But Hopkins did not tank in other fights after this, credit Calzaghe for forcing Hopkins to fight at a pace he was not accustom to. Going in I felt Calzaghe would out speed Hopkins, and did not hit hard enough to pull off a come from behind type of stoppage. Hopkins had problems with faster fighters with some defense, as it limited his countering. IMO, Calzaghe won cleanly, 7-4-1, or 8-4. He out landed Hopkins in every round and like you said swept the cards late. Clazaghe's corner wanted him to go for the stoppage.
8-4? Highly questionable scorecard. Many scored it for Hopkins I had it 114-113 Hopkins I felt the Hopkins of 5 years earlier would have beat Calzaghe soundly...he wouldn’t have gassed and put up a higher work rate, with his punches being a little faster and sharper Calzaghe got exposed a bit in this fight for how he would do with a great fighter in his prime
Hopkins and his fans often have sour grapes after they lose. Hopkins had a style to age with, and had good wins post Calzaghe. Calzaghe did not had a good style to age with as it was based on speed and reflexes with go in the mid 30's. 5 years ago, Calzaghe was even quicker, and I think still wins. Hopkins could not counter or foul, I think he faked the effects of a low blow to gain time in the 10th as well. I don't see how you can have a guy winning when he was out landed in every round, and never threw one punch that hurt Calzaghe, in addition to gassing late. The only judge who had it for Hopkins was the same lady who had it Canelo over GGG by a wide margin, and had some bad cards before.
Rafael stated ringside plenty of people had it for Hopkins by 1 point Hopkins fans may be sour, but Calzaghe fans are delusional in regards to his accomplishments
Hopkins of the late 90s was far better than he was in 2008. He started to go down hill in 2005 when he got outworked and outspent by the pedestrian jermaine Taylor twice. Hopkins was 43 years old against Calzaghe for crying out loud. He was not in his prime. Hopkins did age well and still was a very good fighter up until 2011, but Hopkins prime was 97-2001 ages ages 32-36 years old.....Calzaghe would not beat the late 90s Hopkins Hopkins landed the cleaner harder shots, that was the difference on my cards. Joe scored with a lot of slap combinations on his shoulder and arms which had no effect. I thought it was a dreadful fight. Hopkins fought a negative, spoiling fight, far more focused on nullifying Calzaghe than actually mounting his own offence. As for Joe, he fought like an amateur. "I'll try lunging in and slapping flurrying...hmmm, that didn't work, just falling into a clinch. I know, I'll try doing that AND NOTHING ELSE for 12 rounds!" Calzaghe's failure to even slightly adapt to Hopkins' style was embarrassing to watch.
not till late with chad dawson and kovalev, but hopkins was clearly feeling it by then. He fared better with guys he was able to dictate the pace with, or who were dumb enough to let him dictate it. It was about fitnes, Mendoza. dont lie. Hopkins was gassed, obvious on the video - why even argue back?
Huh, Hopkins has the far more ugly style.....through out his entire career, hell, he even spoiled against bums. Anyway, Hopkins was great against moving up skinnies like DHL or Trinidad..........but he could never deal with a equal sized opponent who had SPEED and that was the deciding factor against RJJ and ultimately Calzaghe. Without the low blow faking and all his other antics the possibility of getting stopped by Calzaghe was real
The 34 year old Hopkins of 1999 could deal with Calzaghe slapping flurries and handspeed....the 99 Hopkins was a much better conditioned Hopkins, higher work rate Hopkins, faster crisper punches, unlike the slow plodding 08 Hopkins who only threw a good lead right occasionally Calzaghe would have been outclassed badly by a 94 Roy Jones
After the 1st Joe was the boss. He made hop his ***** in the 8th and 11th, made him fake injury. I know some will call that old school smarts. Well, we differ. And i know that punchstats don't always tell the whole story but outlandish a guy 2 to 1 and moving him around the ring all night and having him play into your game plan and not allowing him an exit.... That is next level sh*t.
Bernard won a round or two early and got the KD, but after that it was all Joe, and Bernard barely made it to the final bell. Hop gassed because Joe MADE HIM gas. He did not gas a few years later when he beat Pascal. He did not gas against Pavlik. He gassed because he was unable to adjust to the pressure. Moreover, if the fight had been fought a few years earlier, I think it would have been even worse for Bernard.