The argument for a Bernard Hopkins win

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by PrideOfWales, Apr 10, 2008.


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  1. Decebal

    Decebal Lucian Bute Full Member

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    Right...so I give Hopkins three rounds! That is not nothing!

    But if Calzaghe cannot find the key to this fight against Hopkins, he is overrated. It's as simple as that. Calzaghe knows the extent of the challenge in front of him; he's not approaching this fight with the mindset he aproached the Bika fight with, for example. Yeah, Hopkins has the perfect style to upset Calzaghe; that's why he took it in the first place. But if Calzaghe, who is still close to his very best even physically cannot overturn the style disadvantage against a Hopkins who tires down the stretch and doesn't have the physical skills to cut it at the highest level, we've been overrating him. Or, at least, we've been underrating Hopkins badly!
     
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    #16
  2. Decebal

    Decebal Lucian Bute Full Member

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    I wanted to be blunt because I don't want Calzaghe fans to think themselves into a negative frame of mind, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy. Certainly, if Calzaghe does, he's screwed. Fortunately, he won't. It's funny, but when I wrote that post, it's as if I wanted to protect Calzaghe from his corroding doubts...:lol:

    Of course, here, on ESB, there's no need for that...
     
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    #17
  3. dan-b

    dan-b Guest

    Nope I was merely complimenting PrideOfWales on a well thought out, objective post.
     
    dan-b, Apr 10, 2008
    dan-b, Apr 10, 2008
    #18
  4. tragicliston

    tragicliston Active Member Full Member

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    A bit of magical thinking?
     
    tragicliston, Apr 10, 2008
    tragicliston, Apr 10, 2008
    #19
  5. Decebal

    Decebal Lucian Bute Full Member

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    Yeah, PoW is a very good, careful and objective analyst. You should be used to those kinds of posts from him.
     
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    #20
  6. PrideOfWales

    PrideOfWales Winston Zedmore Full Member

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    I disagree. Against boxers who like to press the action, I think Joe is pretty much as good as it gets. When he has to go looking for the action himself, as we've seen on a few occasions in the past, he looks like an average boxer. He can't open defences up, he only knows one way to box. Look at the number of aggressive boxers he's been in against compared to the ones who are less inclined to keep coming. I've been there when Cardiff was silent for round after round because he couldn't do anything to bring Rick Thornberry out of his shell. Rick Thornberry: who the **** is he right? The same man that got KO'd in his two previous losses before Calzaghe. Does that make Colin Wilson and Henry Wharton better than JC? Of course not, but it goes a long way in telling you how much he struggles with certain styles compared to others.
     
    PrideOfWales, Apr 10, 2008
    PrideOfWales, Apr 10, 2008
    #21
  7. Decebal

    Decebal Lucian Bute Full Member

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    Indeed...but partly also to allay my own doubts about this fight!;)

    If Calzaghe loses, I will admit that I have indulged in a bit of wishfull thinking myself, about this fight. If he doesn't; if Calzaghe beats him convincingly, I will pretend I knew better all along!:D
     
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    #22
  8. Decebal

    Decebal Lucian Bute Full Member

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    Yes, you're right. I agree with that analysis. Always have done.

    But I think that after a couple of rounds, the physical difference will be telling. (Calzaghe's speed/workrate and power too will make a difference; Hopkins won't be able to make it all fall into place for longer than a couple of rounds)
     
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    #23
  9. tragicliston

    tragicliston Active Member Full Member

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    I gotcha. I do the same thing, but in reverse.
     
    tragicliston, Apr 10, 2008
    tragicliston, Apr 10, 2008
    #24
  10. PrideOfWales

    PrideOfWales Winston Zedmore Full Member

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    Anyway Decebal, this is the way for Hopkins to win thread, I will not tolerate any pro-Joe posts in here. I'm determined to get my money's worth for this fight.
     
    PrideOfWales, Apr 10, 2008
    PrideOfWales, Apr 10, 2008
    #25
  11. PrideOfWales

    PrideOfWales Winston Zedmore Full Member

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    I tend to side with the people that think Calzaghe will be able to punch with more authority at Light Heavyweight to be honest though.

    A man who's worried about the state of his hands one week away from one of the bigger fights in his career doesn't punch with full power in training runs for the press.
     
    PrideOfWales, Apr 10, 2008
    PrideOfWales, Apr 10, 2008
    #26
  12. Decebal

    Decebal Lucian Bute Full Member

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    :lol: :good

    (shhh...don't tell anyone);)

    But you see...it's important that they do it too for this one - this is very much a mental fight. Self-belief is even more important than usual, in this fight, as Dorfmeister continually points out.)

    And it's here that Hopkins is trying to win the fight - at the confidence and self-belief level; it's crucial that Calzaghe doesn't listen to the siren's song.
     
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    #27
  13. Decebal

    Decebal Lucian Bute Full Member

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    :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

    Sorry...:good
     
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    #28
  14. Marc

    Marc Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I see a Calzaghe fan is close to joining us in the dark side.:smoke
     
    Marc, Apr 10, 2008
    Marc, Apr 10, 2008
    #29
  15. Decebal

    Decebal Lucian Bute Full Member

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    Yeah...if Hopkins can make Calzaghe believe that the style disadvantage is too much to bridge, by making Calzaghe eat away at his own confidence, he's winning.
     
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    Decebal, Apr 10, 2008
    #30
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