Is Calzaghe/Hopkins Inevitable?
By Robert Ecksel December 2nd, 2006Bernard Hopkins’ Plan B includes Welshman Joe Calzaghe
After destroying Antonio Tarver in June, and after watching Oleg Masakev dismantle Hasim Rahman to win the WBC heavyweight crown, Hopkins flip-flopped on a promise he gave to his late mother that he would quit boxing this year, and is looking for a suitable opponent for his return to active duty.
TSS recently spoke with Maskaev’s manager, Fred Kesch, from his suite at the Peter the First Hotel in Moscow, and asked about Oleg fighting Hopkins if and when he gets past Peter Okhello on Dec. 10.
“I think Bernard is starting to come to his senses and realizing that getting hit by a champion heavyweight is a lot different than he’s used to,� said Kesch. “But you know how it is in the sport. People can say what they want to say and then find every reason in the world not to make it happen. But Bernard’s a fantastic fighter. He’s a credit to the sport. He’s a wonderful motivator and he likes to get things going and he’s been a champion so many years, people look up to him, as we do, but not as a heavyweight.�
If that doesn’t put the kibosh on the Maskaev-Hopkins rumor, it’s hard to know what will, so maybe it’s time to drop the talk of a heavyweight challenge and put Hopkins’ Plan B into effect, namely a fight with Joe Calzaghe.
But first Calzaghe has to get by Peter Manfredo Jr. of Contender fame on March 3 at the Millennium Stadium. Should Joe emerge victorious, he will have matched B-Hop’s record 20 defenses of the crown.
Hopkins, according to icWales, said, “If I can’t make my history, I can stop him making his history.�
“If Hopkins doesn’t want me to break his record,â€? replied Calzaghe, “he should have fought me years ago when he had the chance.
“There are lots of exciting fights out there for me, but the only one that means anything right now is Peter Manfredo, because there are no other fights without beating him.
“But I will say this: I intend to break Bernard’s record, with or without him.â€?
“Anyone can beat a champion,� Hopkins said, but “Very few can beat a legend.�
December 2nd, 2006 at 10:19 am
All right now I’m getting confused. First Hopkins is retired. Then he wants to fight for the heavyweight title. Then Calzaghe wants to fight Hopkins. Hopkins says he can’t get motivated for Calzaghe. Hopkins is officially unretired ( he really didn’t go anywhere). Calzaghe gets the fight with Manfredo, Jr. now Hopkins doesn’t want to fight for the heavyweight title at all but wants to fight Calzaghe.
It is getting so you cannot believe a word the man says (Hopkins). I’m already starting to get bored with him. He is so full of himself and something else.
December 2nd, 2006 at 10:47 am
All this talk of Calzaghe fighting the bigger names in other divisions never seems to materialize for some reason. Clinton Woods is next door with the IBF
strap at 175. Instead Calzaghe fights contendor Peter Manfredo. What about Woods. Hopkins is retired. Hopkins is unretired. Calzaghe won’t bring money
like Maskaev can bring so what’s the point. Hopkins virtually fought for nothing until Trinidad so it took him awhile to reach the top of the Pay Per View Names. Calzaghe can’t carry a pay per view yet and expects equal billing.
No can do not in the fight world game it don’t work that way.
December 2nd, 2006 at 12:18 pm
I don’t understand why Calzaghe keeps saying that he will break Hopkins’ record of 20 defenses. It’s a different weight class. Anyway, the record for all weight classes is 25 by Joe Louis.
December 2nd, 2006 at 1:34 pm
joe has the goods to break hopkins’ record. im picking joe via late rd KO
December 2nd, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Bernard Hopkins said that he isn’t fighting Calzaghe. They only reason he brought up Calzaghe name is because he doesn’t want Calzaghe beating his record. And if Masakev won’t fight him another heavyweight will.
December 2nd, 2006 at 2:44 pm
It’s different categories but the same sport..And hopkins 20 defences compared to calzagues 20 defences in the opponents or about the same excepting for de la hoya and trinidad but hopkins in the middleweights would do the same thing..Calzagues in my mind isnt even the king,its kesler and calzagues is ducking him..Its a lil bit like hopkins not wanting to fight the best in his weight like wright and others but both those boxers beated respectable opponents but not thwe best in the weight and a clash between those 2 would be crazy..
December 2nd, 2006 at 6:27 pm
As much as I admire Hopkins, one of the best middleweight champions ever, he’s living in a dream world if he really believes he can beat Maskaev, or any of the other heavyweight title holders for that matter. As for Calzaghe, he should be talking about a unification match with Kessler. That would be a huge money fight for both fighters in Europe and Kessler would probably be willing to go to Britain or Wales - the only places Calzaghe will fight.
December 2nd, 2006 at 8:03 pm
yeah a match between calzaghe and kessler sounds great, but how many fans have actually ever watched kessler fight. I thinks its more about disrespect towards calzaghe than true opinions of fans that want this fight.
December 3rd, 2006 at 6:17 am
Kessler is the new kid on the block but Joe needs to make his career defining fights,if Joe fought Kessler then he is never going to get his chance to fight any of the top americans,they are all playing artfull dodger so he is attempting to raise his profile,,no one more than me is dissapointed its against Manfredo (i still dont rate him very highly despite his recent victories).Besides i dont see Taylor,Winky,Hopkinson or any other american jumping at fighting Kessler,nor american fans suggesting that should be their next fight which leads to the assumption Phillip is right in his view of Calzaghe been disrespected….at the end of the day who wouldnt avoid Calzaghe as long as possible knowing his calibre.
December 3rd, 2006 at 10:37 am
Joe Calzaghe will knock Bernard Hopkins out, No Doubt!
Joe will be too fast and powerful for Hopkins who made his name fighting welterweights.
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:33 pm
calzaghe true champion
December 4th, 2006 at 12:48 am
Boxing has way too many stinkin’ belts right now for all these cats to be talking about breaking records of defenses. Now I’m only a thirtysomething, so I’m not gonna pretend to remember the day of eight divisions and one champion per (except watching ESPN classic), but Calzaghe with his 20 defenses is somewhat diluted because most of the defenses were of the WBO title, were they not. Same thing with Hopkins in that a large number of his defenses were only of his IBF title while guys like Julian Jackson, Gerald McClellan, Jorge Castro, Reggie Johnson, and Quincy Taylor were passing around the other belts. Hopkins never fought any of them instead choosing to defend against Joe Lipsey, an old Simon Brown, Robert Allen, and Bo James?!?!?!
Respect to both Joe and Bernard for holding A title belt for extended reigns, but again, they only held partial titles for most of their respective reigns.
December 4th, 2006 at 4:07 am
The best fighters in the 168lb to i75lb divisions in boxing do not reside in the US. If Calzaghe is looking for prestige fights, there are 2 huge fights awaiting him in his own back yard. A match with Kessler would make both fighters a barrel of money and would have enormous interest in Europe. If Joe thinks he’s up to the task, he could make almost as much by meeting Adamek for the light-heavy championship. Both of those potential opponents would provide stiff competition, but I can see Calzaghe outpointing either of them.
December 4th, 2006 at 9:29 am
All I can say is ,”Look out Calzage” you will have a REAL fight on your hands….
December 4th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
G-Pal, Great post. That could not have been said any better! These are partial championship reigns.
December 4th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
Thank you, DaveB.
December 5th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
BHOP are you ducking Calzaghe? Say it aint so BHOP!! Say it aint so brotha! Dont tell me that Brit/Italiano has come way over here to “say” “Yo what’s up”? And no American fighters step to him? Why? Cant tell me there’s no money in it! Winky or BHOP should be jumping all over this fight. No one really wants to fight BHOP but Calzaghe. No one wants to fight Winky period. Forget about the Golden Egg - De La Hoya. He’s not going to fight you Winky. Now if Winky was smart he’d whoop Calzaghe. Then make BHOP & De La Hoya fight him and call them out!