Calzaghe, Hopkins weigh-in for super-fight

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins both weighed in at 173 pounds for their eagerly-awaited light-heavyweight super-fight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

The veteran champions traded insults with 43-year-old Hopkins jabbing the Welshman's chest and snarling: "I'm going to bust your heart".

Calzaghe, supported by thousands of his own supporters who have invaded Las Vegas, snapped back with a few verbal barbs of his own before being ushered away at the Planet Hollywood auditorium.

And his first show of aggression delighted promoter Frank Warren, who said: "That is exactly what I wanted to see. Joe has never been better prepared and I'm confident he will do the job in style."

Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) stepped up from middleweight to beat Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright at light-heavy, while Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) has an impeccable record at super-middleweight, but has never fought outside of Europe.

Hopkins has questioned the 36-year-old Calzaghe's skills, belittled his list of European opponents and criticized his long-delayed debut in Las Vegas.

He has also had harsh words to say about Calzaghe's father/trainer, Enzo, but the Welshman is unfazed.

"It's all an act, all show," Calzaghe said.

"I know what Bernard will do in terms of being a dirty fighter at times, and I've been in this sport long enough that there's nothing you can say to me I haven't heard. ...

"Being a champion, this is what it's really all about. Would Hopkins ever come to Wales, to England? Of course he wouldn't. I basically have to fight him at his own game."

The fight, which is expected to draw a substantial pay per view audience on HBO, has been on the cards for the past six years and the winner will be applauded as an all-time great.

Actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael J. Fox joined the fighters on the stage for the weigh-in, along with boxers Roy Jones Jr., Zab Judah, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Diaz, Shannon Briggs and Amir Khan, the British Olympic silver medalist who could fight for a lightweight title this year. E-mail to a friend