this is totally different than PBF trying to make mega bucks fighting DLH, and still planning to tackle Hatton/Margarito after. Joe has been avoided by the best and will continue to be avoided, which probably played a role in him giving Lacy such a horrible beating (also the fact he's 1 dimensional).. years and years and years and years of frustration being taken out on one man

Bernard doesn't wanna be that man.....One thing you have to give Tarver, even tho he's certainly not in Hopkins' or Calzaghe's league he atleast addressed Calzaghe and the possibility of them fighting, instead of avoiding him alltogether.

Hopkins has always awoided bigger men and especially Calzaghe. B-Hop is the purest hype of the century.

THat's just fucking weak, the fact that he's fighting Tarver makes it even worse... IT was practically a done deal before Calzaghe LAcy ever happened, and Hopkins will get more money and recognition if he is able to beat Tarver, much more. The original post sort of brushes off that fact, oh it might get him more recognition in the US.... umm.... the USA is ten times as large as the UK, is that really a hard concept to grasp to you?? Of course it will earn him ALOT more recognition and money if he can SOMEHOW pull this one off, but to question Bhop's desire to fight the best at this time is ridiculous, this is such a hard fight for him to have taken.

CC P4Pking. It's just some snudy Brits being dumasses thats all it is. B-hop is a legend. B-hop is one of the top 2 or 3 greatest Middleweight Champions of all time. Tarver is a bigger and more dangerous opponent than Joe Calzaghe. I like Lacy and I thought he'd KO Joe, but he was dominated instead by Calzaghe. Gotta give Calzaghe credit there, but beating Lacy does not make him invincible or an instant Legend. B-hop at 41 is twice the fighter and has accomplished more than Calzaghe is or ever will.

Whether or not Hopkins ducked Calzaghe is irellevant to me but he turned down fights, for sure

Check this out Hillbilly boy



By Guardian Newspapers, 7/3/2003
Hopkins' promoter Don King and Calzaghe's backer Frank Warren reached agreement for a fight last year, and the US television station Showtime was prepared to underwrite the event. But after a $3m (£1.8m) payday had been agreed, the fight fell through when Hopkins doubled his purse demands.

Joe Calzaghe, the World Boxing Organisation super-middleweight champion, is prepared to travel to the United States to face the world's No1 middleweight Bernard Hopkins in what is seen as a career-defining fight for the undefeated Welshman

"This is the fight I have wanted above all others for the last few years," he said, "and it is the one the boxing world wants."

"I have no problems taking the fight on his territory," said the 31-year-old Calzaghe. "My message to him is: 'You want it, you got it.' He can have it anywhere and any time."

Calzaghe underlined his determination to get the fight, laying down a challenge to Hopkins. "Don't find an excuse to let our fight slip away," he said. "I have taken up your challenge to face you in America, so honour your words."
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/boxing/s...991029,00.html


Calzaghe Knocked Back By Hopkins Again

July 22: Bernard Hopkins has again rejected the offer of a multi-million-dollar fight against the undefeated WBO super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe.

By Guardian Newspapers, 7/21/2003
Bernard Hopkins has again rejected the offer of a multi-million-dollar fight against the undefeated World Boxing Organisation super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe, and says he will next face his fellow American William Joppy instead.

Calzaghe, 31, had hoped for what he regards as a career-defining contest against Hopkins, the world's No1 middleweight, after his recent spectacular two-round victory over Byron Mitchell. But Hopkins has made it clear he will pursue Joppy, an easier option, though a date for the fight has not yet been announced.

More worryingly for Calzaghe and his promoter Frank Warren, Hopkins has indicated he might be prepared to travel to Germany in December for a showdown with Calzaghe's super-middleweight rival, the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association champion Sven Ottke.

Warren has spoken repeatedly of his desire to stage Calzaghe-Hopkins at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and believed he had a deal for the fight last year before Hopkins priced himself out of the contest by doubling his demands.

Nevertheless Warren has been in more discussions with Hopkins's promoter Don King and says he remains optimistic the 38-year-old American will face Calzaghe after he picks up his expected victory against Joppy. But King has also spoken with Ottke's promoter Wilfred Sauerland and it seems more than likely Hopkins regards Ottke as a softer, well-paid option than the intimidating Welshman.
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/boxing/s...003211,00.html