What is the best case that can be made for Hopkins as the best opponent for Calzaghe?

Anyone who makes a case that B-Hop would be the 'best' opponent is misguided on the subject.

Not the worst opponent, but far from the best.

 

i would say woods from a uk point of view and there styles would make for a good entertaining fight plus it should be acceptable to both uk and usa viewers.

 

He's hte best opponent because he does the most for Calzaghe's legacy, brings Calzaghe the most money, and is probably the easiest of the serious opponents for Calzaghe to beat. No way in Hell can Hopkins keep up with someone with Calzaghe's workrate - note how he's only fought guys who throw 40 or 50 punches a round in the past few years.

Hopkins is his best opponent, but it has nothing to do with being dangerous. It has to do with business and legacy. Far too many misguided souls still think Hopkins is a top 5 P4P fighter, and that would be quite the notch in Joe's cap.

 

Hopkins would skyrocket up all time P4P lists; Joe's stock wouldn't be hurt that badly either, at least not as bad if he were to lose to any of the other 4. Unless Hopkins KOs Calzaghe early though, I don't see how he could get a decisive victory.

Calzaghe has the most to gain and the least to lose by fighting Hopkins. If I were FW and Joe, I would take this fight even if Hopkins got a 70/30 split and it was in Philadelphia.

 

The best case you can make for Hopkins is that he's worth the most money. Competitively, you cannot argue that he's the best fight for Joe. And fans who follow the sport closely will note that a win over Hopkins is diminished by the fact that Bernard has slowed down tremendously the past few years.

I don't blame Calzaghe for pursuing this fight for business reasons, but that's all it is.

 

If this fight is to be made, it needs to be done before Jones and Trinidad fight.

 

His defense and counter punches against those speedy slaps, akward style, stamina, ring intellengence, chin, experience. The baddest mother****er stylistically the so called "Supernatural" could ever possibly think about getting in the ring with since prime Roy Jones. :good

 

Sure, however, you're describing a prime Hopkins, not the current guy. Even the prime Hopkins loses clear to the Supernatural one, I don't know where Hopkins ever succeeded against an awkward guy with tremendous speed and workrate advantages, having a competitive fight with Jones and TKOing Trinidad really has little to do with fighting Calzaghe.

A prime Hopkins loses 116-112, the current Hopkins loses 120-108, or gets exhausted to the point where he can no longer continue.

 

Jones was faster than Calzaghe and Hopkins took 4 rounds off him and the entire fight was competative, Glen Johnson has a great "workrate" until he got butched. Winky has thrown 1000 punches a fight in a few bouts, you would be suprised how a workrate drops when you are hitting nothing and eating counter right hands. Name me a great akward fighter Calzaghe has beaten? Hopkins has an even more awkward style than Calzaghe.

116-112 possibly 117-111 or 115-113 in his prime for the Southpaw killer, today 50/50 remember Joe is not the same fighter he was 3-4 years ago either, it is amazing what he did to a peak Kessler but Kessler does not have defense needed to really trouble Joe. Bernard does not need to establish a jab to set up right hands either, Kessler does.

 

*they both are advanced in years, albeit not really that shopworn.

*they both had the longest reign and defenses as belt-holders, in recent years.

*intriguing match-up stylistically. Most importantly............................

*I wanna see Bhops retired for good.:hey :yep