Hopkins vs Cloud: Tavoris Cloud confident, says he 'can't be beat'

Tavoris Cloud says he's ready for the biggest fight of his career tonight, as the IBF light heavyweight titlist will face 48-year-old legend Bernard Hopkins on HBO from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

In fact, Cloud said yesterday that he feels "kind of invincible," and that he's as well-prepared for this huge opportunity as he can be:

"I'm ready. I feel like I can't be beat. You have to feel like that being a fighter. I just feel like this is a bigger type of energy. I feel like I've beaten so many odds. I feel kind of invincible. It's going to be a good fight."

Whether or not 31-year-old Cloud (24-0, 19 KO) can really make a "good fight" with Hopkins remains to be seen, but even a win in a bad fight would do Cloud a world of good. If he were the man to retire Hopkins -- as would almost surely happen if B-Hop loses -- that's something that can never be taken away from him.

Of course, Cloud will need to fight more than once a year to build real momentum. With the outdated Don King serving as his promoter (King says, "Cloud is hungry. He needs the money," which is hilarious), Cloud has had trouble staying busy.

But he's got a new trainer in Abel Sanchez, a new manager, and, as King says, an opportunity.