Or did he think it would be a tough fight. Hopkin's toyed with Tarver who is a naturally bigger and more powerful man than Calzaghe, also Tarver has good skills as he showed against Woods recently. So did Hopkin's think a fight with Calzaghe would be a walk in the park? BHop is too professional to not prepare properly, but I think he was shocked at how resilient Calzaghe was.
another one of these threads? atsch I just think Hopkins was talking a lot of **** saying he would school Calzaghe, but though it was gonna' be a tough fight.. Maybe tougher than he predicted, but I don't think he ever underestimated Cal..
I think it was very revealing that Bernard didn't really start crying robbery in earnest until the postfight press conference. He seemed discourage, subdued with Kellerman.
No. I think he knew that it would be a tough fight just like Taylor fight. He was hoping for a point decision win. After the knockdown he didnt get excited, went back to what he was doing before the knockdown.
What he didn't realise is his complete lack of stamina at elite level, of which can only be found out in a real fight. It's time for him to retire.
I dont' agree with that. I think Joe c took Bhop as the toughest fight he'd be in. Joe C looked better against kessler because Kessler is hand made for Joe C style wise. NOBODY is going to look good against BHOP regardless of preperation, the best anybody has ever looked against BHOP I would say is RJJ and that isn't saying much. I think BHOP has done more with what god gave him than pretty much any boxer ever, He's not that fast, don't have great power, nothing special movement wise, but he's probalby the smartest/craftiest/knowing how to bend the rules boxer i've seen in my lifetime.
Hopkins stuck to his game plant - in this case it simply was not enough. I honestly think Hopkins thinks he won. I watched the fight and despite the COmpubox stats I had it pretty close. It is not like Hopkins got pounded into oblivion. I thought Max Kellerman said something smart at the end of the fight - Hopkins doesn't lose convincingly. IMO Hopkins is over 40 and still kicking ass. I respect that. He loves the sport and even though he has not won a few of his past fights he is still a legend - even more so when you take into consideration he is in a sport where fighters usually retire in their mid-30's. The fight has also done wonders for the division. Guys like RJJ and Tarver would have never stepped up to the plate before and now they are hungry to beat a white foreigner. Hopefully all of this will result in more coverage to our sport. We all need it.
Joe has never been a puncher. Throughout his whole career of 45 fights he has only ever actually KOed 2 people. Only 3 of his 45 openents have Ko'ed less and they were all unknown bums in Joes first 10 fights who lost far more then they won and only ever had a handful of fights.
He didn't "deck" a washed up Eubank, he got up immediately totally unhurt and went on to give what Joe says was "the hardest fight of his life". You wont find another big name known boxer with less Ko's on his record then Joe other then feather fisted Pauli.
