Bernard Hopkins says he's the best fighter ever and that he will prove it by ending Welshman Joe Calzaghe's unbeaten record in April.

Both men are regarded among the all-time greats in the sport. Hopkins defended the world middleweight title 20 times - a record recently surpassed by Calzaghe at super-middleweight.

However, speaking in Los Angeles at the pair's latest press conference promoting the fight - which is being staged at light-heavyweight - Hopkins confidently predicted victory.

"What you are going to see on April 19 is greatness," he said. "I'm going to reduce Joe Calzaghe down to what I want him to do. I don't care how many punches he throws, I will win the fight.

"I'm 43-years-old and a living legend, the best fighter ever. Calzaghe has never seen anything like me before or my style, and I'm going to reduce him to a typical European fighter.

"Thirty million people will watch me execute the British guy. I'm going to show you what greatness is.

"Joe Calzaghe is not like Winky Wright, who I called the turtle because of his guard. Joe throws lots of punches and that will be his weakness."

Calzaghe hit back by questioning the standard of Hopkins' opponents.

"Who have you beaten?" asked Calzaghe, 35, a question which clearly irked Hopkins. "You got your arse kicked twice by Jermain Taylor."

He added: "He can talk all he wants, but I don't think he'll be running his mouth after I've kicked his butt on April 19.

"He's trying to get under my skin, but I've been a world champion for more than a decade and I've seen it all before.

"The harder the fight, the more pressure there is, the better I perform. Agreeing to fight me was the biggest mistake he's ever made."

More news from SportingLife.com