Age was DEFINITELY a factor with HOPKINS

he would have thrown more if had he enough gas

 

Being 43 years old is never an advantage in boxing unless your boxing someone who's older.

 

Meanwhile, Calzaghe targets Hopkins' advancing age, which puts him a lot closer to AARP membership than it does to any kind of a real title.

"I think he has gotten past the 'sell-by date' a long, long time ago," Calzaghe trainer and father, Enzo, said last week in a conference call.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/sports/boxing-news/2008/04/17/boxing-joe-calzaghe-to-smash-up-hopkins-91466-20775887/

“There’s only one man any cornerman is going to take pity on and that’s a 43-year-old. At the end of the day you can have all the nutritionists and all the trainers you like, but the guy is 43. And he’s not the bionic man, he’s human.

“Father Time catches up with anybody and I admit I am no spring chicken at 36, but, compared to 43, I feel young.”

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0414boxinginsider0414.html


“At his best Joe Calzaghe will always beat Bernard Hopkins. I say again, he is 43. So if I can make a young Mikkel Kessler blow hard, then I can certainly make this guy blow hard.”


Joe Calzaghe is convinced age will be the overriding factor when he meets Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas.

At 36, Calzaghe, who fights Hopkins early on Sunday morning, is seven years younger than his opponent.

"The guy is 43 years old - he's not the Bionic Man, he's human," Calzaghe told BBC Sport.

"You can have all the trainers and nutritionists you like, but he'll be made to fight for 12 rounds and Father Time catches up with everybody."

Calzaghe, who is undefeated in 44 fights, added: "If I can make a 28-year-old Mikkel Kessler blow out of his behind, I'm sure I can make this guy do the same after a few rounds.


"Bernard is good at what he does, he's defensive, he hoodwinks people and he steals fights.

"He can be quite skilled at times, but he can also be a quite crude and a dirty fighter at times on the inside. But I'm younger, faster, stronger and more skilled.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7349616.stm

 

Ownage?

 

17 divisions 4 'major' belts. Don't have time for all divisions myself.

 

He threw about as much as he usually does.

Either way, isn't it about time for everyone to stop crying and get over it?

Hopkins lost. Build a bridge.

 

:deal

 

The age excuse is really getting...OLD. For all his crassness, which I do find amusing, I agree mostly with what Blocky is saying.

Why was Hopkins ranked so high P4P before the fight if he's so old and tired?

Why did Hopkins not show his age in his last 2 fights?

Why do all of Calzaghe's opponents age in the last 1/2 of their fights against him?

Why do all of Calzaghe's opponents take long sebaticals or retire after fighting him?

Why did Hopkins take this fight if he was such an old and tired fighter?

Why did a scrawny little, light hitting, weak chinned, weight climbing, past his prime, overrated wimp not get KTFO when Hopkins put him down in the first round?

 

I wouldn't admit to mostly agreeing with Blocky.

The p4p lists are heavily weighted towards accomplishments. If Calzaghe fans don't think he was old, why did most of them claim that Hopkins didn't belong in the top 15 before the fight?

He clearly showed his age against Winky. Steward even said he should retire.

They don't. I don't know why it's so hard to believe a 43 year old fighter is past his best

Kessler was busy pulling out of fights, same with Lacey. Neither one of them could settle on an opponent. Manfredo fought like 3 fights a few monsth after fighting Calzaghe. Bika fought 2 months after fighting Calzaghe. Hopkins is 43, it's not hard to see why he wants to retire.

"Why did Hopkins take this fight if he was such an old and tired fighter?"

Why did Leonard agree to fight Camacho? Why did Holmes fight Tyson? Why do a lot of athletes keep going when they're past their best? Easy, because their competitive nature does not allow them to quit while they're ahead.

Who said he had a weak chin? Most acknowledged that he has a good chin. He didn't get KTFO because he has a good chin and he opponent only threw 16 punches in that round. Hopkins barely threw any punches the whole fight.

 

anyone who doesnt think that age was a factor in this fight is a fool.
lets face it 43 is no age to be hanging around in such a demanding physical sport which boxing is. ok hopkins broke the mould in a way but even he is not indestructable.
in this fight i got the impression that bernard was holding back at times, i can only assume that he was concerned about conserving stamina to take him the distance.
boxing is a tough game for a young man let alone someone of 43!!!!

 

Is there a way too kill a thread that is this stupid? If there is; someone with the know how should really do it!

 

No doubt about it.

If Calzaghe was prime he would have KO'd Hopkins easily. :yep

 

Hopkins can give anyone trouble. whether Hopkins is 23, 33, 43, or 53. Prime Joe would split with a youger Hopkins. Joe would lose the first by confusion, the adjust and win # 2....# 3 would not hqppen

 

If a prime Roy Jones was not able to KO Hopkins in their fight Joe has no chance.

 

You decline physically as you get older, it's a fact. For some such as Hopkins it's been at a lesser rate, but still a decline thus making age a factor. You can say that he's gotten more experience or perhaps become more wise but this doesn't matter if you can't physically put into action what your mind wants you to do and boxing is ultimately a physical sport. Fatigue, which becomes more rapid with age, affects your decision making as well.