Teddy Atlas assesses Calzaghe - Hopkins correctly

I picked Joe to stop Hopkins before the fight started. It's easy to be wise after the event, to look at it with the benefit of hindsight but having been in the arena and seen a replay, there is no way Joe was going to stop Hopkins. Not a chance.

Joe was however, starting to land more meaningful shots later on and it was only going to go one way from there. But to suggest he could have stopped Bhop that night is sheer lunacy. Maybe if they had fought over the course of 30 rounds it would have been a possibility.

 

If I were Hopkins, I would have taken advantage of the low blows - without question. I'm not going to argue whether they were low or not, but if the glove goes down there, then there's an advantage to be played.

Hopkins knew that his stamina was draining faster than Joe's, he also knew that he didn't have the power to drop Calzaghe, and that if went on the offensive, then he would be playing directly into Joe's hands. He probably knew from the moment that Joe stood up from the knockdown; and that Joe's eyes were clear, that it would go the distance.

But I don't think Hopkins was _that_tired - but it comes back to the fact that he couldn't afford to get into a war, where Joe's speed would tear him apart. So Hopkins spoilt the fight, leaving Joe few chances to exchange clear blows - the downside of the Hopkins plan was that he also knew Joe would be relentless - alot more ineffective, but relentless nonetheless... eventually it won Joe the fight.

I'd agree with Atlas on Point 1 - and I think in Bernard's heart of hearts he probably knew the same too, once Joe got back up. It may have actually helped Joe's cause - Joe knowing he could take a great shot from Hopkins, and Hopkins knowing that he wouldn't be able to keep Joe down without Joe's war.

But on point 2, I don't believe Hopkins was broken - planless and knowing it'd go 12, yes... but not broken.

 

Senile dementia setting in?

 

No that was an actual low shot, that didn't cause Hopkins any problems. Hope that helps.

 

calzaghe was nowhere near to stopping hopkins you dumb ****

 

Irrespective of his age BHOP was the linear, undisputed top LHW champ, so should we have shown leniency because of his age?

 

JC landed some nice straight lefts in the second half of the fight.

Hopkins never marks up. JC's punches about 80% weren't near full power but he did land some strong punches.

 

It was a close fight and he wasnt gonna STOP Hopkins. Hopkins knew his was losing points and had to break Cal's RHYTHYM. He wasnt hurt, tired perhaps, but Hopkins fought well and lost a Close Decision. There's a lot of BS SD's add this to the list but it wasnt a wide result.:good

 

I was rolling listening to Teddy's assessment! Just b/c he thought he actaully knew what he was talking about but it was clear as day he was lost watching the fight. I agree with one thing he said...that Joe won a clear decision......but by no means was the fight lopsided or was a easy win. It was a hard fight to score b/c Joe wasn't landing anything of note and was missing much of the time and Bhop wasn't throwing alot but was landing the better punches. What was a joke was the lopsided score for Joe.

 

That's pretty delusional to think Joe won 9 rounds. Joe won 7 rounds to 5 IMO.

 

They weren't fake breaks...they actually did happen and b/c there were low blows. Whether or not they were hard enough to affect the boxer is unknown. Hop only knows and he said the were legit.

 

Teddy also stated its time for Hopkins to hang them up. Bernard isn't the way he used to be, he's an old fighter now.

 

i think he won clearly