Bernard Hopkins to face Joe Calzaghe at light heavyweight Six years after Calzaghe's camp tried to set up a matchup with Hopkins, the unbeaten Welshman's handlers announced Wednesday that the fighters will meet as light heavyweights at the Thomas & Mack Center. The non-title bout will be Calzaghe's first fight at light heavyweight after 21 consecutive world title defenses at super-middleweight. After unifying three world titles by taking the WBA and WBC titles from Mikkel Kessler on Nov. 4 to move his record to 44-0, Calzaghe knew he had to move up a division to take on Hopkins. "He definitely needs a facelift and I'm going to sort him out," Calzaghe said at a London news conference. "I just hope he's not going to run." Hopkins, who is 48-4-1, last fought in July last year when he scored a victory over Ronald "Winky" Wright. Peoples thoughts.................
Calzaghe wins UD. When he wins youll hear the yanks playing it down saying Hopkins is past it etc. After that Roy Jones Jr may be his next opponent but he is DEFINATELY past it and Calzaghe wont benefit anything from fighting him. After Hopkins he should fight Jermaine Taylor (who will beat Kelly Pavlik in the rematch imo). Although Taylor isnt as big a name he has beat Hopkins twice, drew with Winky Wright and is in his prime. Anyone else and people will right Calzaghe off saying his most notable wins were with boxers past their prime.
me too, carl froch's unbeaten record should be ended before it begins, cant be arsed for another amir kahn style manfactured champion
I fancy Joe to do him personally, big fights always bring the best out of Calzaghe and i hope this fight is no different. Hopkins while not the same fighter he was a few years back is still a dangerous fighter, looking forward to this already and think if Calzaghe is at his best he should stop him in the later rounds, or take a ud if it does go the distance.
Carl who? He beat a past it Robin Reid and thats all he has to his name. It wont generate a big pay day and wont benefit Calzaghe in any way whatsoever. Calzaghe is fighting 2 more times, once more after Hopkins - so he wants to finish his career on a high against well established opponents to cement his legacy. Fighting someone who nobody has heard of is pointless. Realistically there isnt anyone left in the super middleweight division and very few in the light heavy but a fight with the winner of Pavlik vs Taylor (after Hopkins) makes the most sense imo.
I think the Calzaghe, Hopkins fight will be boring as fuck to be honest, there styles dont make for an exciting fight against each other. It is a fight that will make the americans give him recognition though
Just found this beauty on the net - highlights of Calzaghe v Eubank when he won the WBO belt in 1997. [ame="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/351124/joe_calzaghe_destroys_chris_eubank_in_a_stunning_boxing_match/"]Joe Calzaghe Destroys Chris Eubank In A Stunning Boxing Match - Video[/ame] Im well looking forward to this fight already, good to see that its on Setanta and not PPV as well. Fucking come on Joe
i think a fight with froch would be a better occasion/ spectacle (two brit fighters, both undefeated, fighting on home soil etc.) but hopkins is were calzaghe has to go to retire with ultimate legend status in my opinion!
Yeah he has to have a big american fight, the americans have only just started to take notice of him even though hes easily in the top 5 pound for pound boxers in the world
Only just found out about this: http://www.411mania.com/sports/boxing/68019/Woods-Tarver-Added-to-April-12-SHOWTIME-Card.htm The winner of one of these 2 fights could both be posibilitys for Calzaghe's next opponent (after Hopkins).
