Calzaghe, who will travel to Las Vegas on Saturday, has taken Ricky Hatton's advice to stay away from the Strip's air conditioning units to avoid any risk of illness, preferring to stay at a rented apartment in the city suburbs.

The Newbridge fighter said he wanted to win over American fans, just as Hatton did with a string of US bouts including his defeat to Floyd Mayweather last December.

"Every fighter wants recognition not just from his own people but from fans all over the world," said Calzaghe, who will also be fighting at light-heavyweight for the first time.

"Of course it's important for me to get fans in the States and to come across and prove the best fighter in the world is from Wales."

Former middleweight king Hopkins has built the intensity of the contest with his vow to "never lose to a white boy" and his warning that Calzaghe had "better be ready to die".

But Calzaghe sounded a more conciliatory tone in his latest round of interviews, admitting Hopkins was "still an excellent fighter" and suggesting he was unlucky to lose his two fights against Jermain Taylor in 2005.

Hopkins, known as "The Executioner", reigned as middleweight champion for 10 years and holds a record of 48 wins (32 KOs), four defeats and one draw.