Hopkins always said he takes away his opponents' best weapon. What is Calzaghe's?

Calzaghe outlanded Kessler 110-73 overall in the first 5 rounds (just a 46–43 edge in powerpunches), and outlanded Kessler 179-96 in total punches from round 6 to round 12 - Calzaghe landed 25 in the 6th, 27 in the 7th, 24 in the 8th, 26 in the 9th, 27 in the 10th, 25 in the 11th and 25 in the 12th. You can say that he steps up the pace in the second part of the fight and keeps it high.

I say Hopkins can't let Calzaghe get into a rythm and that is by way of making him miss with a lead and make him fall right inside the distance, counters first with a right when he balances himself forward and ties him up. He has to be careful using his back legs because he has to turn fast on the corners and ropes and that's exactly where Calzaghe can land a left over the top like against Eubank and Veit. In short then, control the distance and bring down the fight pace.

 

What's more likely is that you are a n00b to boxing and haven't really watched Calzaghe much.

 

The only thing that Hopkins has increased since his move to LHW is the amount of clinching he does.

Winky vs Bhop was an exhibition in constant clinching.

Dont even get me started on Bhop vs Tarver, I'd rather go to one of my Uni lectures.

 

if calzaghe is up big after 8 then it will be safe for him to come inside and try combo`s v bernard as even if he gets tagged a few times i think he will fire back .

he will be vunerable in the pocket to hopkins head.

hopkins when he throws a right , if slipped carries his momentum forward , head down to catch the ducking or moving back opponent with his head.

calzaghe is guilty of this to andcan be free with his head.

in the kessler fight he headbutted kessler a few times but the action was up and he was not called on it.

persoanaly i do not think calzaghe can stop hopkins no way no how , so it will just be for show and to put an exclamation point on the contest if calzaghe did open up in the later half of the fight after following the sort of gameplan enzo will map out.

but i expect the fight to be much closer.

 

Calzaghe has to give a lot of angles to land the right jab or the left hand, not just try to be first ( fast) in straight lines cause Hopkins may duck and come underneath with that ocelot movement ( loved the way you put it) - Kessler never ducked jabs or used body feints, just tried to block and counter-jab. Hopkins will not use his left jab but will look for Calzaghe to square up and to touch him with the right like that is his leading shot ( or counter-leading shot). He will shoulder charge and break the rythm often and try to make it into a stop-play-stop-play kinda fight.

Calzaghe may try to lead Hopkins into corners stepping in with his lead shots ( fast forward movement required) and then land flurries of fast punches when he's trapped and before he grabs. Hopkins may look to charge in if Calzaghe steps off a bit and that may tire Hops and present the openings that Joe needs IMO.

 

I think he will try to use his back legs, backpedal a lot and try to circle at the ends but that is dangerous cause this guy can be faster and walk him down much better than Winky. Winky stands flat-footed while Joe is on his toes and jumps in much faster. Also, Bernard stayed a bit too much on corners, blocked jabs and ducked overhand rights from Winky there - Joe may try to close that angle between southpaw and conventional fighter and Bernard will have no way to walk out of the corner.

I also didn't notice that Bernard was tired in the end stretch but there are some who say that he was breathing through his mouth ( Lederman in the sixth) and that he didn't use his legs so well as he said he would ( Max Kellerman during the fight and in the post-fight interview). He gat to close the distance and fight more on the inside with short hooks and uppercuts.

 

What makes it a great fight is the similarities between the two fighters in terms of adaptability. The way Hopkins is approaching it is to neuatralise calzaghe's movement and offense as has been previously mentioned. The problem for him here is that Calzghe is as adaptable as he is quick and changed tactics after the first 4 rounds of the Kessler fight to box from the outside and come in off the jab when able to. Kessler didn't expect to be going backwards and couldn't cope with the change of approach, but Hopkins is a smart defensive operator so it will be intersting to see how Calzaghe approaches it. What could be telling and what nobody knows for sure is how BHop will be able to cope with a high pace fight. I hate bringing the age thing up but he is 43 going into the fight and coming off a slow burner against Wright, whilst calzaghe is coming off a more recent full on 12 rounder at higher pace. I'd probably have to say it's the wrong time for Bernard to be taking this particular fight

 

Calzaghe's best asset is his aggression and fast hands. Hops CAN nullify those, but we'll see if it happens.

 

CHJ don't know ****. atsch

 

his speed

 

You don't have to KO people to hurt them. Whether you believe this or not, Joe WILL be hurt. Likely so will Hops. Quitcher nuthuggin...:deal

 

Oh slap.....