Accurate. The WBO was not recognized as a major world title during the 90s. It's debatable as to exactly when it started gaining such recognition, but it was some time in the early 2000s, and I tend to believe the Hopkins-DLH bout kind of made it "official" in terms of how the WBO was regarded/when it was elevated in status.
I am talking about the past. U dont seem to be aware of medoing so,or simply dont know the past. as to best ever,if thats what you mean,its obviously Jones, then Ward,with Froch,Cal, Lilles, Kessler and perhaps Bute arguing over the next spots. JIf you mean best for the few months Joe had the titles without defending them, then yes, Joe was best SMW for part of that year.
7-5 either way is fine. I remember having it 6-6 and at another time 7-5 Hopkins. Calzaghe proved that he is on that level, regardless of how you saw that fight.
Michaelczewski was an awesome champion, and he was unfairly stripped of other alphabet titles, and he did indeed have a legit claim as lineal champion. But the WBO still wasn't universally recognized as a "major" world title at that time. To be sure, it was held in higher regard in Europe and other places outside the US, but as I recall, the Big 3 didn't become the Big 4 until after DM had already lost.
From the U.K. I remember watching it with about 6 pals, and the room was silent after the 12th Every person had it for Hopkins Maybe il rewatch
The WBO before 2004 was like the IBO of today, secondary title to make your collection of belts look pretty.
I've read this entire thread and the people giving it to Calzaghe are blindly repeating the same thing, with no substance behind their posts other than Joe is a great fighter who won on work rate, deal with it. I've watched this fight live on HBO with my dad when it originally aired. At the time we were rabid Hopkins haters due to the racism and lack of class he exhibited during the build up to the Trinidad fight. Before re-watching, I didn't remember much about the Calzaghe fight other than the knockdown and Calzaghe butt-****ing Hopkins like the little ***** that he was and were ecstatic when he lost. Watching the fight now, if you look closely and objectively, Calzaghe's punches(slaps) were simply ineffective and hardly landed during his flurries, yet it controlled the tempo of the fight due to the crowds reaction and Hopkins negative tactics of clinching and grabbing Calzaghe's arm to slow down his punch output. The entire fight is available on youtube in 720p, I've paid close attention to all of Calzaghe's flurries and it was a joke, he almost never landed a clean blow, a lot of them were karate chops on the back of Hopkins head. Calzaghe's best shots came from single shot counters but Hopkins almost always immediately answered back. If you score Calzaghe's ineffective flurries, then he won the fight. But if you score it on clean and accurate boxing, there's no way you can have it for him.
Haha that's my attitude towards it; rewatching--noticed how often C hit H, ...really frequently...but easy to miss on first viewing/ live as the hits were so fast....more Welterweight slaps obviously....but they were so rapid and consistent that they were seriously pissing Bernard off. Amazed on the re-watch how many Calzaghe shots that landed I'd not seen. Again George Formby, not Foreman power level.....but enough to win it without doubt. Likewise, my brain can live with it and no desire for a revisit
People labeling B Hop as a racist obviously havent heard the story of the young amateur Nard took under his wing. This kid was caucasian. He had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Nard looked after him physically & financially through the months until his tragic death He then paid all his expenses including all his funeral expenses. Nard loved that kid. This hardly points to him being racist in the least does it. There was no publicity at the time Nard didnt want it. I know this story is true the man that told me about it was Bouie Fisher long before their tragic breakup. Whats happened to B Hop today I dont know. he just seems to be Oscars puppet I guess $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ does that to some people
Adalaide Byrd was the only judge that scored it for Hopkins, 114-113. Why can't more judges be like Byrd right ? 117-110 is a little wide but Hopkins did land the better punches, but he was getting outworked by Joe and you know that most judges have a tendency to score to the aggressor who throws more punches regardless of paying attention to what is landing clean. It's always these quality vs quantity fights that produce such polarizing views on scoring. Hopkins Calzaghe was similar to Canelo GGG 1 in this regard. Byrd seems to consistently reward clean landed shots & defense like slipping punches vs aggression and throwing more punches. The other judges just gave Calzaghe rounds for swarming Hops and throwing more punches, not paying attention to what was landing clean.
Thank you for watching the fight and being honest, exactly what I saw. You summed up the thread and the fight perfectly. I don’t think any less of Calzaghe for losing to Hopkins in reality, or any more of Hopkins for beating Calzaghe. It was an ugly fight between two guys who impose their style on a fight and make it messy. It was a stalemate of styles but the boxing match still had to be scored within the rules of boxing, and it wasn’t close. You couldn’t score rounds for a tough novice boxer who continuously walks forward and throws over a thousand slappy ‘punches’ that don’t land, so you can’t do the same just because it’s the great Joe Calzaghe. The game is the sweet science, not aggressive shadow boxing and points for trying to get to your opponent. Aggression needs to be effective. Hopkins often complains so people ignore him, but his complaints were valid in this fight.
I don't think Hopkins is a racist but he did say a racist statement. Honestly, I don't care, it was just trash talk. However, Hopkins is a cheat...low blows, eblows, headbutts and wrestling. Same thing with Ward.
