Boxing: 25,000 fans expected in Las Vegas for Calzaghe fight

Mar 2 2008 by James McCarthy, Wales On Sunday

LAS Vegas will be awash with Welsh flags next month, with 25,000 fans expected to fly out to support Joe Calzaghe in his light-heavyweight showdown with Bernard Hopkins.

The army of Calzaghe fans is expected to top by 5,000 the number of supporters who travelled to Las Vegas to see Ricky Hatton take on ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd Mayweather, in December’s WBC welterweight title showdown pictured right.

Hatton was stopped in the tenth round, but Calzaghe is determined to come out on top when he takes on Bernard Hopkins at the Planet Hollywood Ring in the light-heavyweight world championship title fight on April 19.

Insiders at Thomas Cook – official travel operator for the fight – confirmed they were expecting as many as 25,000 Calzaghe supporters to make the journey to the US.

Danny Talbot, Thomas Cook Sport managing director, said “Early indications from all industry sources suggest that the number travelling could be even greater for this fight, particularly with another Welsh legend, Tom Jones, performing in Las Vegas at the same time.”

He added: “This is sure to be another great night in the British sporting calendar, and we are delighted to be able to offer Joe Calzaghe’s fans the chance to watch him in action in this amazing city. We expect a huge number of boxing fans to make the journey and will be using our expertise to ensure they have a memorable trip.”

Calzaghe was delighted so many homegrown supporters are expected in the US to cheer him on.

The 36-year-old Newbridge fighter said: “I want all the British fans out in force in Las Vegas to support me in my big fight against Bernard Hopkins. When I get into that ring on April 19, I want to feel like I’m boxing at home in Great Britain. With all the support, cheering and singing the fans will be doing on the night, I’m sure it will spur me on to a great victory.”

He added: “Bernard Hopkins was a true champion and is definitely on his way to the Hall of Fame on April 19, 2013 – five years after I retire him.

“I’m younger, faster, stronger and at my peak as a fighter. Hopkins’ time has past and if he needs a push out of the sport, I’m the one to give it to him. You haven’t seen Hopkins flat out on his back yet – you will.”

Richard Maynard, spokesman for promoter Frank Warren’s Sports Network, said he expected a ‘healthy crowd’ would be on hand to back Calzaghe.

He said: “Joe has a big following, he had 50,000 at the Millennium Stadium (where he fought Dane Mikkel Kessler in November) and this is a big fight for Joe. So we are expecting a big healthy following to come from Wales to Vegas.

“It’s his first fight there against an American legend. It’s been a long time coming, we’ve been talking about Joe going out there for most of his career.”

And Frank Warren said: “Joe Calzaghe has conquered every obstacle put in front of him over the last 14 years and with no more challenges left for him at super-middleweight. This was the only fight he wanted.

“I’m pleased that we were able to work together with Golden Boy Promotions to bring this mega-fight to boxing fans and to see once and for all who the better fighter is – Hopkins or Calzaghe.”

In Vegas, businesses will be putting up Welsh flags in preparation for the invasion of Calzaghe fans.

Yorkshire-born June LeMay is landlady at Vegas’ British Crown and Anchor pub, based on Tropicana Avenue, just a stone’s throw from the fight venue.

Ms LeMay, who has been in the US since 1981, is even hoping to get Brains beer in for thirsty Welsh fans.

She said: “We think we are going to be busy because we are just down the street from it. When Ricky Hatton was here we were extremely busy.

“I had never seen anything like the Ricky Hatton fight, I’ve never seen so many Brits, I swear.

“Everyone is getting excited about this fight too. People are saying that it’s good for boxing. I think he is going to be mobbed.

“Of course we’ll be decking out the pub with Welsh flags, we’ll have to. We have a Welsh flag in there now.”

james.mccarthy@mediawales.co.uk