Pavlik VS Calzaghe--October 2008?

To be honest, he deserved to be on the wrong end of a unanimous decision.

 

If Calzaghe made 168 pounds, it would give Pavlik the opportunity to add all of Calzaghe’s belts. If Calzaghe came in over 168, then only the light heavyweight belt could be at stake.

 

:yep
I don't think Hopkins was lazy, or even that tired. I think he was just completely frustrated by Calzaghe's style and ability to adapt and didn't know how to adjust himself.

 

I think B-hop slowed later on in the fight. He definitely was not as active as he was early on in the fight. With age, goes stamina.

 

My point was that I don't think that his tiredness was the main reason he lost. I think he lost because he did'nt know what to do when Calzaghe adjusted midway through the fight- other than fake a low blow a couple of times.

 

this fight should be at 168 and should be one of the biggest fights in a few years

 

Agree to disagree...

I think Joe was able to adapt because B-hop was slowing down.

 

Perhaps so - but once he realised that he could walk through Calzaghe's punches he ought to have switched tactics and gone toe-to-toe, using a paw like jab and right hand ala Kostya Tszyu - because Joe eats the right hand all day and all night.

He spent much of the middle and latter rounds of the fight on the back foot, in a way similar to Mayweather does in the early rounds - which played straight into Joe's hands and allowed him to take control.

Many make out Calzaghe is just some sort of unstoppable machine, but that he ain't. You need a guy with high workrate and energy levels who is prepared to spoil and can switch tactics.

 

It should be at 168, but for some reason I wouldn't be surprised if it's at a catch weight, so that Calzaghe doesn't have to put any belts on the line. Just a hunch though.

 

Yep, I agree. But Pavlik risks no belts, regardless. Personally, I Hate catch weights. It's the cheesiest way of getting around the fact that a fighter can't make weight or doesn't want to jeopardize his belts.

 

This is the fight I'd rather see than Calzaghe fighting Jones plus a vistory for either fighter will give each of them greater legacies - Joe beating an undefeated, young, Amercain champ, Pavlick beating the undefeated lineal champ at LH & SMW.

 

**** belts, but I doubt Calzaghe would walk away from a bout because Pavlik wanted the belts on the line.

Hopkins refused to come down to supermiddle for the Calzaghe fight, hence the move up. If belts were really important, I would imagine Hops would have moved down to become a three weight lineal (debatable I know) world champion. Not many people have won titles at three weights, even fewer have moved down a weight to win one as well.

 

Who are you talking about Talylor or Calzagheatsch

 

Hopkins didn't move down to 168 because he knew it would eliminate his greatest advantages: size and power. He must have walked into the ring at 190+.