Hopkins, Calzaghe take aim at history

The experienced fighters will meet at light-heavyweight on April 19.

LONDON (AP) — Bernard Hopkins plans to end Joe Calzaghe’s 44-fight unbeaten streak. Calzaghe promises to end Hopkins’ career.

The two fighters, who have a combined 40 title defenses, will meet at light-heavyweight in Las Vegas April 19 in a non-title bout.

Although Calzaghe has made 21 successful super-middleweight title defenses over 10 years, the Welshman has not faced the sort of opposition Hopkins has — Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones Jr., Felix Trinidad, Jermain Taylor, Antonio Tarver and Ronald “Winky” Wright.

“I’m glad he’s undefeated. I’m glad he’s got something to fight for,” the 43-year-old Hopkins said at a London news conference Thursday. “I’m glad he feels comfortable that he’s fighting at his real weight that he could have been at a couple of years ago.

“I did it for 13 years as middleweight and made my name.”

Hopkins had 20 title defenses at middleweight before stepping up two divisions to beat Tarver at light-heavyweight in June 2006. In his most recent fight, Hopkins won a decision over Wright in July.

“So there’s no excuses. He will be at his best, like I will be at my best,” Hopkins said. “The judge and the jury will be how we do it.”

The American (48-4 with one draw) is the 11-8 underdog with the British bookmakers.

The fight will be at the 18,000-seat Thomas & Mack Center and televised by HBO. Ticket prices range from $250 to $1,500.

Calzaghe is confident that his speed and 100-punch-a-round style will be too much for Hopkins, who will be seven years older than him by the time of the fight.

“I know what is going to happen — I am going to win the fight,” Calzaghe said. “I’m undefeated for 17 years and he’s going to realize April 19 that he’s never been in the ring with someone like myself with my hand speed and my work rate. He’s been a champion for years and I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect.

“It’s added pressure being in America and fighting in front of American judges but, so far as I’m concerned, I’ll dominate the fight and I’m going to be a legend after this fight.”

Hopkins and Calzaghe met face to face at the Floyd Mayweather-Ricky Hatton fight in December, when the American was reported to have taunted the Welshman by saying he had never lost to a white man and never would.