hopkins vs. toney

McGrain · Jan 16, 2010

lefthook31 said: ↑

Nah.. Better footwork would have offset Calzahge and definitely Jermain Taylor far better, especially Taylor who offered little else in the way of threat.

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Here, I completely disagree with you. I think Hopkins' footwork is what kept the fight with Calzaghe so competitive. I'll dig up an old pose because i'm not going through all this again:

Key to balance is the ability to transfer the weight of a punch. The difference between an arm-punch and 100% lethal torque can be weight-transfer on balance. The past-master in this department, that department is Bernard Hopkins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNASdyzcQ54

One of the reasons Hopkins-Calzaghe was so fascinating was that these were two opposites in terms of balacne. Hopkins is oen of the most perfectly balanced fighters in history, Calzaghe is horribly balanced. Joe is able to harass better balanced fighters because he doesn't get "set" in the traditional way, he launches sudden attacks from traditionally impossible angles and positions and explosiveness. It makes it very hard for the "traditional fighter (Hopkins) to remain on balance. But Hopkisn remains on balance througout this fight.

For a fighter known primarily for his defence, Hopkins is always ready to transfer his weight and punch properly from the balanced position, in spite of Joe's (perfect) tactic to keep Hopkins on the move and off balance. Traditional thinking holds that a fighter moving away loses power. Here's a fighter who embraces those traditions without losing the power. There are examples all over the above linked film. A good one is from around 3.25. Hopkins has been on the move throughout, he's movin away from his man and to his right. Because he is moving often Hokins is breaking up his steps into frequent very very small moves (which cost him, probably, but is still technically correct) making sure that his balance is "on" for every single one of them, and so is able to bring across a non-traditional arced right hand when the opportunity presents itself, inspite of the fact that this punch requires him to transfer his balance all the way across against a much faster, younger fighter who is in a traditional position of superior balance (moving forwards in small incriments) without placing himself in serious danger. His balance enhances his speed, explosiveness, defence, accuracy and power.

Later in the fight, at the end of seven, Calzaghe is moving forwards very badly balanced throwing slapping punches. Hopkins does not panic despite being swarmed, stays on balance and throws a clipping right hand, best seen here at 4:35:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FuS1Dc0XBk&feature=channel

This fight was seen as controversial. People have scored it quite wide both ways. I had it close for Calzaghe. Whatever the truth, the above clip captures the essence of the fight. Calzaghe throws many seemingly less hurtful punches and Hopkins throws a single punch that appears more affective. The slow motion may tell another story, but the judges do not have access to slow motion replays. Whatever your own feelings about this fight I think the reason it has become so debatable was specifically Bernard's wonderful balance. He's able to flip a stylistic dis-advantage and turn it to his advantage based upon this single attribute.
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give him some credit
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Toney's recieved credit from me for his footwork in this thread. I even showed you where.

sweet_scientist · Jan 16, 2010

lefthook31 said: ↑

Hmm I dont know about this. Just watch Toney against guys like Rahman and Peter. If he wasnt a defensive wizard, he would have been on his back looking up at the lights.
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Yeah well that's true enough, but I wasn't referring to defense per se. I was referring moreso to the use of arms/gloves to block punches. Toney has better head movement, and rolls with punches better but when it comes to parrying punches and blocking with a high guard, Hopkins is superior imo.

Toney by far is the bigger trash talker mentally ****er with of the two
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Toney talks more ****, but none of it is designed to mentally screw with a fighter. It's usually simple put downs and 5th grade insults which is standard fare before a fight. Hopkins delves deeper and gets under opponents skin in a way Toney doesn't.

Yeah but this **** wouldnt work against Toney who is too slick and savvy on the inside.
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Toney's physical strength and toughness will mean that Hopkins will have to be more weary with what he does in close quarters, but Bernard is still capable of making things complicated up close whit his negative tactics.

:yep c'mon now.
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:good

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hopkins vs. toney

McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

sweet_scientist Boxing Junkie Full Member

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hopkins vs. toney

McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

sweet_scientist Boxing Junkie Full Member