by James Slater: Joe Calzaghe is certainly doing his bit to hype his upcoming super fight with the legendary Bernard Hopkins. Not that this fight needs any more trash-talking to sell tickets – with a fight between two proven greats such as these two, the arena would likely fill if neither guy said anything at all. Still, a little more hoopla won’t hurt any. In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Calzaghe said what he planned to do to the holder of the Ring magazine light-heavyweight championship belt this coming Saturday in Las Vegas..
“I’m going to put him into permanent retirement,” the confident Welshman said. “After this fight his career is going to be over and I’m going to be the first to stop him. I’m faster, fitter and stronger. I hit harder and I have a better chin. He says he’s a legend, but he’s seriously over hyped. He hasn’t been in any exciting fights,” Joe continued.
It’s hard to know if Joe really believes all of what he is saying. Personally, I have never heard him talk so much and quite so disrespectfully of an upcoming opponent before. Yes, it is probably nothing more than hype and an attempt to play his own mind games, but is it possible the hugeness of this fight, in his American debut, has gotten to Joe – at least a little?
Sure, Hopkins has been anything but reserved and quiet himself, but that we expect from the brash-talking and abrasive “Executioner.” It seems Calzaghe has attempted to match him for this fight, however. Joe spoke more about what type of fight he expected from B-Hop on Saturday.
“He’s not going to be able to touch me,” Joe declared. “He will have to resort to head butting, spoiling and low blows just to survive. Hopkins has succeeded in the past only because his opponents were smaller. His two best wins were against Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad, both welterweights,” the 36 year old claimed.
Judging by what he has been saying, then, Joe will have an easy fight on fight night. He will, however, have some seriously strong words he’s going to have to eat if this is not the case. And let’s not forget, Bernard Hopkins is one guy who has made an awful lot of people eat their words in the past. All will soon be revealed!