Hopkins V Calzaghe Weigh-In

I agree with you, but like everything else in life, meaness becomes erroded by age too - this was apparent in his last two fight, for example. The problem I have with ALL your otherwise excellent and very well written points on this topic is that you you don't accept that Hopkins is not the same man he was in his prime anymore - he just cannot do the same stuff, and all his passion and meaness is less potent, whatever he himself might say or think or irrespective of the way he comes across in interviews and stare-offs.

I agree with you that a peak Hopkins would have e very good chance of beating Calzaghe, not necessarily beause he's better, but due to styles.

But then, you go back and ignore your own point and conclusion and make Hopkins look like he still has the mental and moral characteristics that he had in his prime. This is unfair. He is more experienced than at his peak, for sure, and that has to count for a hell of a lot, but beside his lesser physical qualities, these days, he doesn't have the same mental and moral "bite" anymore either...it's just that his bark is as good or maybe even better than ever...and, it seems you let yourself take one for the other all too readily...

 

Excellent post...:good

 

superb post dec.

 

Maybe so, actually there's a great Larry Merchant quote from Hopkins-Taylor II:

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"Once upon a time Hopkins was a lion who chased down his prey, now he is an old lion who waits in the weeds and hopes something comes by"

The Gif image is from the Glen Johnson fight in Fantasy Spring Casino, Indio Cali, the Simon Brown fight in Maryland (7th defense of the title) and several others recent fights ( including Taylor and those last 50 seconds of round number 10, last 30 seconds of round 11, the right hand in the fifth against Antonio)... I gat to agree with Larry but an old lion who waits in the weeds is still a dangerous animal.

I don't let myself get carried away with Hopkins barking... Actually Hopkins said that Mayweather was a barking dog who wouldn't bite against Hoya, that Miranda was the heir apparent to the MW throne and whole lotta ****... I know Hopkins will have his hands full but I know Calzaghe is not an impressive physical specimen - you look at Taylor's thick arms, his broad shoulders, his strong cheek bones, the way he pressed Hopkins to the ropes in round 2, and then you look at Calzaghe... Hopkins should not be much impressed either.

 

People make way too much out of fighters demeanor.

Joe happens to be a quiet guy outside the ring. I doesn't mean a thing.

Would you guess SRL was a true fighter by talking to him? Or how about Chris Eubank, does he talk like a guy that would go to war with Nigel benn twice? You dont have to be stabbed twice and go to the pen to be a warrior, some people are just born with the fire along a brain to keep themselves out of trouble.

 

Nce gif. Thanks! Yeah, Hopkins is a lion as you said...all very true and nicely put!

And I know your're not letting yoursef get carried away - you just on't like peopl being superficial and seeing hings in black and white - admirable and we are all grateful.

I do protest too much to all your points, but I don think you paint the scarecrow in too dark a colour so that all these cheeky crows here learn some respect, at least through fear...

and about impressive physical specimens: Kessler was pretty impressive; he was strong and big and proud of body...didn't do him any good; now, of course, Kessler's strength was used against him as he came forward and this will not be possible with Hopkins, who will counterpunch, but Calzaghe will not have problems in the strength department either; I don't suppose Hopkins is a much stronger wrestler than Bika, nor an openly dirtier one...:think

:thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

 

:thumbsup

 

Hopkins will do something ... I don't know if he'd go as far as to slap Joe, but then again I didn't think he'd slap Winky.

If he slaps Joe - Joe comes back with a 15 punch combo in the blink of an eye.

It starts an all out brawl and Hopkins bites Joe on the ankle ...

This pisses Joe off to the point that he just wants to take the fight outside right then and there. (ex. Rocky V)

 

Calzaghe will not lose it; he'll let Hopkins slap him in the press-conference and then beat him up badly for it in the ring...it's the way of the man...these quiet introverted types are like that, you know...bite worse than their bark...

 

I don't see Calzaghe letting B-Hop getting away with slapping him ... I think he retaliates ...

No man is that composed to let another man slap him ...these are men we're talking about ... If Calzaghe lets B-Hop slap him then he's going to lose the fight.

 

:nono

This is where you are wrong...

Calzaghe doesn't aim to win at the press-conferences, at the stare-downs or at the weigh-in; he aims to win in the ring - and that's the big difference, here...:yep

 

Usually the weigh in is open to the public. Get there early, as it will be packed. They may have it outside if the weather permits.

 

he seemed amp'd at the weight in against Mikkel Kessler --

 

b-hop's weigh in"s have a way of being as or more eventful than his fights
he will go for the mental andvantage and probably get it

 

Will the Planet Hollywood weigh in be at Planet Hollywood do you think?

Maybe Bernard will throw some Planet Hollywood burgers at Calzaghe.