Did Hopkins Gas against Calzaghe

Wrong. Prime B-Hop beats any version of JC like a bald headed foster child.

 

Thats too simplistic an argument. All you can say is that it would've been a better spectacle than what we ended up with. Back when Calzaghe was still throwing power shots (and for those who dont know **** about his career he used to give a proper dig) and when BHop didn't only operate in reverse gear it would have been a great fight.

 

I agree.

Calzaghe is so light on his feet and can jump in and out of spots and throws so many punches that Hopkins really had no choice but to keep on moving. Taylor fights mostly flat footed so Hopkins was able to control the pace somewhat. Same with Tarver. But Calzaghe was a different animal. Winky was somewhat like Calzaghe in that he kept coming forward and tried to make a fight but he was more predictable with the jab. Hopkins just worked off of that. And Winky also fights flat footed.

 

Bernard gassed.

He was in better form in the late rounds against Taylor, almost making it look like Taylor gassed.

But he was younger then.

But also, Taylor is not Calzaghe.

So what caused him to gas ?

Age, or Calzaghe.

Two variables, applied at the same time, bring about an effect.

It's impossible to say for sure which (if either) one was the cause.


But there will be a follow up experiment here in a few weeks.

Bernard-Kelly.

The age will still there, but Calzaghe won't.

If Bernard does NOT gas against Kelly, that points strongly to Calzaghe being the cause of the gassing in their fight.

If he DOES gas, then the case for age improves.

 

The Calzaghe that committed more to his punches would have possibly lost to this version of B-Hop, and would almsot certainly have lost to prime B-Hop. When Calz threw more power shots it of course made his punches more affective, but slightly took away from his speed and lowered his workrate.

Calzaghe was never a massive puncher and when he threw power punches he didn't really have the power to hurt Hopkins who has a great chin, Calzaghe's speed and mostly workrate won him a close decision in their real fight.

Calzaghe may be past his best, but where he's at now with this less-power-more-speed-and-activity style would always serve him better against Hopkins than when he committed more to his puches.

Either way, whichever Calzaghe you throw in, he is still beaten in a close but very clear fight against prime Hopkins IMO.

 

Yes, boxers who are 43 years old no matter who they are will have stamina issues when fighting at the top level.

 

Hopkins won the rounds he was more active in, so that throws out the window any argument that a younger more active Hopkins is beaten (as he is more open).

43 year old Popkins lost the fight due to inactivity; he won the rounds where he was more active.

 

this is the part i have a a problem with even though it might be true.

taylor has fought on the world stage, and hopkins when he was reigning champ, pavlik twice and spinksy.

calzaghe's resume reads a 43 year old hopkins in his twilight years.

therefore, i don't think calzaghe deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as taylor because he never chose to take the chances taylor did.

 

He beat a 43 year old version by split decision but I admire your confidence in a match that can never happen.