the fight isn't one necessarily for the purists but it was a careful, tactical performance by both. i had it for calzaghe but he did look frustrated. course, so did hopkins. hopkins landed the cleaner blows but he'd never had someone go after him and throw so many awkward punches as that. not in my dvd collection but i've tuned in once or twice since
was definately Calzaghe's attacking skill countered by Hopkins' defensive skills. a good chess match when you watch it again. both were as good as they could have been in this fight, i don't see how, if they fought again how it could have been much different.
apologies to any calzaghe fans (ESPECIALLY socrates) but if hopkins had more stamina and aggression, say from the lipsey fight, he could have taken it clearly
Stamina and aggression isn't something that Hopkins lacked...it was the lack of balls against someone who was willing to engage. Even Calzaghe slapping his nether regions didn't antagonise the chicken-assed *****.
:admindamn! i'd call hopkins a lot of things but never a *****. that was a ***** move he pulled with the "nut shot", i agree. but the old man just couldn't keep up with the pressure and angles; a younger hopkins i believe would fare better
you think? the extra athleticism of hopkins in his physical prime i feel would have given him an advantage over the older one. how do you see it going with a young B Hop?
young bhop? how young? young enough like when RJJ handles him comfortably? Look, for me you have to also remember the fact that it was the first time calzaghe travelled over to america AND it was at a new weight. Calzaghe didnt settle down after 2 or 3 rounds and it was only Hopkins 'tactics' that made it as close as it was. If for example Hopkins took the fight that he was offered in 2002 i think it was...and it was at SMW...no doubt about it id pick Calzaghe UD.
see now this i can agree with. calzaghe had his own disadvantages in the fight. while i think a younger (say 2001) B-Hop that can fight all 12 rounds does better, in 2002, at SMW he'd have his hands full with a peak/near peak calzaghe. hand speed and movement ALWAYS trouble (as you pointed out with jones)
think about this. If Hopkins had been more aggressive he would have left himself open for the Calzaghe attack. The ONLY reason Hopkins was in this fight competitively was because he fought 100% defensively and threw the right hand then grab ALL NIGHT. THE SAME ****ING MOVE. Calzaghe wins this every time.