Calzaghe vs Hopkins

Yep, if Calzaghe had said ''I'll never lose to a black guy'' (there, I've said it) he'd have been vilified as a racist in the UK.

 

I agree. Maybe the US is more liberal than the UK. Like I said, the left-wing pricks who run the country would have had him hung out on a limb.

 

I do not think that Joe's so called "workrate" is as big of an advantage as some believe it is. His overall connect rate against Kessler was something like 28%, and that includes many punches that had very little power behind them. In order to believe that Joe can overwhelm BHop with workrate you have to believe that Kessler has better defense than BHop, and that is just plain WRONG!

Boo

 

boo, good point i personally think and you have to believe Joe knows this perfectly well, he is NOT going to throw as many punches per round like he did against lacy/kessler. He admitted himself it be a cagey affair and he will adjust to the tactics bhop brings to the table during the fight. i have yet to watch winky fight but how was bhop in that fight? how did he get inside of winky to do the damage and also how was bhops stamina?

 

What a load of bull.

Hopkins is 43. If this were Hopkins vs Calzaghe prime for prime we would have a debate. This is Hopkins after an awful display against a powder punching southpaw. Calzaghe is too fast, Hopkins won't be able to hurt him legally, and Joe will win a UD. Of course Hopkins might get a headbutt in as he usually does and get away with it but the odds tell me Calzaghe fairly convincingly.

116-112 Calzaghe.

I hope it is a good fight but these guys love themselves way too much to risk opening up.

 

Im so undecided as to whose going to win this fight, but if i had to pick one fighter to win it would have to be Hopkins, but i want Calzaghe to win. The way i see a high work rate fighter being beaten is by an accurate counter puncher, which Hopkins is. Also looking at punch stats to Hopkins previous fights he cuts fighters workrates in half, which i feel he will do to Calzaghe.

 

Timing just comes down to how much sparring you have been doing leading up to the fight. You miss that by a few weeks your timing is well out whoever you are. Unless they couldnt spar for a reason then both there timing should be perfect.
Accuaracy may lean towards Hopkins but i say alot of punches to the head and body will suffice a couple of punches to Joes head, simple basics.
Is Hopkins willin to go toe to toe this stage in his career?
He will have to work his butt off to claim the generalship of that ring b/c youve seen Calzaghes` tactics he dont stop getting in your face, 12 rounds if need be.
We know who will win the dirty contest hands down, maybe Calzaghe will stoop to that level it depends how successful Hopkins is at it, but Cortez is an old dog whos been around the block i dont see Hopkins wanting to risk losing point deduction after point deduction.
Ring Intellect, both have this or they wouldnt have the records they have.
Looking at both fighters from a neatural perspective you can understand why Calzaghe is the favorite. Ofcoarse he`s going to find it tough middle of the fight but as long as he puts on a top performance i dont think he will be in any trouble. Anything other than a top performance he`s going to have to dig deeper than he ever has to get the win.

 

AND WHEN B-HOP GIVES HIM HIS FIRST L, YOUR GOING TO BRING ROY BACK.

 

Why Hopkins will beat Calzaghe...

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Here it is...logical...no nuthugging...

1) Hopkins is experienced and successful fighting against southpaws. He has a terrific lead right that will constantly keep Calzaghe guessing and off guard.

2) Calzaghe does not possess world class defense. His defense is his offense. BHOP will disturb his offense with the straight right, thus leaving him open to Hopkins calculated and accurate punches.

3) Calzaghe many times throws wide punches when he gets aggressive. When he throws wide, Hopkins will strike right down the middle and land all day.

4) Calzaghe needs to keep distance to win. He many times backs off to rattle off combos. Bernard has great in-fighting ability and bully tactics, enabling him to prevent Calzaghe's attack.

5) Calzaghe has never been roughed up by the likes of Hopkins. Hopkins upsets you mentally, and wears on you physically. Rarely do you see a fighter fighting Hopkins anywhere near "fresh" by the end of the fight. Calzaghe has not been pushed to those limits.

6) Calzaghe loves fighting where he is popular. He likes everyone loving him (who doesn't?). Calzaghe now knows he is entering someone else's domain. Even if there are Calzaghe fans, he's on American soil. How will he handle the pressure and nervousness about a decision in his first fight in the USA? He will probably try "too hard" and leave himself open.


7) Calzaghe's balance when bouncing in and out of action isn't the best. You can see in many of his fights that he gets "tripped up" or has issues remaining on balance. Hopkins knows everything about leverage, punches, and every dirty trick in the book needed to "force" a knockdown.

8 )Hopkins has world-class defense. Calzaghe cannot simply rely on his method of throwing 20 punches in a row when he will be hitting shoulders, forearms, and air. That will tire him out. He's not used to missing the target, which will also wear on him mentally.

9) Hopkins is used to talking trash, being in crazy press conferences, causing commotion, and so on. The bright lights, big stage, and pressure influence Calzaghe.

10) Calzaghe has not fought nearly as high a level of competition. Forget weight classes, Hopkins has fought many more styles, and complex fighters. Calzaghe has fought many one dimensional or "standard" fighters.

11) Calzaghe has never taken a light heavyweight punch. Hopkins has.

12) Calzaghe overpowers his opponents. He will not overpower Hopkins.

13) Calzaghe has never been in a battle of mental skill in the ring. Hopkins is the master of it.

In the end, I've said it all before. Unless Hopkins ages overnight (an awkward statement considering he's 43 and well past his prime, but whatever haha), he will school Calzaghe.

Calzaghe has never been in the ring with such a master of defense, in-fighting, dirty fighting, southpaw neutralization, etc...

Advantage Hopkins.

 

Doesnt really explain tho why Calzaghe is favorite going into it.

 

Trinidad was the favorite against Hopkins, as was Wright and Tarver...so what?

 

Well they will not get it wrong a fourth time.