Boxing: Calzaghe slams Hopkins tactics

Apr 14 2008 by Delme Parfitt, South Wales Echo

JOE Calzaghe has revealed the depths Bernard Hopkins has sunk to in trying to psyche him out ahead of Saturday’s superfight here in Sin City.

The Welsh-Italian stressed that his own training schedule, centred around a quiet out-of-town villa, has all gone according to plan.

But Calzaghe admitted a fresh Hopkins outburst at a public workout at the tail end of last week had left him flabbergasted.

“He mouthed off some more about what he’s going to do to me,” said Calzaghe, who fights the 43-year-old American at light-heavyweight in the most eagerly-awaited bout of his career.

“Some of the stuff Hopkins has come out with is laughable. He’s said things like ‘Say goodbye to your babies’ and ‘Are you ready to die?’

“I just looked at him, smiled, and said: “Do you actually believe what you’re saying?”

“It might work on a 20-year-old and obviously he feels he needs to get some sort of advantage.

“But it’s not worked on me. In my experience, dogs who bark don’t bite. I’m always more worried about a dog who doesn't bark.”

Calzaghe is due to put on a public workout in Vegas tomorrow. He was joined here by his two sons, Joe and Conor, on Saturday, as well as his girlfriend Jo-Emma.

“I know they are excited about watching their dad box in Vegas,” said Calzaghe of his two boys.

“Conor says to me ‘Dad, I don’t want you to retire, I want you always to be world champion’.