Hopkins vs Calzaghe (Observations on second viewing)

For the past week i've been watching Calzaghe's documentaries and last night went to rewatch the Jones bout but decided i'd put myself through the Hopkins fight again.

I went through video's of build up and watched entrances then got stuck into the fight. I remember it being a messy affair and that's what we got but when i watched it, it gave me a renewed respect for Joe as a fighter.

We often miss them when there gone but also crap on them and forget there ability. At this time people mentioned Hopkins age and mind games. It was a tough fight to call, and even when it was all said and done it was but years on Hopkins wins have gone on to strengthen the win for Calzaghe.

I remember having Calzaghe as the winner on the night, I thought maybe i was maybe being patriotic and needed another watch of it. Took me years to get around to it but rewatching it i had Joe winning again.

The reason i made this thread is talk about Calzaghe and his ability to adapt. The Kessler bout he turned the tide around round 7 and when being dropped by Hopkins he made instant adjustments.

Just brief observations (Feel free to add your own).

-Hopkins tactics were to nullify Calzaghe's workrate
-Stop his rhythm as Calzaghe was a rhythm fighter
-Draw Calzaghe to lead and reach which was a flaw in Joe's game his over zealousness when attacking.

-Calzaghe fell into the early trap of following Hopkins around and looking to impose his confidence and speedy attacks. He got dropped for his troubles with a lovely short right hand in which Hopkins would follow through with to avoid a counter and help Joe down. (Smart)

The intriging thing was after this Joe would in rounds 2 and 3 start to adjust in the ring by doing the following..

-Tightening the guard as he closed range to avoid the pin point right hands from Hopkins.

-Cut the ring off in marvelous fashion and by doing this controlled Hopkins feet which troubled Hopkins who would through the middle rounds as Manny Steward rightly said would only throw the right hand counter/lead and follow in behind it.

-Joe also moved his feet closer to punch in which limited the chance for him to fall out of position to be countered. He learned on the job from his KD. He could also gain more success by getting closer with his workrate and chopping punches.

-He used punches to the body well espicially the straight left which helped him get close and nullify Hopkins counters.

-And used his speed punches knowing that pinning Hopkins down to land big shots was becoming hard he knew workrate would help him win the battle.

-In the pocket he was also smart, If he knew he couldn't work he'd stop Hopkins working by getting low and close not allowing Hopkins to do to much ''clean'' work.

Manny Steward said it wasn't the smartest of fights by both guys and i tend to agree as openings for cleaner work was there but Calzaghe ground it out well enough through his ability to adapt.

Whether you thought Hopkins won or lost on your cards, Was you shocked that he really didn't adjust in the fight when Calzaghe made the moves he did?.

How you score it as well?.

 

Was supposed to be brief. Apologies..

 

:rofl inbetween one of the rounds. Enzo going made ''This guys there for taking, you can knock him out, knock him out'' and Dean Powell goes ''Yeah, now lets tell him how to do it...''.

 

I tend to agree PK.

Joe Calzaghe landed the most punches on Hopkins ever that night. Not sure about Dawson II.

But Joe worked him out well and Hopkins at that point people wrote off and felt he was done. He then dismantles Pavlik and goes on to win another world title and have more success.

Joe couldn't land a jab for first three rounds yet had success. The left hand got more and more into the fight. More impressed rewatching it then i thought i'd be..

 

Defo Greg was crafty that right hand, pin point. He also worked well moving his hips to avoid shots as well. He done a lot of good things in the fight..