Boxing: Only cast-offs fight Brits - Hopkins

Apr 18 2008 by Delme Parfitt, Western Mail

BERNARD HOPKINS has revealed his disdain for British boxers, saying the only Americans whoever bother to fight them are washed up in their own country.

Perhaps forgetting his own situation, the 43-year-old believes British fighters encounter “the residue” of US cast-offs.

Hopkins has fought only one man from the UK before Joe Calzaghe, Londoner Howard Eastman, who he outpointed over 12 rounds in Los Angeles in February 2005.

Asked if he respected the qualities of British boxers as opposed to their US counterparts, Hopkins was dismissive.

“The only guys whoever go to Britain to fight are the residue of what we have left here,” he said.

“You look at some of the names who have gone over to fight Joe Calzaghe, like Charles Brewer and Byron Mitchell, they ain’t in my class.

“Joe Calzaghe knows that if he wants to prove himself then he has to come here and fight.

“I feel there is little else to say, I’ve said it all. Maybe I should just hand you my resume and let you decide.

“The time for talking is over. I am a patient man, but I want Saturday to come.”

Though he has been beaten four times, twice by the same man in Jermaine Taylor, Hopkins has never been stopped or knocked out. Calzaghe says he wants to be the man to end that record tomorrow.

“I do want to put him down, to knock him out because although he has defeats to his name he has never been stopped,” he said.

“I can do that because I have the extra punching power that light-heavyweight has given me.

“Hopkins talks a good game but I want to make an old man cry on Saturday and that is what I believe I will do.”

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