Hopkins v Calzaghe: Post Fight Analysis

Hopkins was getting some much needed time during that break.

Fair enough to him though, I don't understand why more boxers don't take more time out when they get hit low.

 

Cal just had too much speed & made bhop back up most of the fight. I thought bhop never pressured his advantage from the kd in rd 1, it was only flash but mentally could of played a huge part if taken advantage of. Bhop's plan seemed to be countering but you can't counter speed if you don't have it. I saw it 117-111 cal. Good fight but how the hell anyone can score it a win for bhop is beyond me & I was hoping he'd win. That judge that scored it 114-113 in his favour definately scored it favourably for his choice & not who was winning the rounds. For Cal bring on RJJ, bhop should retire gracefully & move into the HOF.

 

Yeah it's kinda hard to gauge how much something hurts someone though, i'd imagine a full blooded blow straight on would hurt less than a punch that moves your cup so your balls move out the side and get crunched. I liked Calzaghes little 'dance' move behind Hops when that happened, probably the highlight of the fight for me

 

Lets hope it doesn't stop Calzaghe fighting his next fight in the US. Though I think he'll only fight one more time, and that will more than likely be in Wales.

 

Hop just faded in the 2nd half, to be expected as he is 43. 7 years ago he would have gave Calzaghe an absolute hiding!

 

I disagree. Hopkins main strengths now is his ring smarts. He also hits harder now than he would have before. Lets also not forget that Calzaghe has faded somewhat as well.

Hopkins may have beaten Calzaghe earlier on due to capitalizing on his mistakes and lack of big fight experience, but thats all I'll give him. I'd still favour Calzaghe to beat him back then.

 

i had it 114-113 for calzaghe

 

I still think Hop landed the better shots all through the fight. Calzaghe's wishy washy punches weren't really effective but earned him the rounds as Hop was doing nothing at all. A younger Hopkins would have spanked him IMO. Seriously of all the refs I've seen in Australia, Calzaghe couldn't fight here as he would get called for cuffing. You can't hit with the inside of your glove.

 

I thought Joe won, but your never going to look decisive against Hopkins.

The major standout, for me, seemed Calzaghe's superior workrate and control. Hopkins was content to stick with his game plan of sitting just off Joe before unexpectingly coming in and then drawing Joe to the ropes/corner, Calzaghe showed surprisingly good defence though and most times out pointed hopkins with his flurried 'slaps' when inside.

The other point is Calzaghe stepped up the tempo during the rounds when he needed too, dropping his hands, show boating etc, which gave the impression he was controlling the fight.

Whatever you make of Calzaghe he did what he needed to win, while Hopkins couldn't capatalize often enough.

 

Hopkins is the most boring fighter I've ever watched. He threw more headbutts than punches and made the fight look plain ugly.

The fight however panned out how I thought, Calzaghe winning a close decision with a few scares along the way.

"I would never lose to a white boy"

NUFF SAID.

 

Missed the first 9 rds :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

But what I saw in rds 10-12 was pretty much what I expected the whole fight would be - JC on the attack and B-Hop on the counter - ugly spoiling fight - jab, jab, combo, clinch, break.

B-Hop was really working the lowblow angle, even tried to make out there was another one in rd 11 but the ref was having none of it. He was also holding JC far too long while the ref was breaking them up, which told me B-Hop was out of gas.

Ever to proud warrior however, he refused to let anyone see that, and so spent more energy trying to look like he wasn't out of puff :yep

I can't comment on the SD, having only seen the championship rounds, but good on Calzaghe, I wonder if the yanks will finally give him credit now? I doubt it :yep

 

Wasn't really a lucky punch. It was Hop's plan to lure him in like that. I don't think he expected to knock him down with it though, and neither did I.

I had the fight 116 - 111. But seeing as how it was officially scored a SD, I reckon the yanks will instead go on about how Hop would supposingly whip Calzaghe prime for prime.

I do think a fight prime for prime would be close, but I still think Calzaghe would beat him.