WBC/WBO/WBA super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe has promised to "kick the arse" of light heavyweight champ Bernard Hopkins when they fight on April 19 at the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas.
The fighters exchanged unpleasant words at December's weigh-in for Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas, and the tension built from there. The highlight of the verbal exchange was Hopkins' comment of "I will never lose to a white boy," which received outrage from boxing fans of all colors.
"It did piss me off, but it was more embarrassing for himself," Calzaghe. "He made himself look like an idiot. I wasn't offended because I know what is going to happen. I'm not going to lose to a black guy, a white guy, a yellow guy, a purple guy or a green guy, I'm not going to lose full stop. It's a stupid comment from him. At the end of the day it takes a lot to get under my skin, and that doesn't get under my skin at all.”
"I know what is going to happen because when I get in the ring he is going to get beaten. He lost to Roy Jones, he lost to Jermain Taylor but I'm undefeated since 1992. Let's wait until the fight and then we'll see who the legend is."
Other than Hopkins' comment about his skin color, Calzaghe felt the weigh-in confrontation was the perfect spark to ignite his fire for the fight.
"I came face to face with Hopkins at the weigh-in which was brilliant," said Calzaghe. "I spoke to Frank Warren and I said that's the fight I want. Now the fight is on, I'm really, really excited. The next thing is the hard work, going out there and kicking his arse. Ricky Hatton fought a hard fight against Mayweather, but British fans are going to see a win and a spectacular win, Joe Calzaghe smashing it out of...what's his name...Mary Popkins."
Calzaghe is hoping that Hopkins actually fights and doesn't run around the ring or tries to use any kind of dirty tactics in the fight.
"Let's hope he doesn't run, let's hope the ring isn't as big as the arena, I'll smash him up and sort him out. I always come to fight. I always look to fight a hard fight. I fight with my heart as well as my brain. I hope he's not going to spoil and be dirty. He head-butted Winky Wright twice and got away with it. I'm hoping for a fair fight with a fair referee and fair judges. Hopkins says this is going to be his last fight, so he better enjoy it and come to fight."
As far as a possible future bout with Roy Jones, Calzaghe is more interested in fighting the winner of the Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor rematch, taking place on February. 16.
"I'm more interested in the winner of Taylor-Pavlik next to be honest," said Calzaghe. "I'd rather fight a guy in his prime. They are the fights I get up for, big, big fights."
The fighters exchanged unpleasant words at December's weigh-in for Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas, and the tension built from there. The highlight of the verbal exchange was Hopkins' comment of "I will never lose to a white boy," which received outrage from boxing fans of all colors.
"It did piss me off, but it was more embarrassing for himself," Calzaghe. "He made himself look like an idiot. I wasn't offended because I know what is going to happen. I'm not going to lose to a black guy, a white guy, a yellow guy, a purple guy or a green guy, I'm not going to lose full stop. It's a stupid comment from him. At the end of the day it takes a lot to get under my skin, and that doesn't get under my skin at all.”
"I know what is going to happen because when I get in the ring he is going to get beaten. He lost to Roy Jones, he lost to Jermain Taylor but I'm undefeated since 1992. Let's wait until the fight and then we'll see who the legend is."
Other than Hopkins' comment about his skin color, Calzaghe felt the weigh-in confrontation was the perfect spark to ignite his fire for the fight.
"I came face to face with Hopkins at the weigh-in which was brilliant," said Calzaghe. "I spoke to Frank Warren and I said that's the fight I want. Now the fight is on, I'm really, really excited. The next thing is the hard work, going out there and kicking his arse. Ricky Hatton fought a hard fight against Mayweather, but British fans are going to see a win and a spectacular win, Joe Calzaghe smashing it out of...what's his name...Mary Popkins."
Calzaghe is hoping that Hopkins actually fights and doesn't run around the ring or tries to use any kind of dirty tactics in the fight.
"Let's hope he doesn't run, let's hope the ring isn't as big as the arena, I'll smash him up and sort him out. I always come to fight. I always look to fight a hard fight. I fight with my heart as well as my brain. I hope he's not going to spoil and be dirty. He head-butted Winky Wright twice and got away with it. I'm hoping for a fair fight with a fair referee and fair judges. Hopkins says this is going to be his last fight, so he better enjoy it and come to fight."
As far as a possible future bout with Roy Jones, Calzaghe is more interested in fighting the winner of the Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor rematch, taking place on February. 16.
"I'm more interested in the winner of Taylor-Pavlik next to be honest," said Calzaghe. "I'd rather fight a guy in his prime. They are the fights I get up for, big, big fights."