Freddie Roach, "We're going to counter great and win the late rounds".

Sounds like the plan he had against Taylor.

Except he gave Taylor too many of the early rounds and paid for it.

If Calzaghe builds a lead early, then he he'll win about 118 - 108. Calzaghe has brilliant stamina, he won't be outdone in the later rounds.

 

Hopkins will catch Joe and and it will seriously drop his output, this i have no doubt. I still think it will be his work rate ONLY that will win him the fight, Hopkins will land the bigger cleaner punches.

 

Yeah he gave Taylor too much of everything, not enough pressure was put on him. If he does the same thing to Joe then he will lose again.

 

It is a good game plan. Let's see how it plays out. What weight are they fighting at? 168, 170 or 175? If Hopkins were to win a title at 168 he would be a 3 division champ.

 

I think the outcome will be determined by the pace of the fight - rather than the styles of boxing that are to be seen.

If Calzaghe is allowed to dictate the pace and make it a fast affair, I would back Joe to wear him down and stop him late on.

On the flip side, if Joe allows ol' Popkins to slow the pace, I see another Winky Wright affair, with plenty of accidental on purpose headbutts and the like, with Hopkins winning by UD around 116-112.

Calzaghe has great stamina, and is able to keep the pace up from bell to bell. Should this be the case, I see him putting Hopkins away without too much difficulty. I think Hopkins is ready to be taken down, and Joe is the man to do it hopefully.

 

I guess he has no choice but to counter if he matches punch per punch with this guy it will be a short night for Hopkins,so i think its the right strategy.

 

the guy looked knackered in the late rounds against winky, they both did. this is suicidal if roach really means it. calzaghe doesn't do tired.

if he starts slow looking to retain energy then cal is going to get into a rhythm and that will mean fight over for hopkins. like the taylor fights but no where near as close.

 

On the other hand though, what else can Bernard do?

He can't try to outwork Joe. He's very unlikely to go blazing away looking for an early knockout.

All he can go with is the counterpunching. If he can be sharp enough and hit hard enough he can win, if not then he's going to get pebbledashed by Calzaghe's busy hands. And the latter is what I think is going to happen.

 

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Exactly.

 

Hopkins looks extreamly intimidated in the build up to this fight. Big inferiority complex.