I AM A BRIT and I want Hopkins to win...here is why

What altitude? It's in Vegas.

 

Doesnt matter--Hopkins is still going to lose.

 

I don't feel like it. Why don't you just let me know what the difference is.

 

I am going to put my neck on the line here and get a few things off my chest (how many more clichés can I fit into this sentence) about Hopkins; HE ISNT THAT GOOD!! He is regularly referred to as one of the greatest middleweights of all time (ATG/Legend whatever) and stepped up to light heavy to claim the title from then champion Antonio Tarver. He also beat Winky Wright in his first defence of the said titles. But my problem is this… to be great you have to beat the best and avoid getting beat by also rans. Hopkins was beaten by Roy Jones Junior (RJJ) in 1993 for the IBF middleweight title. No shame in that, but RJJ is the best Hopkins has fought and he has never beaten him. After drawing against Segundo Mercado (Accrington Stanley - who are they?) he beat the Ecuadorian at the second time of asking to claim the crown which RJJ had vacated. Wins over Glen Johnson and Felix Trinidad are nice notches on his CV but Johnson is a strange fighter - capable of beating RJJ but also being beaten by Merqui Sosa and Joseph Kiwanuka (exactly). Trinidad on the other hand was a world class boxer but had come up from welterweight to fight Hopkins. Credit where it is due, Trinidad had already won titles at middleweight and had begun to fill out his frame and this is the best win on Hopkins' CV. Hopkins then lost twice to Jermaine Taylor, who has recently been dismantled twice by Kelly Pavlik to show him up as nothing more than a hitter with a good chin. And all this is at middleweight!

At light heavy Hopkins beat Antonio Tarver who only achieved his fame through beating RJJ in the rematch after RJJ had taken his titles from him. Not a great achievement for a natural 6'2" Light heavyweight against the natural middleweight. Tarver's career has since been up and down with defeats to the previously mentioned Johnson. Hopkins' other win came against Winky Wright - a natural middleweight making a step-up.

So what happens when B-Hop faces Calzaghe? He gets beat - pure and simple. Calzaghe is one of the best boxers around. He has a cracking arsenal and is frighteningly fast. Does he have a knockout punch - I would say no but his record of 32KOs in 44 wins would disagree with me. Instead what he does have is wins over Kessler, Lacy, Richie Woodhall, Robin Reid and Chris Eubank whilst all were still in their prime (with the possible exception of Eubank who had already been beaten by Steve Collins). He has ring generalship to rival the greats and he has the ability to get off the canvas and win. Will he need that last trait here? No! Hopkins is too old, too slow and even in his prime would have been beaten by Calzaghe.

I've made this point with a couple of people already and they have said its blind patriotism. Calzaghe is Welsh - I have no loyalty there. This is an objective look. Calzaghe to walk over Hopkins and take his titles over twelve rounds. To go one step further, Calzaghe to never look in trouble and Hopkins to look completely out of his depth! I can see Joe taking the first 3-4 rounds through a higher output. B-Hop to claw a couple back in the middle rounds as he starts getting into the fight, but Calzaghe to finish strong having sussed out the old timer to take a unanimous decision.

I take your point about the media not showing Hop enough respect though. The guy is a multiweight champion and deserves credit - I just dont rate him as highly as others in the game.

But we havent got too long to wait and see so I could look very silly on Sunday morning...

 

I have seen this thread on here before!

 

Thread or post?

I've posted that before, havent seen this thread before though :huh

 

^OK, now likewise, due deligence on Calzaghe.

 

Hehe, go for it man. Thats what its all about

 

I think you are being equally dismissive of Calzaghe's career.

You are also wrong about Enzo. He looks like Luigi not Mario! I'm getting pissed off with pointing this glaring error out to people.

While I certainly do not lack respect for Hopkins to paint him as some sort of inspirational character in contrast to Calzaghe who is somehow not worthy of respect because he isn't 'from the streets' is a bit reactionary to say the least.

 

A reason for wanted Calzaghe to lose is because the press doesn't give him enough respect???

Get the **** out of here.

 

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Wouldnt have thought so in Vegas, possibly humidity may be more influential but I dont think either would be that pivotal