Calzaghe Promises to Stay Calm and 'smash' Hopkins

Joe Calzaghe has said he will learn from the mistakes Ricky Hatton made against Floyd Mayweather when he takes on the American veteran light-heavyweight Bernard Hopkins at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on April 19.

The undefeated Welshman will fight in the 12st 7lb division for the first time, having established that he is the world's No1 super-middleweight by beating the Dane Mikkel Kessler in his last contest to add the World Boxing Council and Association titles to the World Boxing Organization crown that has been his since 1997.

No title will be at stake except for the belt awarded to Hopkins, 43, by Ring Magazine for being the outstanding fighter in each division and Calzaghe, 35, will not be required to relinquish any of his belts, leaving him the option to defend later this year against Kelly Pavlik or Jermain Taylor, who meet a second time on February 16 in a catch weight contest at 11st 12lb.

After traveling to Las Vegas last month to support Ricky Hatton, who was knocked out by Mayweather, the experience convinced Calzaghe to emulate his friend by fighting in the US.

"Going to watch Ricky fight made up my mind. I thought I had to do that before I retire," he said yesterday. "I said I will only have two more fights before I pack it in and I intend to stick to that. But now the British fans will be able to watch me smash Bernard Hopkins in America.

"I think Ricky lost his game plan against Mayweather. At the weigh-in I could see he was angry. Mayweather tried to get under his skin and he succeeded. Hopkins has to try and get in my head and make me angry so I make mistakes. But I have got the temperament to cope with that."

Hopkins started the psychological games when he met Calzaghe in Las Vegas prior to the Hatton fight, stating repeatedly that he "will never lose to a white boy". Ignoring the flagrant racist undertones of the remark, Calzaghe said it was a "pantomime" remark from Hopkins who seems determined to play the role of the bad guy in the pre-fight hype.

"It's a stupid comment from an adult," said Calzaghe. "I don't want to lose to a white boy either. And while he's lost four fights, I have never lost to anybody. I don't want to lose to anybody whether they are black, blue, yellow or green. And he calls himself a legend. On April 19 we'll see who is a legend."

Purses have not yet been revealed, although Calzaghe has insisted on a 50-50 split with Hopkins and it would be reasonable to assume the two men would each be receiving in the region of $10m, which would the biggest purse of Calzaghe's career.

Despite earning what Calzaghe says will provide for him and his family for the rest of their lives, he says money is not the only motivation for continuing. Fighting Hopkins on American soil, he argues, would be the sort of test he needs as he winds down his career with the intention of remaining undefeated when he finally quits the ring.

"It means a lot to me having that zero on my record. After the Kessler fight I thought that, unless I have a goal, I can't perform. Hopkins provides a real test," Calzaghe said. "I know I have to dominate the guy because he may fight dirty and use rough house tactics. Against "Winky" Wright (Hopkins' last fight) he held and head-butted and won the fight. But he hasn't boxed me and there's a big difference."

Calzaghe will go to Las Vegas and Los Angeles with his promoter, Frank Warren, after Amir Khan's forthcoming Commonwealth title defense against Gairy St Clair in London on February 2. Thereafter Hopkins will appear alongside Calzaghe in Britain. "He thinks Philadelphia is a mean place but maybe I'll take him to the Valleys and see how he likes Wales," Calzaghe joked. "Perhaps I should show him Cardiff on a Saturday night. That would be interesting."

Calzaghe will travel to Las Vegas for final preparations two weeks before the fight, accompanied by his father and trainer Enzo and the rest of the Calzaghe gym, as he attempts to continue with a tried and tested routine.