Calzaghe's dad has Hopkins reeling

But at a press conference in London yesterday to publicise the ridiculously extravagantly-billed Battle of the Planet in Las Vegas on April 19, only Enzo Calzaghe, in his joint capacity as father and trainer, threatened to get the better of the mouthy American.

The boxers may have eyeballed each other in phoney hostility for the benefit of the photographers but it only became remotely serious when the little Sardinian faced up to the product of the meanest streets in Philadelphia.

'I'm more scared of him,' joked Hopkins, referring to the father who had to be restrained by his son.

Hopkins had identified the dad-in-the-corner syndrome as a potential weakness, one that he had exploited in previous bouts.

'There's an extra emotional element,' said the American. 'He's got to come and save his son for another day.'

Enzo Calzaghe responded with his own verbal barrage. 'I know how to beat you and I have watched the video of only one fight. You and your men do not know how to beat Joe. You have never met anyone like Joe.'

For longer than probably any time in his life Hopkins could not get a word in. For the rest of his appearance at Planet Hollywood, the American held sway.

If Hopkins fights as well as he talks, then Calzaghe does not have a chance. At 43, however, Hopkins' tongue must surely move much faster than either his fists or his legs.

Which is not to deny that in the past, as he rightly insisted and his record confirms, he walked the walk as well as talked the talk.

On the eve of the Floyd Mayweather-Ricky Hatton fight in December, Hopkins talked and walked into trouble. 'I would never let a white boy beat me,' he told Calzaghe, a remark perceived by many as a racial slur.

There was neither apology nor expression of regret yesterday, Hopkins saying: 'I said what I said. People who know me, know me. It doesn't matter what I regret or what I don't regret.

'I said what I said and come April 19 it's up to Joe to prove me a liar. That's the best way to stop talkers. I'd like to move on to the fight — this isn't Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. It isn't time to be uptight.'

Hopkins later argued that his comment was more to do with culture; that in the gyms of Philadelphia every black boxer wanted to beat a white boxer.

As if that were not controversial enough, he failed to identify correctly 'Our 'Enery' in front of a British audience. 'This is about country versus country,' he said. 'That's my game. When I step in that ring, I represent the U.S.

'I believe we are the best athletes, especially in boxing. This is going to be a rerun of the Ali and Bert Cooper fight. He was British, wasn't he?'

Henry Cooper was. Bert was a Pennsylvanian contemporary of Hopkins, the first boxer to knock down Evander Holyfield as it happened.