How do people figure the likes of Jones and Hopkins ducked Calzaghe?

Hopkins has ducked him. The Jones fight was never feasible, until Jones was shot. Jones is ok, Hopkins though...he agreed to a deal in principle then doubled his demands.

 

THE PEOPLE
August 11, 2002, Sunday

BOXING: WARREN STICKS NUT ON CHAMP OVER POUNDS 4MCAL FIGHT!
By David Hyde

UNDISPUTED world middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins has been branded a "nutter" by promoter Frank Warren for demanding pounds 4 million to fight Joe Calzaghe.

Last week promoter Warren thought he was on the brink of a deal with Hopkins to fight Calzaghe in front of a 50,000 crowd at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium later this year.

But Warren was floored when the American first asked for £2 million - then doubled his demands 48 hours later.

"That's fantasy money, the guy's a nutter. We'd have to sell tickets at pounds 1,000 each," said Warren. But he believes the fight can be salvaged.

Provided Calzaghe disposes of Puerto Rican Miguel Jiminez in the 11th defence of his WBO super-middleweight title to become king of Cardiff Castle next Saturday night, Warren says: "I think Hopkins and his advisers will come back."

Calzaghe insists he does not want to be an ordinary Joe fighting ordinary opponents, but so far all attempts to entice Hopkins and light-heavyweight king Roy Jones jnr to meet him in the ring have failed.

Calzaghe, who won the title against Chris Eubank five years ago, maintains: "I'd rather beat Hopkins and call it a day than fight, say, five more ordinary fighters. I've beaten good opponents but I have not beaten a great fighter yet.

"I hope the Hopkins fight comes off because I believe 100 per cent I'll knock him out. He's 38 and starting to slide. I'll be too fast and too powerful for him."

Following two years of unproductive negotiations, he has just about given up on fighting Jones, who defends against Clinton Woods, the WBC mandatory challenger from Sheffield, in Portland, Oregon, in September.

"Jones continues to hand-pick venues and opponents to suit him," said Calzaghe.

"I wish Clinton all the best but he's up against it. You need plenty of movement and hand speed because Jones is so quick he can do what he wants.

"The light-heavyweight division is poor and Jones has fought no-one with anywhere near my handspeed."

Calzaghe, now 30 and approaching his peak, wants big fights - and superstar pay days - and he wants them now.

"I always said I would get out at 32 or 33, I don't want to hang around too long," he said.

"Once I feel my standards are slipping I'll know it's time to go but if I beat Bernard Hopkins, my pay cheques will get a lot better."

One punch could end the dreams of fame and fortune Calzaghe has been chasing for so long. But he is determined not to slip up against 32-year-old Jiminez. The Las Vegas-based fighter has lost just once in 22 fights, but he falls into the ordinary category when the names of his opponents are analysed.

He was a late replacement for American tough-nut David Telesco, who took Jones the full 12 rounds, but Calzaghe pledged: "I've given him every respect - that's the reason he's going to get knocked out."

 

Five years ago Warren said that Hopkins is a nutter? That didn't really solidify anything for me. Nothing about anyone agreeing to anything and backing out, really nothing at all besides Frank's opinion. It's entirely possible that he just makes **** up all the time. In fact that's always been kind of the impression that I have of Warren. In 2002, the year of that article, there is no way that Calzaghe was offering coming to US and Roy Jones money, so there is no way he even had a shot at RJJ. I want to fight him and he won't fight me. He must be dodging me, right?

 

Really, do you actually wonder WHY?

Take a look at his nationality, his fans, and his promoter... BINGO!

 

Warren maintain the Hopkins stuff to this day, he doesn't really accuse Jones of anything. It is quite clear Hopkins wanted no part of Calzaghe. It is logical to avoid Calzaghe so no point holding it against him.

 

If this article is to be believed then Hopkins priced himself out, and EXCUSE ME how much money do you think Clinton was offering? Roy was willing to fight an inferior fighter in Clinton for what was probably less money and there was no problem there, why? because Clinton was an easy win and easy money for the same price as Calzaghe, Roy simply did a Mayweather and got his paycheck the easiest way possible.

 

Simple. Because they didn't need to travel to Wales to fight him. So that means he's duckin them I guess.

 

ditto

 

More recently Hopkins announced his retirement, then made a comeback at Light Heavy, conviniently missing out the 168 division

 

If Toney hadn't got so fat so quick and Jones hadn't messed around so much we could have seen a new fantastic 4, all we have now is a champ that is doing OK (Tarver is only a 1 hit wonder so go figure), a precision instrument that could have done way better, a fat man on roids and a once great fighter that is completely done:-(