Calzaghe keeps cool

BOXING:Undefeated British boxer Joe Calzaghe kept his cool and smiled when American Bernard Hopkins warned him yesterday he should be "willing to die" when they meet in a light-heavyweight world title bout in April.

"He can be the bad guy now, but I'm going to be the bad guy come April 19th," Calzaghe said after facing off with Hopkins at a news conference in New York.

"He's good at mind games," Calzaghe said, describing the 43-year-old former prison inmate as a "big mouth" who likes to psyche himself up before a fight.

"He's cagey, he's crafty, he bends the rules a bit. But believe me, I've been through the mind games," said the 35-year-old Welshman who has been super-middleweight champion for a decade and is undefeated in 44 fights with 32 knock-outs.

Hopkins' record is 48 wins, four defeats and one draw, also with 32 knock-outs.

The bout in Las Vegas will be Calzaghe's first in the US. He will also step up to light-heavyweight - a move Calzaghe said would give him a bit more punching power as he would not have to lose so many pounds to make the grade.

"I'm under no illusions about this fight, it's going to be tough," Calzaghe said. But he added he had speed, youth, strength and power on his side. "He (Hopkins) knows what it's like to lose, he's lost four times. I've never lost."

Hopkins, dubbed "The Executioner", vowed to prove wrong anybody who thought he did not have a chance.

"I'm going to prove that the sand hasn't run out of the glass yet," he said. "I will retire on my terms, in my way."

None of Calzaghe's super-middleweight belts will be on the line in the fight, which will be for Hopkins' Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Championship belt.n WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Coach Gene Muller yesterday named his squad of 18 for the Irish women's tour to New Zealand. The team will travel to Wellington on February 22nd, returning home on the March 2nd, for a trip that will see them compete in four matches, two against China and two against New Zealand as they continue to prepare for their Olympic Qualifying tournament in Canada in April/May.

Loreto's Niamh Small is recalled as UCC's Hollie Moffett retains her position after a good performance in Spain. Bridget McKeever also returns after missing the trip to Spain due to work commitments.

IRISH SQUAD: Mary Goode (Pembroke Wanderers), Louisa Healy (Loreto), Roisin Flinn (UCD), Eimear Cregan (Cork Harlequins), Emma Clarke (Randlastown), Emma Stewart (Armagh), Bridget McKeever (Ballymoney), Shirley McCay (Randalstown), Jenny McDonagh (Belfast Harlequins), Cathy McKean (Loreto), Julia O'Halloran (UCC), Ciara O'Brien (UCD), Nikki Symmons (Loreto), Lisa Jacob (UCD), Niamh Small (Loreto), Clare Parkhill (Randalstown), Hollie Moffett (UCC), Louisa Moore (Pembroke Wanderers).

WOMEN'S RUGBY: For the third game running, Irish coach John O'Sullivan has kept faith with the same team as his charges prepare to host Scotland on Friday. O'Sullivan has made no changes to the starting team and the replacements to the sides who beat Italy and performed admirably in France and he is confident his chosen team can do the job against Scotland in Dublin (St Mary's RFC, 6pm).

"Undoubtedly, competition for places is high and the decision to keep the team the same was not an easy one as several players when introduced in our previous games have performed really well and are keeping the pressure on the starting 15."

Ireland's pack have been in fine form with secondrow Geri Healy impressing with two tries from two games and Ulster hooker Jess Limbert settling in well.

IRELAND: S Belton (capt); L Cantwell, P Kelly, S Houston, G Davitt; J O'Sullivan, T Rosser; F Coghlan, J Limbert, M Barrett, C Mahon, G Healy, E O'Sullivan, S Ryan, O Brennan. Replacements: G Bourke, Y Nolan, K O'Loughlin, L Austin, L Beamish, N Briggs, A Davis.