Peak Calzaghe v Peak Hopkins

Peak Hopkins could deal with a swarmer.
Today, Hopkins achilles heel is active fighters, that keep punching and keep working, no matter what comes they stick to their game plan, and obviously have great talent.
Peak Hopkins UD's Peak Calzaghe
Today: Calzaghe UD Hopkins.

 

:good
spot on IMO.

 

Jc Ud

 

Calzaghe would win. Hopkins was wily had a great defense, could bang or box but had trouble with opponents with faster hands and feet who could either outwork him or outscore him. Jermain Taylor and Roy Jones both illustrated this giving him 3 of 4 loses. Calzaghe had fast hands and feet(faster than Taylor) was very active, had a solid chin, was a strong 168 his entire career, and has underrated power because of the way he administers it. He be too fast too active for Hopkins. Hopkins would have to be the aggressor and would have some success inside because of his ability to throw short punches and counter inside but Calzaghe's handspeed and surprising accuracy will tell the tell. Calzaghe wins a competitive fight 115-113, 116-112, 115-114

 

Hopkins by UD...right now though, it's the other way around

 

Hopkins wins a UD. Hopkins has never had problems with southpaws and had a workrate to match even Calzaghe's. Calzaghe has a tendency to be open to right hands as shown in fights with Reid, Eubank and Woodhall and Hopkins has a very good right hand.

 

This fight would be unbelievable. Two technically brillant tacticians who can do it hard for 12. However Joe has that speed advantage and I believe it could be telling. A peak Hopkins wasn't as defensive or passive and thus couldn't take Joe out of his game as much as an old Hopkins could.

 

I think prime Calzaghe was more than a match for any version of Bernard.

 

Hopkins wins a decision in a very rough fight with a lot of slick inside fighting.

 

Exactly, people point to Hopkins going close with Roy and think that Calzaghe and Roy are the same. Speed is somewhat comparable with Roy clearly quicker, but Calzaghe is so much more awkward and actually uses trickier in and out and circling movement that would give Hopkins a whole lot of problems.

Hopkins' timing and right would keep the best of Calzaghe at bay, but Calzaghe would outwork to a close but clear UD in my opinion.

Those awkward angles and the sheer amount thrown with the movement are going to present a whole lot of issue's for Bernard. This isn't the same fight as against Roy, even though Roy is superior all time and a bit H2H, different style and different day.

 

Calzaghe is a bad styles match-up for any version of Hopkins, but that does not necessarily mean he would win. It's too hard to say who would win (also considering what weight the fight would be at). But, none of that matters anyway. The only possible match between these two would happen today, and Calzaghe would make Hopkins look real bad en route to a wide UD.

 

Calzaghe by decision

 

hopkins the and now

 

Hopkins UD