Now Taylor has been beaten...will Americans accept Hopkins is nothing special now?

I think the difference in speed, reflexes and workrate would be a bridge to far for Hopkins these days.

 

I think Hopkins/Calzaghe would be made into a sloppy fight by Hopkins, I think Hopkins would use rough house tactics to take Calzaghe out of his comfort zone and make him fight his fight. I do think Calzaghe is a better boxer but not a better fighter, Hopkins will use his naturally stronger frame to have his way with Calzaghe in the trenches. I see Hopkins knocking him out late in the fight or winning by decision, I learned to never bet against Hopkins.

 

Hopkins can't KO Taylor or Wright late, but he's going to do it to Calzaghe?

Christ.

 

I don't think Hopkins is all that powerful at this stage, Calzaghe was able to push Jeff Lacy around the ring so it's unlikely he'd be overpowered by Hopkins at this stage of his career.

The speed of Calzaghes' combination punching would be a massive problem for the older Hopkins as well, I don't think he's busy or powerful enough to knockout Calzaghe either, Joe has a very solid chin. Hops is experienced, but the fact Joe is a southpaw with a very unique style, and fight inside or out negates that to an extent.

Calzaghes stamina is also excellent, if anyone is likely to tire down the stretch a this point it's Hopkins. He finishes the twelve rounds but nobody has really forced him to raise his workrate in recent fights (well except the Taylor fights, Hops only really came back as Taylor tired). Calzaghes' workrate is massive and he finishes strong, if Hops wants to win rounds he has to work, he's far stronger than Winky (who's leagues above his best weight, Joe will have the legs Winky didn't as a result) and will be far more active than Tarver (who i'm betting against in his next fight).

 

All you do is think of Hopkins. You think of him more than me and im his fan. Face it, Hops victories over Tarver and Wright have more of a lasting impact with historians.

 

We're not discussing legacy, we're discussing head to head, here and now.

 

That must have been while he was uncertain if the back injuries had destroyed his career. He had called out JC since Siaca, but FW declined - and rightfully so - Kessler was not on the map.

 

Ive got a friend who says that if Calzaghe fights Hops at 170, the extra weight would hurt Joe. I didnt agree. Calzaghe could possibly get a UD over Hops at this point due to his high punch rate. Hops would need to take it back 2 years for me to guarantee a victory.

 

Historians with no insight to boxing? Yeah, the world is full of those - sadly.

 

Joe Calzaghe is a ****ing joke. So is his #1 fanboy and boyfriend. Enjoy it while you can, because the minute he actually fights someone good he's losing, probably by knockout, and we're not talking about Jeff Lacy who almost lost to Tsypko. A real fighter. And maybe the referee won't step in when Calzaghe starts to tickle the other fighter like he did in the last fight.

Keep acting like Hopkins and Pavlik are easy fights for Joe, because you know he'll never fight them. He's avoided Roy Jones, Hopkins, and everyone else good his entire career, and it will never change.

 

hopkins based off his last performance should retire, along with winky. neither one can beat a young pavlik (25). b-hops might eke out a decision against joe since joe is pushing 36 and has no punch.

 

It wouldn't hurt him at all - what would 2 lbs do? Nothing, absolutely nothing.

Hopkins would be outpointed throughout the fight, and when he gets tired he will look worse, but I think he will survive...