There is no way Calzaghe beats a Prime Hopkins!

People exagerrate both the extent to which both Hopkins is declined and Calzaghe is in his prime, just to distort this matchup and make it seem like an obvious Hopkins win

People act like Hopkins prime was 28. It wasn't, not by a long stretch. His prime was when he had the smarts he does now, but still had the gas to throw punches and stay in the middle of the ring. 7 or 8 years ago I reckon...

Calzaghe is noway near his prime. That would be a good 5/6 years ago too, at least

You also have to factor in that aging clearly affects a fighter that relies on his physical attributes such as speed, reflexes and work-rate like Calzaghe more than it would a fighter of Hopkins style

 

Calzaghe would have beaten Hopkins in his prime at SMW, people seem to be forgetting that Calzaghe fought at light heavy for the first time in his career against the best rated light heavyweight who has been comfortable at the weight for a while.
Age has nothing to do with it, at SMW Calzaghe would have outworked him, not saying it wouldve been an easy fight because thats ridiculous but I think Hopkins has the mentality of a bully, fighting someone who goes at the pace joe does and won't be imtimidated is half the battle.
Everyone has oipinions though, Hopkins fans wont admit that and Calzaghe fans are the same too about their man, personally imho Calzaghe wouldve beaten him, the guy is underated in terms of his skill, his heart and his ability to win!Always finds a way to win!

 

Calzaghe is arguably further past his prime than Hopkins is. Hopkins was always a one punch counter puncher (against good opposition).

Calzaghe has always performed way better against fighters who bring it to him. This isnt even a point of any contention to anybody who's actually followed his career and seen more than 2 of his fights.

Thats a good description of Joe in the Hopkins fight, no others though. He was a boxer/puncher in his prime. You sound like you think he's Paulie Malignaggi.

 

It happened about 2003 when there was a teleconference with Don King, Hopkins, Warren and Jay Larkin, the then president of showtime sports. In short...Hopkins was offered $3 and accepted. This was a good payday for him back then and more than Joe was making. The day after Hopkins demanded $6m which wasn't there so it was scrapped. This story is fairly common knowledge and has never been disputed by Hopkins.

 

:yep

 

I'd take Hopkins prime for prime. I think Joe barely beat this shot version of Hopkins who had to resort to faking low blows to get a breather. A more active, busier Hopkins would beat Joe probably 8 rounds to 4. You could tell Joe had a lot more in the tank than Hopkins, 36 to 43 is a big leap as far as world class athletes go. Anyone who doesn't think this is either a Calzaghe lover or a Hopkins hater.

Nothing against JC, he is a great fighter, I just don't think he beats a greater fighter like Hopkins.

 

It is. Calzaghe would have beaten him more comfortably in '03.

 

This mythical 'prime' of Hopkins when he was a busy combination puncher just has no basis in reality. In his career he had four noteworthy fights against similar sized elite fighters who could box and he lost all of them (Jones, Taylor x2, Calzaghe). They were at different times of his career and he resorted to spoiler, throwing one punch at a time, holding, butting etc in all of them.

 

Calzaghe Gets Knocked Out Against Prime Hopkins.. Hes Not Strong Enough

Slaps Wont help him

 

Polymath is making a good case for Calzaghe.:good

 

:tired

Whatever You Say

 

After the Kessler fight everyone was stating how Calzaghe has improved with age, unlike most other boxers, and he was at the best he ever was! I can't remember reading one single post ever stating that he was way past his prime. Just six months later, now many state his best was half a decade or so ago.

 

Ok a case can be made that he only lost to Jones and beat Taylor both times (I had the first fight a draw, the second fight a BHOP win) and Calzaghe. I thought Calzaghe beat Bhop by 1 point, so I'm sure a lot of people could see it the other way.

Watch when Hopkins beat Echols in their second fight and tell me that is not a far better version of Hopkins than the one who ran out of steam after 4 rounds against Calzaghe.:hi:

 

yea whatever i say..

its the truth

 

the Calzaghe fans in the forum make this forum a joke, just like hatton fans did before he lost.