A word on BHOP vs. Calzaghe: Neither man is afraid!!!

maracho · Feb 3, 2008

Maybe he is afraid of facing the boys in the hood and the mosque after the fight.

nickthegreek · Feb 3, 2008

compukiller said:

All this talk about one of these fighters being afraid of the other would laughable if it wasn't so disrespectful.

Listen, both of these guys are world champs. Joe Calzaghe owns 168 and rules it with iron slaps (a cheap shot, I know). BHOP is a very old man, and is the champ at 175 (Erdei is a regional beltholder and you know it). He ruled 160 for over a decade, and thrashed the light heavy champ at the age of 41.

You can have problems with either fighter's style or comp or whatever, but to say either of these men is afraid is ridiculous. Joe is undefeated, and is crossing the Atlantic to jump up a to division he's never fought at and to fight for the title.

He is putting his undefeated record and reputation on the line to fight a legendary fighter, when he could have easily stayed in Wales and fought a rubber match against Mario Veit to a sold out crowd, reaping nearly all the prize money. But to his credit, he is not. You know why? Because he's not afraid.

BHOP could have retired years ago a sure fire HOF fighter with a record number of title defenses. He had his big money fights (Tito, DLH) and could have rode into the sunset. And no one would have even questioned it. At 40, it would have been seen as not only sane, but smart.

But he kept fighting. He took on the young lion in his division and, I feel, proved he was the better fighter by far. These were fights he did not have to take. He then jumped not one, but TWO divisions, and fought the champ Tarver, who everyone said would KO BHOP and early. This was seen as crazy. He then proceeded to humilate Tarver like no one has before or since. He won the title in a fight, again, he did not have to take.

Add to the fact that Hopkins was put into Graterford Pen at the age of 17 (and this place is no picnic, as anyone from PA), served 5 yrs with murderers and rapists, and became the national prison boxing champ at super middle and light heavy.

And he's supposed to be afraid of Calzaghe :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl

People, both of these guys have been talking ****, and they should. But it strikes me as appalling how people degrade these fighters in these discussions. I realize many of these people are idiots and have no idea what boxing really is, but it is getting to be too much. You can seperate the boxing from the hype, people.

And another thing: Money is a huge factor in boxing, as in every sport. The fighters want to be well compensated for risking their lives in this most brutal of professions. If a fight stalls due to certain business issues, it does not mean there is fear involved. The money has to be right. It has to make the most sense for the fighter. It can be frustrating for the fans, but these men have familes and people that depend on them. Nobody fights for free. (Except Balboa in Rocky 4).

So whether you think Joe C will thrash BHOP, or you think BHOP will beat the **** out of Joe C, we should respect these two warriors who are battling each other for legacy, and yes, money. They are not afraid.

And they both have signed fight agreements that say so. :deal
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Great post that.
Agree with absolutly everything you say :good

nickthegreek · Feb 3, 2008

compukiller said:

BHOP by WIDE UD
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Then you go and throw it all away with that prediction

compukiller · Feb 3, 2008

nickthegreek said:

Then you go and throw it all away with that prediction
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Yes, but my point is,my prediction is not based on any perceived fear on Calzaghe's part. :good

RafaelGonzal · Feb 4, 2008

B-HOP rusty, crusty or old I dont care.....the man is a very disciplined intelligent fighter. Knows all the little tricks dirty or otherwise and has that tough (Philly) urban mentality. He wont crack and he wont go mentally. The man will test Slappy Joe regardless. Finally we will have all the answers about Slappy. B-HOP has always really been a lightheavy but kept that weight down for the size advantage it provided him at Middel I look foward to this fight.

michael 901 · Feb 4, 2008

two great pros,neither are scared.

Dorfmeister · Feb 4, 2008

Bernard has a cautious nature and I guess you can notice even more at LHWT how he keeps away from punch range once they get on with the action - really got off on consistent offense after that fifth round and "knockdown" against Tarver cuz up until then it was all about Naazim phyching him up " You are at another level, be really smart about this, use your intellect"... That said, it's hard to believe he's afraid of Joe Calzaghe who does not have an impressive outside look but he should know he's into a much harder physical task against this individual and that if he was so cautious against either Tarver and Winky, he may be more apprehensive than usual about what he's gonna say concerning this up-coming fight. Sure he said he wanted Calzaghe in the Yankee Stadium, would knock him out so that he no longer remains undefeated, but nobody believed in that after that fight with Winky back then.

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A word on BHOP vs. Calzaghe: Neither man is afraid!!!

maracho Boxing Addict Full Member

nickthegreek Well-Known Member Full Member

nickthegreek Well-Known Member Full Member

compukiller Boxing Junkie Full Member

RafaelGonzal Boxing Junkie Full Member

michael 901 His ass is tired Full Member

Dorfmeister Boxing Junkie Full Member