Hopkins speaks about Calzaghe fight.

Unless a lot of people fly over here from the UK I just can't imagine that these 2 would sell out yankees stadium. Calzage is just not a big name in the states and bernard has a rep for being a boring fighter. For baseball this place has a 57,000 capacity, for boxing it would be close to 60,000. Unless they are giving those tickets away for free there is no way that they fill it even half way.

HOwever if the fight does happen, I am baffled by the thought that people are picking bernard. He dropped 2 decisions to taylor because he had trouble with his workrate, what on earth makes you guys think that he can compete with someone who is bigger, has better stamina, a higher workrate, is more accurate, has a better chin, and more hand speed

 

This possible fight is the fight that has interested me the most in recent years. While Calzaghe/Kessler was a big fight I only ever really saw it as a stepping stone to Hopkins/Calzaghe.

Both fighters are hard to dominate because of their styles. Hopkins is a defensive master and is capable of negating an opponents strengths, while Calzaghe has many strengths and no real weaknesses apart from occaisonally being dragged into a brawl which usually favours him anyway.

I have always favoured Calzaghe in this match up even back in 2002 when this fight was first talked about. I thought Calzaghe could beat a fading Hopkins.

But Hopkins shocked me in his fights against Tarver and Wright. I didn't think he could cope with the workrate of either fighter and this is often the main reason along with age that anybody picks against Hopkins. I don't think Calzaghe's workrate will be such a big factor as Hopkins has shown he is capable of negating this by being slick and holding and smothering an opponents attack.

I think Calzaghe's speed and fine jab maybe the deciding factor. I think these were the attributes which gave Hopkins so many problems against Taylor as well as being drained at the weight. I'd still favour Calzaghe but it will be a close fight and it wouldn't shock me in the slighest if Hopkins pulled of another upset and won.

 

i would expect in excess of 10'000 brits to fly over for this fight.

not sure how many yanks would attend though.

 

Maybe (and I stress the word maybe) another 10,000. For this to happen, the tickets would have to be priced right and it would have to e during a decent weather time. Hopkins is not that popular over here.

 

I meant Calzage is superior to taylor in those departments

 

As much as i like respect Hop as a fighter Joe would beat him.His win over Kessler this weekend has not swayed my judgment on this. Joe is a tough fighter to beat purely because his very busy has fast hands an a sound beard. Hopkins is too conservative these days because of his age.He wont be able to counter Joe as Joe will land 5 for Hopkins every 1. Stylistically this is not a good match up at all for Hopkins.Although Joe is VERY sloppy i doubt Hopkins can capitalise on this as his output these days is simply to low.

The only person i believe that can beat JC at middleweight would possibly be Pavlik.As his equally as busy as Joe and probably punches harder.BUT Joe`s beard is much better than Pavliks.

 

Both fighters are great champions, but at this stage, I just feel Calzaghe will have to much work-rate & speed for B-Hop. I reckon it would be a tactical bout, going the distance.

Joe is great at adaprting to different styles, but Hopkins has proved himself to be a brilliant tactican too! Can't see either guy stopping the other though.

I like Calzaghe to win, but can you imagine if B-Hop pulls it off! That would be marvelous for his his already bolted-secure legacy.

 

Hopkins is a bit of a clincher nowadays but Calzaghe can play that game also if need be.