Calzaghe, Hopkins mindgames Article from: This content is protected </IMG> Font size: This content is protected This content is protected Email article: This content is protected Print article: This content is protected Submit comment: This content is protected By Claudia Parsons February 20, 2008 12:00am UNDEFEATED British boxer Joe Calzaghe kept his cool and smiled when American Bernard Hopkins warned him on that he should be "willing to die'' when they meet in a light-heavyweight world title bout in April. "He can be the bad guy now but I'm going to be the bad guy come April 19,'' Calzaghe told reporters after facing off with a stony-faced Hopkins at a news conference in New York. "He's good at mind games,'' Calzaghe said, describing the 43-year-old former prison inmate as a "big mouth'' who likes to psyche himself up before a fight. He's cagey, he's crafty, he bends the rules a bit. "But believe me, I've been through the mind games,'' said the 35-year-old Welshman who has been super-middleweight champion for a decade and is undefeated in 44 fights with 32 knock-outs. Hopkins's record is 48 wins, four defeats and one draw, also with 32 knock-outs. The bout at the 18,000-seat Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas will be Calzaghe's first in the United States. He will also step up to light-heavyweight - a move Calzaghe said would give him a bit more punching power as he would not have to lose so many pounds to make the grade. "I'm under no illusions about this fight, it's going to be tough,'' Calzaghe said. But he added he had speed, youth, strength and power on his side. "He (Hopkins) knows what it's like to lose, he's lost four times. I've never lost.'' Hopkins, dubbed 'The Executioner', vowed to prove wrong anybody who thought he did not have a chance. "I'm going to prove that the sand hasn't run out of the glass yet,'' he said. "I will retire on my terms, in my way.'' Hopkins said he was a "modern-day George Foreman'' - recalling the fighter who made a late-career comeback to win a world heavyweight title at 45. The American added it was not just Calzaghe he would be trying to get to as the Welshman is trained by his father, Enzo. "His father is going to make the decision (to quit),'' he said. "Most fighters will literally die ... before they quit.'' "I'm telling you that the father is the one that I get to,'' he said. "A father, like any father, will stop his son from getting executed.'' None of Calzaghe's super-middleweight belts will be on the line in the fight, which will be for Hopkins' Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Championship belt. Bring it on..... Can't come soon enough:deal
What was Hopkins' last impressive win? He was terrible fighting Taylor, absolutely useless. I say "useless" meaning he would get slaughtered fighting like that against Joe. But useless all the same
Hopkins mind games will also take its toll against JC's groupies. As the fight gets closer most will lower their expectations, some will outright surrender and back the Executioner.
