10 years on from Calzaghe Vs Hopkins?

Although Calzaghe appeared to get the better of the action overall, it is not hard to argue that on a RBR basis that Hopkins won it. I for one think this fight rises Hopkins' stock in an all time great sense, which perfectly illustrates how close it was. It might actually be one of Hopkins finest performances inside of a boxing ring, I listened to it on the radio and even the commentary team seemed to think it was too close to call before the decision was announced. I was only 13 at the time, so my British routes masked it as a good over evil style win. I've watched it numerous times since and can conclude that if you gave all the close rounds to either fighters you could get easily score it as wide as 116-111 for either man.

Their credentials going into the ring were incredible. A former unified and current lineal champion vs a current unified and lineal champion moving up in weight both arguably top 10 p4p. 40+ title defences between them

 

calzaghe won on tank, after hokins gassed out. ugly fight though, not memorable at all, oldster who could throw accurately for half the fight against poorer but much younger boxer who could throw all day but could barely land or hurt.
razor sharp win for calzaghe over a 40something.

 

It showed Cal was real to a degree because as old as Hopkins was he went on to fight and defeat terrific fighters for years after .. it was very close which also shows Cal was terrific but not as great as retiring undefeated leads one to assume .. it also showed how ugly Hopkins could be in the ring, over acting about his low blow suffering to a repulsive degree to win at any cost .. Hopkins is an all time crafty fighter and a tough match up at middleweight for anyone but one of the most unlikeable fighters, in and out of the ring, that I have ever seen.

 

Please may I ask you guys... Prime for Prime at the weight of 168? (just out of interest)

 

well prime for prime, joe has a bit more tank, which is no longer an advantage since plopkins wont gass when prime, with dfouble his 40something tank.

hopkins skills are the same, higher output, less dirty. result hopkins win, UD.

 

I had it before hand a tight pts win for Calzaghe mate. Afterwards I thought Hopkins spoiled a lot, and was very very cute in there, and Joe won by a round or two. I actually think 5 yrs before if they had met, Joe would've done better. Hop could frustrate anyone ever and make a fight close, and he got better as he got older with that

 

I imagine win at all costs Bernard was out of his mind on Peds too

 

He would be far more available Hopkins prime, his cageyness got him through fights as he got older.

 

Like those commentating, I had Calzaghe going away. And before Hopkins' fake job on the low blow, Calzaghe was overwhelming him and actually landing shots of real substance. Had that been allowed to continue against the ropes, a stoppage was not out of the question.

 

Calzaghe clearly won by a couple of rounds. 2 judges with eyes had good cards, the only one that had Hopkins winning was one of the worst judges of all time. That says it all really.

 

jhoes not stoping anyone with world class ability, not outside cardiff. He simply did not have the power.

certainly not bhop. it was the other, way, bhop cam eclosest to stopping joe in 1 and 2, but joe lowblowed hopkins in order to not get stopped, as he readily admitted.