If Hopkins had fought as well as he did last night, he would have beaten Calzaghe

Going the distance with Hopkins at 10 pounds above your normal weight doesn't necessarily mean you are "ordinary".

Remember Trinidad couldn't even do what Pavlik did.

Although many expected Pavlik to win, I did not. I expected Hopkins to win. I didn't expect Pavlik to give up without a fight from the first second though... and I still cannot explain why he had no focus even in the lead-up to the fight. He took it all as a joke while Bernard was focused as ever.

At the end of the day Hopkins won. Pavlik lost a wide decision, but traded with Hopkins in most rounds (although he should have worked more if he wanted to win, but he was there) and that is more than many have been able to do. So, despite the let-down for some, let's look at this with fresh eyes and give Pavlik the credit he deserves.

 

Calzaghe wouldn't let Hopkins be that comfortable in there. Say what you will about Joe, he took the fight to Hopkins and set the pace, flipped the script and took Hopkins out of his comfort zone, and won going away. If it wasn't for the faked low blow, he would've TKO'd him. Styles make fights. Calzaghe beats Hopkins everytime (especially at this age) and would destroy Pavlik. Dawson on the other hand, would be a better match-up. Dawson's weakness is his chin and his lack of defense and Calzaghe's weakness is his reluctance to throw real power punches because of his hands, so it would be interesting.

 

I exagerated a little,Pavlik is a good fighter...at MW.When he comes up to LHW he will get owned like he did last night.I also went for Hopkins to win just like he did,clearly.Pavlik is a come forward,agrresive fighter who has overrated boxing skills,he can't box.He better stay away from Abraham cuz he would get the same type of beating.When he doesn't have a size advantage he ain't the great,plus Bernard was a very bad style match-up for him

 

Joe's pace and workrate it better than Pavliks, and Joe's upperbody movements and his ability coming in from different angles is also 1st class.

Pavlik has a good jab (sometimes double-jab) followed by a hard right - and he can go on for 12 rounds. But thats about it!

Pavlik was just way too 1-dimensional and slow on his feet - it was almost candy for BHops, being such a great counter-pouncher.

Pavlik had trouble with the speed last night - so the conclusion is obviously that a Joe-Pavlik fight now is out of the question. Pavlik would get beaten even more convincingly. :bbb

 

There's a reason Hopkins didn't perform as well against Calzaghe and that's Calzaghe himself. Calzaghe's movement meant he wasn't able to settle like he could against Pavlik and he couldn't physically bully Calzaghe either. Maybe Calzaghe's a little better than you think

 

Against Tarver, Hopkins looks brilliant.

Against Pavlik, Hopkins looks hyper brilliant.

Is is really such a stretch that Calzaghe was the reason Hopkins didn't look brilliant? Calzaghe simply did not allow Hopkins to fight, he had some early success, Calzaghe adjusted, and that was it. Period. Joe took over. Hopkins showed last night he still has 12 rounds in him, Calzaghe is different fighter, a special fighter and Joe was the REASON Hopkins was out of puff.

 

No. I love Hopkins, but Calzaghe is a step above, kind of like how Roy was when BHop fought him back in the day.

If Hopkins fought Roy now, however, he'd tear Roy up.

Tonight's fight was the latest hard medicine for the Calzaghe haters. Pavlik never had a shot against Joe, and the guy who looked great tonight was defeated soundly by the Welshman.

 

Calzaghe is a step above? Why? Because he won a split decision against the much older Hopkins? Hopkins had the right style to beat Calzaghe just like he had the right style to beat many other great fighters. Father time just caught up with him that's all.

 

He did nothing against Calzage except that very early flash knockdown, absolute nothing, and if he'd came out his shell he would have been taken apart.

 

No. Wasn't much to suggest he would have.

 

Or we could look at the situation from a different angle.

If Pavlik had fought as Calzaghe did, he would have beaten Hopkins (by a close Decision) . I don't particularly care for Calzaghe but there's one thing you can't take away from him , he's got a way better workrate than Pavlik.

 

For some reason I've been nearly crying with laughter reading this thread.

 

But we could also argue thart age is relative.
For instance Hopkins performance was just as good if not better than his best (when he was younger).

No one ages the same. For instance in mma there's a guy called randy couture (if you don't follow mma , he's a 45 year old with the body of young man)... he's supposed to be "past prime" (i'd say he is) , but when he's ultra motivated , he's capable to pull some very solid performances. (pretty much like Hopkins did last night).

Tyson , crocop (in mma) were both shot early in their careers.

Foreman for instance was a very special case because unlike hopkins & couture , he truely was past prime...and very different...he was too slow , too fat & more limited...But he could still win fights because he had one hell of a chin & was very endurant. A force of nature. (not to mention he had ko power)

 

By admiting that those guys are just mere..."bums" you are (maybe unintentionally ) devaluing Bernard's victory. ( because beating a bum isn't an achievement to be proud of )