Calzaghe-Hopkins rivalry settled with a score

By Jeff Haney

Monday, April 21, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Two distinct catchphrases ran through the undercurrent of the entire Joe Calzaghe-Bernard Hopkins promotion that ended with the undefeated Welshman’s split-decision victory at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“At the end of the day” was one.

“White boy” was the other.

The first, most frequently heard from politicians, football coaches and others who make noise without saying anything, went beyond a mere cliche with Calzaghe to reach the level of verbal tic.

While the substance of his commentary to writers and TV journalists from both sides of the Atlantic was thoughtful enough, Calzaghe established himself as the undisputed champion of starting sentences with “at the end of the day.”

The second, an ugly, racially tinged remark, was injected into the proceedings by Hopkins last year when he vowed neither Calzaghe nor anyone else with his skin color would ever beat him.

Calzaghe and his fans never let Hopkins forget it.

And by the end of the day Saturday, it was clear ... well, you know the rest.

“A white guy kicked his (behind),” Calzaghe cackled, getting in a final, well-deserved jab at his American rival.

After winning 44 consecutive fights, defending his super middleweight world title 21 times, and becoming a hero in the United Kingdom, Calzaghe came to the United States to make his name on a worldwide stage.

He leaves Las Vegas with the power to call the shots in boxing’s super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.

“At the end of the day I set myself a goal after 2007, after beating Mikkel Kessler,” Calzaghe (45-0, 32 knockouts) said. “I wanted to come to America and fight, and not just come to fight, but to win against one of the biggest names. That’s what being a champion is all about.”

Calzaghe also finds himself in a position similar to Hopkins’ vantage point four years ago as he prepared to fight Oscar De La Hoya in one of the biggest bouts of 2004. For Calzaghe now, as for Hopkins then, sanctioning bodies, title belts and even weight divisions are merely incidental. Saturday night’s fight, for instance, was touted as The Ring magazine’s light heavyweight (175 pounds) championship, although both men weighed in at 173.

In the twilight of his terrific career, Calzaghe can pick and choose his opponents to create matchups that appeal to him and boxing fans.

After Calzaghe’s victory Saturday night, he fielded challenges by Chris Byrd, the former heavyweight champ now fighting at 175, and Roy Jones Jr., who has a recognizable name but is well past his prime.

Chad Dawson, Antonio Tarver and Kelly Pavlik also loom as possible opponents for Calzaghe.

Calzaghe gave the standard response about going “on holiday” to ponder his options, but a slip of the tongue might have offered a clue. Calzaghe accidentally said he was glad he came to America and handled “Jones,” rather than Hopkins. Ringside physician Dr. Freud was not available for comment.

The overwhelmingly pro-Calzaghe crowd of 14,213 did not boo the American national anthem, as fans did during the last British invasion when Manchester’s Ricky Hatton fought Floyd Mayweather Jr., but they sure did boo the American.

Hopkins, for whom the role of “bad guy” in any promotion fits as snugly as that executioner’s hood he used to wear into the ring, challenged not only the judges’ decision but also the CompuBox statistics that had Calzaghe outlanding him, 232 punches to 127.

On the judges’ cards, Ted Gimza had it 115-112 for Calzaghe, Adalaide Byrd 114-113 for Hopkins and Chuck Giampa 116-111 for Calzaghe. The Sun’s scorecard had it 114-113 for Calzaghe.

“The only thing I can say is, ‘Look at me,’” Hopkins (48-5-1, 32 KOs) said. “Would you think I was in a fight?

“If CompuBox was accurate I think I should look like the Elephant Man. My nose should be where my ear is.”