I think we are making too much of..

Most people overlook the following facts:
-Hopkins always make you look sh*t, old, slow etc. - that's his game, that's his all about in the last couple of years
-it was Joe's LHW debut, a new division vs a physically bigger and stronger guy (Hopkins refused to tell his weight on fight night - I'd predict 190 or more!). Remember Morales moving up in weight? It's really a big factor
-came back from the canvas and after a few more clean shots he took, Hopkins never landed those type or clean big shots anymore
-Calzaghe still could average a lot punches especially from the 4th round and on, and landed (mostly not clean) a lot (but a lot of clean punches in the later rounds)
-Hopkins did little to win rounds convincingly from round 4 and on, he spoiled, he used dirty tactics. He still landed some though, but Joe's defense became better and better - people just don't realize how intelligent and adaptable he is. In the end, the pace was too much for Hopkins and dispite the ugly fight, a whole new situation for Joe, he kept on coming and coming
-people say Hopkins was faded and what if he didn't fade - but since Joe's energy level is as high in the 12th as in the 1st (or higher), everybody's fading vs. him

-Joe did seemed a bit slower than usual, and I don't think LHW is good for him since he never does weight-training, and that means he's still a SMW fight night - that's a disadvantage
-his power wasn't that good, although you either throw big shots or quick shots, and Hopkins is a hard target to just throw bombs

The key in this fight was how easily Joe adapted to the ugly fight and was able to make Hopkins miss with the great right that put him down in the 1st - Hopkins is a southpaw specialist and Joe's defense is not perfect - still he was able to neutralize Hopkins best weapon and you can't say that about Hopkins. It was still a close fight, but most expert say that they've never seen Hopkins discouraged late in fights before because not even Taylor could shine in the later rounds vs him - the championship rounds were always Hopkins', and this time it was all Calzaghe coming and coming and coming.


My observation is that the most people who were disappointed in Calzaghe's performance (experts like Iole or Rafael for example) were those who expected a shutout or a TKO - and those who always said Hopkins' gonna make it ugly and close and competitive, are seeing both what Hopkins and Calzaghe did good in this fight.

Hopkins is still one of my favorites and Calzaghe as well... hopefully both will fight a big name for a retirement fight and win big!

Calzaghe-Pavlik
Hopkins-Jones

 

atsch

Jones UD Joe C :happy

 

Joe beat Bernard.

There is nothing else to interpret.

 

I thought BHop won the fight. It's damn hard to give rounds to a guy who did not land a single meaningful punch. However, it is also hard to give rounds to a guy who constantly clinches and holds. **** poor performance by both fighters!

 

I agree! I expected a wide UD for Joe, I saw that night that I underestimated what Hopkins can do to a fighter.

I dont see anyone at LHW troubling Calzaghe within the next 12 months providing he doesnt age overnight

 

all the experienced older posters who analysed this fight that i read, got it virtually spot on bar the knockdown.

a foul fest fight that calzaghe would get by in because of his workrate.

it was a fight , if you know boxing and styles that was never going to be pretty.

 

The fight confrimed what i already knew. Calzaghe is a quick handed slap puncher, with ok boxing skills. Hopkins is old, way past his prime but still a very hard guy to fight, or look good aganist. Neither are top ten ATG's except at the newer divsion of 68, which doesn't have much to pick from. Way too much thought and discussion is given to Calzaghes ability. He is, what he is. In the end something for the brits to root for. Which I don't get as I think Hatton is a much better fighter, but gets much less praise from the English fans? Why is that?

 

because calzaghe is a much/much more talented fighter than hatton.

 

That did not happen.

Maybe it was a dream?

 

A more talented boxer? maybe. But Hatton is a much better FIGHTER.

I can never be a fan of Calzaghes slapping punches. It just looks too girl like for me.

 

if calzaghe was a light welter he would beat hatton IMO.

 

Maybe, but how could you feel good about it?

 

True, but you yourself said that Calzaghe only lost three rounds, right? Most of these older experienced posters who analysed the fight had Hopkins winning 4-5 rounds prior to the fight...

I agree that some of us youngsters jumped overboard a bit, supporting Calzaghe, but I would say we were expecting a better performance from Calzaghe. Did you not think that he underperformed, sean, irrespective of what Hopkins forced him into...? Calzaghe certainly did, and I don't think he's just saying so...:think

 

I have been watching boxing for 35 years and I still don't know how you can win a fight without hitting someone. It was a close ugly fight and hopkins antics were bull****, but he won the fight I watched. Anyone who saw it otherwise was biased IMO.