Confident Calzaghe prepared for Hopkins' dirty tricks

By Martyn Herman

ABERCARN, Wales (Reuters) - Joe Calzaghe said on Wednesday he was prepared for a dirty fight against American Bernard Hopkins in their light-heavyweight showdown in Las Vegas next month.

The 36-year-old undisputed world super-middleweight champion has waited a long time for his debut across the Atlantic and is determined the 43-year-old Hopkins will not spoil it at the 18,000-seat Thomas & Mack Centre on April 19.

"He is not known as the most exciting fighter, he is very defensive and tends to throw his head in with his right hand," Calzaghe told reporters at the gym run by his father and trainer Enzo in South Wales.

"I'm more concerned about being head-butted by him than being hit with his punches to be honest.

"He will try to make it a dirty fight but I can outbox him and when he starts losing he will make mistakes.

"I don't just want to win I want to put on a show and smash him to bits. I hope Hopkins comes to play....but I'm not holding my breath."

Calzaghe is undefeated in 44 professional fights and has been a super-middleweight world champion since a points victory over Chris Eubank in 1997.

It was only after dismantling IBF champion Jeff Lacy in Manchester two years ago that he won over the Americans.

"This is late in my career but it's the right time in my career," said Calzaghe, who unified the super-middleweight division against dangerous Dane Mikkel Kessler in November in Cardiff.

"I'm relaxed because I've achieved what I've achieved, I've beaten Kessler, beaten Lacy and I am one of the best world champions there has ever been."

"Hopkins wouldn't come to Wales he wouldn't fight at super-middleweight so I'll show what a champion is all about. I'm so cold in this gym I'm looking forward to getting some sun on my back, I can't wait to get out there."

Hopkins, the first fighter to unify the titles of all four major sanctioning bodies, the WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF, when he beat Oscar de la Hoya as a middleweight in 2004 is a formidable opponent, but Calzaghe is undaunted.

"The guy is 10 years a world champion, the same as myself, he has beaten some big names so it's going to be a big challenge," Calzaghe, said.

"Moving up to light heavy is no problem. I'll keep the same speed but I'll punch harder and I really want to knock this guy. Hopkins is not a big light-heavyweight. He was middleweight all his career. Kessler was a bigger, stronger guy."

Calzaghe leaves the familiar surrounds of his Welsh gym on April 5 but will steer clear of Vegas's bright lights.

"I don't mind a little gamble but we are going to stay in a house a few miles out of the strip. We'll keep things as normal as possible and keep out of all the mayhem."

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