An open letter to Bernard Hopkins

Hopkins is extremely hard to hit and even harder to hit cleanly, and when a fighter is having trouble finding his opponent he tends to throw less punches; especially if they are getting counterpunched every time they miss. Granted, I can envision JC winning on workrate even if he isn't as accurate as Hopkins, but I do think B-Hop would give JC problems he's never faced before, while (although in a losing effort) B-Hop has fought a fighter like JC in a prime RJJ. Hopkins trainer's comments worry me though because when a trainer starts making comments like that after his fighter has called someone out, it usually means the trainer has doubts that his charge can win.

 

When Hil get's through with Rudy (with apologies to Presscott), Rudy is giong to look more ****ed than Brittany Spears after a night of tag-team at the county lock-up with Ike Ibeabuch and Mike Tyson.

 

I don't mean to compare Taylor & Calzaghe as if their styles are similar. But it's not as if Taylor carried out some masterful formula. He simply outworked Hopkins in the early rounds, and both times Hopkins got going too late to win over the judges. (Granted to a lesser extent the 2nd time) I believe Calzaghe will put forth a much more consistent effort than Taylor did.

I'm not here to say that Calzaghe's resume compares to B-Hop's by any means. But I do believe he is a world class fighter himself, as is Kessler. Trouble is, he has ruled an unheralded division for so long, that his dominance has almost worked against him. Bear in mind too that the 168 lb division is not rich with american talent either. So, to us american fans, his list of opponents seems rather anonymous.

I do agree with this.

 

Calzaghes record speaks all for itself.

Collins retired instead of fight him, Eubank was dominated. Hell, say he made his names on old guys. The guy fought 24 rounds with two YOUNG undefeated champs (Lacy and Kessler) and lost 3 or 4 rounds at most. Forget more than 20 defences and more than 10 years dominated.

X and Nazim are having a bubble.

 

Hopkins has never defeated a fighter as good as Joe, period, much less any ELITE MW or higher. Hopkins 3 elite's were blown up guys coming from lighter weights.

Calzaghe never beat anybody? Find me a Mikkel Kessler level natural MW-LHW on Hopkins record that he defeated, it won't be there. You have 1 dimensional but consistent Trinidad, a slew of B level comp that he annihilated(this is where his consistency really shows), Wright blown up, DLH, and the loss to Jones which does do him justice since it was competitive. The two close fights with Taylor make him look bad, even if he was robbed in your opinion, because Taylor is nothing more than a B+ level fighter, not a real elite.

I get so tired of these Hopkins fans suggesting that Hopkins is in another league to Joe prime/prime, when he has never defeated a real elite level MW-LHW, Joe beats Hopkins prime to prime, it's a horrible style for Hopkins and Kessler likely has a good shot also considering how much Hopkins doesn't like to deal with great jabbers who can keep range.

Hopkins at this point is not what he used to be, he'd get thrashed vs. any top tier SMW-LHW and this **** is just getting absurd. I hope Joe doesn't fight Hopkins, it does NOTHING for his legacy in beating a washed up, aging fighter who is totally done as a top tier LHW. But I guess beating a **** version of Tarver, who did nothing but hold the division hostage for the younger talent coming up and beating an equally **** blown up Wright justify him being ranked as the best LHW.

 

I'm also tired of the JC-RJJ comparison, they are only alike in speed of hand and movement/agility, which RJJ is faster of course.

Stylistically RJJ stayed out of range and exploded on openings with excellent timing, where as Calzaghe boxes and then swarms at openings and when he gets a rythym, he throws shots non-stop, when that rythym is broken, he tactically boxes behind a great jab and repeats the boxing/swarming combinations.

RJJ and JC are NOTHING alike other than both are extremely quick.

JC is an even more horrible style for B-Hop because Roy would stay out of range and pick spots instead of keeping a constant workrate flowing to upset Bernard's own game, which Calzaghe would do.

 

No, they won't, they don't see that Taylor was a stylistic difficulty to Hopkins and that's why Taylor made it so competitive, a prime Hopkins would have knocked Taylor the **** out later on, but still would have had plenty of trouble early on due to the fact that a good strong jab can and does keep Hopkins at bay.

**** man, even DLH gave him trouble early on due to speed.

So we're to believe that now 4 years later he's going to beat Joe Calzaghe? He won't win a round at this point and he'd lose pretty damn clear in his prime because his straight right is not nearly enough to keep Calzaghe honest.

 

If calzaghe is ducking bernard why doesn't bernard show is world class and come to britain, if he his the man. Also witter might get owned by malinaggi, then hatton after knocking your boy mayweather out will go back down to 140 and dominate malinaggi.

 

That just indicates:


a) Sincerity is no substitute for insight

b) That you're a sentimental old SOB deep down.

c) That you need a new perscription from your eye-doctor.

d) That your boxing judgment ia just as ****ed up as your political insights.

e) That you shouldn't post while using crack.

f) What a poor boxing analyst you are.

g) All of the above.

 

Spot on:good

 

Calzaghe has a predictable style ?

 

If Jermaine Taylor can beat Hopkins on workrate alone, then Calzaghe does it with ease at this stage of Hopkins career.

 

Spot on. :good

 

And Joe has never beaten a fighter as good as Bernard Hopkins !When Hopkins fought Tarver ,Tarver was the # 1LT HEAVY in the world and Bhop was coming off his 2nd loss to Taylor ..Now that Hopkins smoked him Tarver was a bum but leading up to the fight the fans were split ! I hate it when people use selective criticsm ..And you like to pick apart Hopkins past oppoenets but to date Joe's biggest fights were :EUBANKS ,Lacy and Kessler .How long did it finally take Joe to finally get in their w/a fighter after Eubanks that actually had a pulse ? If your going to discect Hopkins resume please make sure you do the same for Joe ..Becuase up until recently Joe had a label of being a protectd fighter ..That lablel didn't just pop up from no where !