Dont judge Calzghe on that performance

I wouldn't say there was a lack of preparation. There are certain fighters that you just aren't going to look good against and Hopkins is one of those guys. It's a testament to his ability as a fighter that he was able to make Calzaghe look ordinary. By the same token, you gotta give credit to Calzaghe for doing what he had to do to win. It had to be frustrating for Joe to not be able to overwhelm his opponent like he's done so many times. It's quite the challenge for a dominant fighter to find himself in the position of having to take what the opponent gives u more often than being able to simply impose yourself on them.

 

Yeah I did read it. Probably made another post just as you posted this. Sorry mate :good

 

Good post Nutter. Congrats to Joe C, he did it. It certainly would have been interesting though had BHop had the gas in the tank to go down the stretch.

 

JC dominated a prime BHOP

 

I don't think it matters which Joe shows up he would never be able to school Hopkins. It was a good fair win though.

 

Hopkins just tried to move in short spaces, along the ropes, block and duck Calzaghe's punches and catch him with a single shot. I liked to see both guys ducking shots and trying to counter but the fight was not that interesting... Hopkins had to fake the low blow because he was running out of gas and needed the rest. Basically, Hopkins tried to overpower Calzaghe in those short exchanges because he could never have outfought him - didn't have the legs to stay away or to step in faster, didn't have the handspeed to outpunch and come to outland Calzaghe ( even if it was only in powerpunch stats), didn't have the lungs and the energy to keep up with the hard pace... One has to admit, Calzaghe won fair and square. Bernard should address it or it's very bad for the sport.

 

My biggest problem with Hopkins' performance last night was that with just a little more effort, he could have won the fight. I don't think Calzaghe could hurt him and yet Hopkins was almost avoiding contact at times. When he threw, he threw accurately and effectively. Too much walking around the ring doing nothing, though. And that cost him the fight.

 

nope he was good but not at his best Hopkins has been more active and shown a better work rate in previous fights

 

I have never seen B-hop actually have to fight this much instead of just countering. I think Joe brought it out of him. Sloppy fight but thats what you get when you go up against B-hop.

 

Joe Calzghe was simply a bad style match up for Bernard Hopkins.

After all what is Hopkins? A big tough guy with good counterpunching power and the skill to clinch when its to his advantage. And Calzaghe? A reasonably tough guy with very fast hand speed and an excellent workrate.

Once Calzaghe learned to respect and time Hopkins counter-punching ability and got his rhythm down he simply overwhelmed him with low power punches.