Boxing: Calzaghe support will pack a punch

Mar 27 2008 by Mark Staniforth, Liverpool Daily Post

JOE CALZAGHE is convinced he can count on the support of fight fans across the globe in his huge light-heavyweight showdown against Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas next month.

Calzaghe insists his opponent’s cagey style makes him a big turn-off with the public who crave the kind of slick, attacking style the Welshman will bring to the Thomas & Mack Center.

Calzaghe is basking in belated popularity in his career after attracting 50,000 fans to the Millennium Stadium for his unification victory over Mikkel Kessler – with a large number of fans also booked up to support him on his big American debut.

And the 36-year-old has warned former middleweight champion Hopkins he has no chance of dragging their showcase clash into the trenches and clinging on to his status as the world’s number one 175lb fighter by underhand means.

Calzaghe, putting the finishing touches to his training at his gym in Abercarn yesterday before he jets out to America next week, said: “Hopkins is good at making people look bad but he won’t do that to me.

“That’s the only way he can handle me and that’s why he’s not a fighter who is very well loved. There were people in his own country booing him when we were out for the Ricky Hatton fight, and that’s because of his style.

“Hopkins has hardly ever been in any exciting fights and he’s very negative. He’ll do everything he can to knock me out of my rhythm because he knows I’m stronger, faster and fitter than him.”