Joe Calzaghe has remarked that Mikkel Kessler is a better fighter than Bernard Hopkins and that Hopkins would just be a name that would look good on his CV.
Hopkins called out Joe Calzaghe after his victory over Ronald ‘Winky' Wright, back in July, ‘‘Joe Calzaghe, let's do Yankee Stadium in the spring or the late winter or the early fall and I will knock you out, you won't be undefeated anymore.''
The pair renewed their war of words when they bumped into each other at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, prior to Ricky Hatton's fight with Floyd Mayweather Jnr, squaring up to each other and trading insults.
After Joe Calzaghe's unanimous victory over, previously unbeaten Dane, Mikkel Kessler, the Welshman announced he was moving out of the super-middleweight division and up to light-heavyweight. After all, he beat every opponent who dare fight him at 168lb.
Various opponents have been mentioned for Calzaghe‘s first fight up at 175lb, among them, current IBF light-heavyweight champion Clinton Woods, in what would be a ‘Battle of Britain.'
But a fight against current number one light-heavyweight in the world, Bernard ‘The Executioner' Hopkins is the fight the fans want to see. And it's the fight that both boxers evidently want. And what a fight it would be.
Joe Calzaghe has reigned supreme in the super-middleweight division over the last decade. He is unbeaten in 44 fights. He beat previous American challengers Jeff ‘Left Hook' Lacy and Peter Manfredo Jnr with ease.
Bernard Hopkins is the former middleweight king and current number one light-heavyweight in the world. He has only lost four times in 48 bouts. He holds victories over opponents such as, Oscar de la Hoya, Antonio Tarver and Felix Trinidad.
Both fighters have 32 knockouts on their records.
Nazim Richardson has said that his fighter, Hopkins, should duck the unbeaten Welshman (like he did six years ago) and instead face the winner of the upcoming Roy Jones vs. Trinidad bout. But money talks and a fight against Joe Calzaghe, in New York, could be very lucrative.