Bernard Hopkins’ chief trainer Freddie Roach believes Joe Calzaghe’s easiness to hit and one-dimensional style will help his fighter win the bout on Saturday night and is confident enough to put part of his purse on the American’s arm being held aloft.
Hopkins is approaching 3/1 with some bookmakers for the Ring Magazine light heavyweight title fight, something that Roach finds hard to believe.
I can’t believe they’ve made this a three-to-one fight,” Roach told setantasports.com. “On occasion I will bet on my fighter.
“If I was the bookmaker and it wasn’t about the volume of money coming in I would see this as an even money fight.
“I bet on Pacquiao against Barrera [the first time] and Marlon Starling against Lloyd Honeygan.
“I’m betting on my guy which shows I’m very confident because I’m a cheap guy and I don’t want to lose.”
Roach leads Hopkins’ Execution Squad which is comprised of John David Jackson, Nazim Richardson and fitness trainer Mackie Shilstone.
They have exhaustively studied Calzaghe and Roach is certain that the often repeated notion that the Welsh fighter’s superior handspeed will give him victory.
“Joe blinds people with his hand speed,” Roach added. “I know Joe for a long time because I was studying him when I was training Steve Collins to fight him years ago before he retired.
“He fights just one way and why would you change when you’re 44-0.
“Joe’s had great success and I still think Eubank was one of his great wins, he was a lot tougher than people gave him credit for.
“But he opens himself a little bit because every time he throws a punch he opens himself up and that’s something we will look to exploit.
“People say Joe slaps but I say he must slap pretty hard because I’ve seen him knock people out with them.
“What wins fights? Is it pitter-patter punches or effective punches. We’re in America now, effective punches is how boxing is scored or should be scored and I think that’s where we have the huge advantage. We’ll have the more effective puncher in the fight.”
Roach insists he enjoyed having the Execution Squad has been a great help and not, as Enzo Calzaghe suggested, insulting to a trainer of his stellar reputation.
“Bernard made clear that I’m the boss and Nazim Richardson was great as a third eye for me.
“When I get in there and getting physical with him duplicating what Joe would do and I’d go to him after every round and say what should we work on, what is he doing wrong.
“When he’s going under is he looking at the floor and not watching his opponent. John David worked with him because he has the mentality of a southpaw.
“I liked fighting southpaws, like Bernard, and I’ve trained Manny Pacquiao and seven other Philipinos who are all lefties for some reason. That’s why we’re on the same page with this.”
