YESTERDAY was the head to head press conference between Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe and it was surprisingly short of fireworks.

Calzaghe has done his bit in selling around 9,000 tickets to British fans, but with Hopkins seemingly as popular over here as cricket one suspected he'd perhaps do something to spark attention.

However, it was left to Golden Boy Promotions' Richard Schaeffer - chief executive - to try to spark a rush in ticket sales.

"I don't care what anybody says, this is England versus America," he commented, several times, louder and louder.

It was left to Frank Warren to explain that Calzaghe isn't actually English (from what I have seen America really doesn't understand the concept of Wales).

Not that Warren was on perfect form in the head to head, introducing Enzo Calzaghe as Enzo Maccarinelli.

Calzaghe senior is struggling to be understood in a country that doesn't entertain many Sardinian natives with a Welsh accent, though his words weren't needed when he handed Hopkins a freshly purchased walking stick.

The evening saw the journalists given a proper treat, tickets to the world premiere of the new Al Pacino film, 88 minutes.

I guess we're heading towards how lucky is the bloke from the Argus' territory, particularly as the packed cinema was treated to Mr Pacino actually attending.

To be sat a mere ten yards from Serpico/Michael Corleone/Scarface/the blind bloke from Scent of a Woman, was a proper thrill. Until the lights dimmed and the film started.

Pacino failing to stay for his own film should have perhaps have been a give-away as to what was in store - a truly woeful film (two hours long as well, surely making the title entirely redundant).

Pacino is absolutely awesome, we all know this, making it all the more unbelievable that he hasn't made a half decent film in the 21st century.

However, every cloud has a silver lining, the after show party with free booze more than ticking the right boxes.

The BBC - who in America are absolutely revered - were even granted red carpet access and got an exclusive from Pacino about the Calzaghe/Hopkins fight.

The fact that Al was delighted to discuss the boxing but was highly reluctant to discuss the film speaks volumes, as does the fact that interviewer Jason Mohammad slept for 45 minutes of the movie, a fact which I don't think he will thank me for sharing with you!