Hopkins: 'Brits are very arrogant and I'll bring out the worst in them'

man he is going to beat Joe Cal.....bad.

 

Yes I've written quite a few detailed predictions with regards this on the forum already but to briefly summarise. I just think Calzaghe will miss even more punches than usual & be caught with counters. Hopkins will, inevitably, hold which will frustrate Calzaghe who is used to having things his way & will make mistakes. I see a close UD for Hopkins who may even drop Joe with a Kabary Salem style knockdown where he won't be at all hurt but just caught off balance.

 

Quitana proved that if you crack somebody overe and over...their out pout will get sliced in half like he did with my boy Williams...Hopkins will do the same to Calzaghe.

 

That's very naive. There are many firsts here for Calzaghe: Fighting in the USA, fighting the psychological battle before the fight, fighting at a new weight, fighting an older man with possibly more tricks than him, not being able to stay at home with his family for the week before the fight, his opponent who will try and wind his Dad up.... all things that could knock Joe out of his stride and with 3 American judges and a lack of serious power on both sides, this alone is enough to worry me slightly.

Joe is a perfectionist. If one aspect of the training camp is not good (his Dad, lack of family, a **** hotel in the US etc), he's the kind of character that could throw his toys out of the pram.

 

The Salem fight was an odd one though....I mean he got caught but he was being far more expansive than he would be against Hopkins cos he didn't respect Salem at all....he knows Hopkins has that head down straight right counter.

Joe only landed 250 out off 1000 punches against Kessler and still won comfortably so I think even if he misses he'll still land more than Hopkins does in a round

Plus look at the Lacy and Kessler fights.....both of them after the fight called Joe a spoiler and a holder on the inside.....so he does it too

 

You should have more faith in your fighter buddy!!

Joe is supremely confident and also undefeated!!

The weight means very little cos Hopkins was a MW for years and years....Kessler was fighting near to 175 vs Calzaghe and he took those punches wel enough..

 

I do have faith. I think Joe is going to beat Hopkins handily. I'm just trying to make a case for BHop so I can get excited for this fight. I'm struggling at the moment.

 

I agree Joe fought to Salem's level that night but in Hopkins he will be fighting a higher level of opponent who won't need Joe to be expansive to find openings. PrideOfWales made some excellent points above that I think could be a factor.

 

Personally my favourite Calzaghe perfomance was the Mairo Veit rematch in Germany where there were 10,000 Germans supporting Veit who was 6'4 I think and he seemed way more focussed and looked superb beating him up.

That fight had the majority of fans against Calzaghe and he won....the fight in April will be at least half full of Brits supporting Calzaghe....and judges can be swayed by a loud crowd

PLUS....the last close decisions Hopkins was involved in he lost both times to Taylor so its not gonna be a Malignaggi-N'Goudjo style robbery

 

this is a point that a lot of people are not picking up on. joe also excells at spoiling and making his opponent look bad.

 

Great article as usual by McRae. I think you get a lot of the essence of Hopkins from the interview.

 

I still feel Hopkins knows Calzaghe isn't scared.....

 

You mean like Jermain one-dimensional "feather fisted yank bum" Taylor who beat him twice?

Dream on, pal!

 

Yeah Tyson86 sucks.....ignore him

 

I liked that article. Gotta love B-Hop, he may act like a ***** at times but in that article he talked alot of sense. Hopkins is the master of mind games, im slightly worried that if Hopkins gets inside Calzaghe's head prior to the fight it could be a hell of an awkward night for Joe come April. Im sticking with Calzaghe by UD though