Boxing: Calzaghe v Hopkins hits a snag.
Byline: Gareth JonesJOE Calzaghe's dream of a bigmoney showdown with middleweight standout Bernard Hopkins seems to have hit another, possibly insurmountable obstacle.
The unpredictable Hopkins has turned his back on a three-fight deal from American TV giants Showtime, which would have included a clash with the Welshman, and may now revert to the other US cable channel, HBO, a move which would probably kill any prospect of him meeting Calzaghe.
The sticking point for the maverick from Philadelphia was apparently the purse for the first bout, a defence against France's European champion Morrade Hakkar.
After agreeing to a $2m fee, Hopkins was then outraged to discover that his promoter, Don King, and his opponent would both have to be paid out of that amount. The Hakkar bout was to have taken place on August 17, sharing TV exposure with a tape of Calzaghe's WBO super-middle defence the same day against Puerto Rican Miguel Jimenez at Cardiff Castle, shown in the States `as live.' Calzaghe's promoter, Frank Warren, had agreed a deal with King for Hopkins to come to Wales and face the unbeaten Newbridge southpaw.
And `The Executioner' had no problems with boxing away from home.
``The money they're talking, the payper-view numbers they're talking, man, I'd be a fool not to go over there,'' said Hopkins. ``The only way I won't go to Wales is if they tell me the ring will be a triangle.''
But now Showtime have withdrawn their offer - said to be $10.5m for the three fights - and Hopkins is left in limbo.
He has already snubbed a $6m payday for a rematch with Roy Jones, Jr, the last man to beat him, while insisting he desperately wants the fight.
And Puerto Rican great Felix Trinidad has announced his retirement in frustration at his inability to nail Hopkins down to a second meeting. Some day, presumably, Bernard will come to his senses and realise that a deal he dislikes is better than having no income at all. At that stage, hopefully, a Calzaghe fight can be resurrected.
But don't hold your breath.
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
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| Publication: | South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales) |
| Date: | Aug 3, 2002 |
| Words: | 348 |
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