The undefeated Calzaghe is looking to start what could be his final year in the fight game with a victory over 43-year-old American Hopkins to prove that he can thrive outside his native Wales.
It will be a non-title light heavyweight bout but while no belt will be at stake Calzaghe is hoping for support on the scale of Ricky Hatton's encounter with Floyd Mayweather last year when an estimated 25,000 Britons trekked to the gambling city.
Confirmation that the fight will take place on April 19 at the Thomas Mack Center in Las Vegas came at a press conference at London's Planet Hollywood attended by Calzaghe and promoter Frank Warren.
Some eager fans had jumped the gun, booking flights when it was reported in the Welsh press that the fight would take place a week earlier.
A win would propel 35-year-old Calzaghe, who unified the super-middleweight division with victory over Mikkel Kessler in 2007, into a possible career finale against Roy Jones Jnr or Jermain Taylor.
That would ensure Calzaghe's place in boxing's hall of fame, following on from a year in which he was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
He has already intimated that he would love his swansong to take place at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York where his Italian heritage would secure a rapturous reception.
For that to happen he would first have to take care of Hopkins, who has claimed he would "never lose to a white man".
But Calzaghe insisted: "I want to look back on my career and say I was one of the best."
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Joe should have no problems beating a past it Hopkins who was lucky to beat "winky" last time out, tho theres no doubting the executioner has had a fantastic career..Its a shame that a badly managed Calzaghe hasnt been fighting the best stateside years ago and will never be given the recognition he deserves.Teriffic hand speed up there with Sugar Shane Mosley in his prime..
Hopkins claimed he would "never lose to a white man"
Correct me if I'm wrong but surely if this Calzaghe saying the opposite there would be uproar everywhere, so why does Hopkins get away with being a racist??
Who has Joe Calzaghe ,beaten in ten years as a World champion?,very few recognizable fighters.
He is virtually unknown on this side of the Atlantic,W.B.O.and I.B.F,titles do not have a lot of credibilty attached to them.
Calzaghe is not in the same league as Hopkins,although Hopkins best years are behind him i predict he will be victorious.
The only winners will be the promotors,selling tickets to "mugs" who think that they are Boxing fans,lets hope that they show a little more class this time and not "boo" the U.S. National Anthem.
Roy Bowden,Canada.
calzaghe has beaen everyone in the division, unified the title. Hopkins wants to fight in the USbecause if the fights close the bent yankee judges will give him the 'hometown decision'. Even Ali got a few of them in his career as did Louis. Joe will have to stop him to beat him beacause he's deluded to think he can get a decision in Vegas against a Yank even if he's dominant. look at Lewis v Holyfield an absolute disgraceful piece of judging and i fear that history may repeat itself.
Roy boy come back on here April 20th. Calzaghe is the real deal. He will beat Hopkins up and would have done when Hopkins was at his best. Joe has fought everybody out there. Watch Kessler. Once Calzaghe retires he will dominate super middle for years. He is also top class. Its just that as ever Calzaghe found a way to win. Come April 19th he will do so again. In style.
Joe Calzaghe is a "big fish"
in a small pond,the only legitimate contenders that he has beaten are Jeff Lacy and Kessler.
British and European Boxers look impressive in there own backyards,but when they take there "show on the road"there wheels have a tendency to fall off,there have been exceptions to this but very few.
Joe wants to be remembered as an "all time great" in his weight division,the following were some of the all time greats in this division,Marvin Hagler,62-3-1,52kos.Tommy Hearns, 61-5-1,48kos,Roberto duran,103-16-1,70kos,Bob foster,Sugar Ray Leonard and the list goe`s on,these guys all fought legitimate contenders,not "pretenders and "Tomatoe cans".
Sorry Joe you are not even close to being in this League.
Regarding the insult that Hopkins is alleged to have said that "no white Boy is going to beat me" this is reminiscent of Allan Minter saying before he met Hagler,that he wasn`t going to lose to a Black man,Hagler by the way,cleaned his clock and took his title in three rounds in London.
Sorry Joe not this time,stay at home!