Millions of words have been spoken, mostly by Bernard Hopkins, but tonight Joe Calzaghe gets the chance to settle matters as he likes best, in the ring.

After more than a decade as a world champion, more than 17 years unbeaten, Calzaghe, the WBC, WBA and WBO super-middleweight champion, embarks on a fresh challenge, a first bout at light-heavyweight and his first bout in the United States. Hopkins, who will be defending his Ring magazine world title and his claim to be the linear light-heavyweight champion, represents a formidable obstacle, despite being 43. Even though he is boxing at a new weight against a legendary opponent, Calzaghe is a long odds-on favourite. But no one here is being complacent.

It is usually around now that the doubts start to creep in for most Calzaghe fans. This time Hopkins, who held the world middleweight title for a decade until 2005, has carefully planted that uncertainty. He has disparaged the standard of Calzaghe's opponents, the power of his punching, even his skills and accuracy. But, throughout his career, when the pressure has been on, Calzaghe has delivered.

That was the case when he beat the young, unbeaten, hard-hitting Mikkel Kessler last year. That was the case when he beat Jeff Lacy, the young, unbeaten, hard-hitting American in 2006, It was also the case when he beat Mario Veit in Braunschweig in 2005. Veit was a beanpole German who could beat anyone except Calzaghe, having been stopped in a round by him in 2001.

But in 2005, Calzaghe's career seemed to be on the floor. In his previous bout he had been knocked down by the unknown Kabary Salem, his marriage had come to an end and Veit's promoter, Klaus-Peter Kohl, sensing that the Welshman was there for the taking, bid big to get home advantage. Calzaghe won in six one-sided rounds and has not looked back since. It was a turning point for him.

Calzaghe, 36, does not look like a worried man. He sees the extra half-stone as a blessing, having struggled to make the 12st super-middleweight limit for years, and he has looked past the brash talk of Hopkins. “He talks a good game, but when I look at him he is a 43-year-old fighter who has lost four times,” Calzaghe said. “I am going to be the first guy to knock Hopkins out. I have more power at light-heavyweight. I know I am punching harder, I can feel it.

“Fighting out here at this time is my destiny. Now is the perfect time to be fighting in America. I could have come over here five years ago and fought, but maybe I would not have handled it all as well as I am now. Now I am more controlled. I can handle it all. Hopkins is hoping he can catch me with a big right hand, but it won't happen. If I bring my A game against anybody in the world, then I win. If I don't fight my fight, then there is a chance I can lose.”

Hopkins, though, is in great shape; only the flecks of grey in his beard and slight thinning in his hair give away his age. He is also a clever boxer who is not averse to using foul methods to get on top. He is unlikely to feel overwhelmed in front of Calzaghe.

“He throws thousands of punches, but I'm a sniper,” Hopkins said. “I'm the most accurate and pinpoint fighter. If he throws 1,000 punches, it leaves him open 1,000 times. That's dangerous. If he comes forward and throws punches, you think I'm going to go into a shell and wait for him to stop and let him win the round? We've got the best judges. They're not going to let him throw punches at the wind. They're looking for accuracy.”

But Calzaghe is at the top of his game and logic dictates that he should be too quick, too young, too determined and smart enough to beat Hopkins.

While the American built a team of four coaches to prepare for this bout in California, Calzaghe worked, as always, in his gym in South Wales with his father, Enzo. And Calzaghe Sr has even less doubt about the result than his son. “Bernard Hopkins is going to ride off into the sunset on Saturday,” he said. “And Joe Calzaghe is going to be the one who slaps the horse's arse.”

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