Bernard Hopkins V Joe Calzaghe II

Hopkins has lost 3 times on the bounce when he's fought busy, mobile fighters, Calzaghe and Taylor twice. I think its a style thing that Hopkins can't overcome at this stage of hos career.

 

LOL I assume you mean his instead of hos......LOL

 

Nah, Calzaghe ain't that amazingly dominant. Hopkins would have very little trouble setting up more shots and throwing more combinations. Hopkins has a long history of innactivity throught his career in fights he has both lost and won. It's way more about Bernard than it could ever be about Joe Calzaghe. Hopkins makes the adjustment, zero problems.

 

But that's your opinion, and it's not based on reality. Remember when Hopkins fought Taylor and got beat? Well, he fought him again. By your logic, Hop should have made the adjustment with "zero problems" and come out more aggressive against the busier, younger fighter. Yet the rematch was even more decisive in Taylor's favor.

Again: Saying it. Doing it.

 

It's reality. Calzaghe ain't Taylor. There is no comparison. Hopkins had to match Taylor's physicality - which he could not. Taylor didn't pose the same problem as Calzaghe. Hopkins had tremendous difficulty just finding Taylor. Hopkins couldn't miss Calzaghe when he let his hands go. The equation is different, and far more simple. Calzaghe is there to be hit. Something Hopkins demonstrated whenever he let his hands go.

 

True, I don't think some of these people realize just how comprehensively Hopkins neutralized and controlled Calzaghe. As has been referred to here before; Steve Bunce said that Hopkins gave Calzaghe a "master class." 12 rounds 12 punches. I also don't believe most of these people know much about Hopkins and the obvious subplots of his "Executioner" vs. "BHop" alter egos.

 

1) There is a comparison between Taylor and Calzaghe. They both have a lot of energy, a high punch output and good stamina. Taylor does hit harder but lacks the level of output, stamina and ring intelligence.

Net takeaway: Both set a fast pace and throw a lot of shots, which shut down Hops output and tired him out.

2) I disagree with the statement that Hopkins couldn't find Taylor. He shook him up in BOTH fights; he just didn't have the stamina in the face of Taylor's better workrate to pull off the win.

Hopkins might say he would attack Joe differently the second time, but the only proof we have is how he handled his second fight with Taylor, who, like Joe sets a high workrate. And we know how his second fight turned out.

 

Yeah, the master class was how to lose to Calzaghe! He comprehensively controlled and neutralized his way to a defeat! With skills like that, who needs opponents?

And who cares what Steve Bunce said?

 

That's an even more unfounded opinion. He has his number? Which one: 47-0?

 

We're way off here. You're just trying to drag us back to the concept of similarity between Taylor and Calzaghe with any detail possible when the relevant issue was the offensive opportunities that Hopkins had when facing each guy. Hopkins had problems on the trigger against Taylor because their styles created a Mexican standoff scenario where the bigger, faster, stronger guy held the advantage for 24 rounds. Hopkins is in fact bigger and stronger than Calzaghe - and he hits harder.

 

Haha. Well, if anyone can do it I guess it would be Hopkins. The guy's amazing. But I don't see it happening.

 

You've been a class poster so far, I'll ignore this last bit...

 

Nah, man, I'm not trying to drag you back anywhere. I'm making a very simple analogy.

You're saying Hopkins would change his strategy in fight II with Joe, as if he just chose the wrong fight to execute in the first fight. But CALZAGHE had a lot to do with how Hopkins fought.

In the same regard, Taylor had a lot to do with how Hopkins fought in their first bout.

Now, Hopkins actually fought Taylor a second time and was unable to effectively change his strategy in fight II. So we have no proof that he could change his strategy in fight II against Calzaghe. All we have is opinion. And words.