~ Joe CALZAGHE v. Bernard HOPKINS ~ ANALYSIS and PREDICTION Thread ~

Hopkins is nearly shot at this point and he has horrible stamina/workrate, something that will be essential in this fight.

Take the plug out of your computer, put it in a box and when you throw it out the window, jump out with it. I've never heard such a totally IGNORANT, uninformed pseudo analysis in my life. When has Bernard Hopkins EVER been tired and demonstrated in a fight to show he has bad stamina?? I've seen his 30 of his fights, NAME ME ONE INSTANCE? Not even the most ardent Hopkins hater can say that. Thats why I suggest you should dispose of your PC/laptop and yourself.

Anyways heres my take I posted from another board..

'm personally so sick and tire of hearing of Cal's work rate.

I just saw the training video of Cal and save for one fighter, I wonder why certain trainers insist to stand in their normal stance (see Manny Stewart with Taylor for the Wright fight and now Enzo and Cal for this fight) while working the mitts if they're facing a fighter in an opposite stance. That said, I do respect Joe Cal but I think as mentioned others in detail that Hopkins brings too many other intangibles that are often ignored to pull it out..

I've never seen the Bika fight. i'm going to check it out on youtube after I submit this but we've witnessed twice recently these intangibles are the way to beat these VOLUME PUNCHING or the new term "tv friendly' fighters. The intangibles being "footwork" and positioning.

I don't care if Calazaghe threw 3000 punches, if he's not in position to land them, he has to change his plan up. The times I've seen Cal have to box(the Kessler fight), he's been decent but does even the most ardent Hop hater think he could beat Hop in a a BOXING MATCH??

Thats the problem there, Hopkins "adjustments" are much more than Cal's even at the advanced age of 43. Every combo, punch, Hop has a counter for. You don't play a chess master in a chess match, the best you do is get them in a speed chess match. Too bad Hop is too smart to engage or 'trade for trade' like that.

I guarantee "if" (because I do give Cal a chance) he wins, there will be another excuse for Calazaghe. "Who'd he beat? WBU stiffs and Jeff lacy??"

So no "ifs", "buts", etc. Hop adds one more to his legacy in a fight thats uneven at some points but climatic at others. Hop lands EASILY the cleaner more effective blows. Cal at some points lands volume punching on shoulders, back and otherwise rolled punches.

There will be some stand still points in the fight where Hop will feint with his right hand lead and land a left hook (since Cal will expect right hand leads).

 

Heres my continued argument.

I've seen all of Cal's fights from Mitchell on(save for the Bika fight). He primarily has an aggressive/move forward style and a conventional boxing style. Thats it.

Hopkins on the other hand can do both of those in addition to fighting backwards (see the Winky fight), he can still get on his bike, he can play the counter-puncher, the defensive specialist or the smootherer. A great fight to look at all these styles demonstrated would be the second Echols fight...

Another thing can someone point to me anytime that Hop has just been dominated?? Not Jones, not Taylor. I've never seen his first fight but I don't think that counts anyways but no one has ever just dominated Hopkins so why suddenly does he "get old overnight" is beyond me.

Another factor is while Cal can box, his strength is in his volume punching agreed?? When he throws those punches, they tend to be looping punches which leaves him very open for straight shots thats usually the basis of 'Nards attack. Since its generally agreed that Hopkins is still one of the best defensive fighters out there, why does anyone think based on HARD EVIDENCE that suddenly he collapses and folds?

Do the guys that feel this way really think that 'Nard hasn't prepared or isn't prepared for a VOLUME PUNCHER? You guys think he's sparring with guys who are just there to go __ rounds not to replicate what Cal does in anyway?? If I know Nasim like he's been in the past, they've got Cal's game plan(s) picked apart like Bellicheck has the opposing teams plays videotaped,lol.

They know his hand position once he throws this type of combination and what he's open for. They know where he tends to land and the fact he's off balance lots of times and where to move to exploit that even more. Trust me, I've spoken with him how he breaks down fighters and it's brilliant. All Hop needs to do is (no pun) Execute it. I bring that up to say, the only way Hop gets dominated is if he comes in unprepared which you can pretty much throw out of the window because that doesn't happen with him..

 

My pick is Hopkins and I stand by that. Heres the way I think Joe can win though. I'm fair. I don't think he can execute this though.



I simply do believe though that Hop has more tools at his disposal than Joe to execute his plan. But Joe to me has to keep Hop off balance not only with movements but with feints, angles and occasional flurry here and there. He's going to have to change up the timing on his punches which is something i've rarely seen him do. He's going to have to mix up things completely, box, flurry, hold, circle, counter, etc.

I pretty much described damn near every boxing technique out there but I think to beat Hop you do have the throw the entire blender at him. You gotta keep him guessing. Honestly, I think Hop is hard as hell to hit (even Jermain Taylor said it clearly) let alone knockout. so Cal needs to get that knockout the old man schit out of his mind and jsut focus his plan and let it come. If he can do all that, he can beat hop.

But unfortunately most fighters fight in patterns and comfortable rhythms and I don't see Joe deviating from that. But I'm trying to be fair and offer my take what he has to do. Should he win despite all that though (I don't think he will). I'll be the first to give him credit, NO EXCUSES ("HOP WAS OLD").

 

They both weighted 173 but they will grow overnight ( Hopkins to 182 at least and Calzaghe not more than 180). Hopkins looks much stronger and bigger but looks are not everything. Hops tried one last intimidation move a la Mayweather, touching heads but Calzaghe took it lightly and started clowning like in the weigh-in against Kessler. No change of pick Dec, and we have plenty of time to discuss it since I am watching it live around here. Hopkins will hurt your man so don't cry afterwards.

 

^Thank you kind sir.


B-hop Ud

 

Hopkins way past his prime. Does good job in selling fight though. His last gasp at big money fight ends with Calzaghe scoring 6th rnd TKOLD.

 

Been sitting on the fence, trying to figure out how to pick this fight. Calzaghe's got the edge in terms of speed, and can maintain a high workrate throughout the fight. However, Hopkins does have the edge in terms of skill, and if he's able to establish range with the right hand early, then he's got a shot of stealing one of the early rounds...which is critical because we all know that he's going to be waiting to accelerate in the second part of the fight.

My take: Think Taylor-Hopkins II. Calzaghe will enjoy success early. X comes back in the middle rounds, but Calzaghe manages to win one or two of the later rounds to come away with a close, but probably deserved decision.

 

Can I get some credit here?

 

Props! :good

 

:rofl

Spot on mate.

:yep