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

A Calzaghe vs Hopkins fight is probably the most logical next step.:yep

If you are Joe Calzaghe? Clearly you want fights with the most meaning and largest payout. JC has positioned himself marvelously to really capture one of the best Super Middle Career's AT:good

Hopkins represents the LHW Crown and there's historical themes of middles trying to become LH. SRR, SRL, Toney,etc..etc.

Calzaghe is also the younger fighter in this matchup. Given the time period a win now over Hopkins goes a long way in the AT discussion. I think the time is now for this matchup:good

I dont see the reason for Calzaghe fan disapproval. :think

 

Amsterdam is a good poster, knows boxing and his Mijares posts are legendary, but when it comes to Joe he gets a bit carried away.

 

Mijares IS god!:twisted:

Now, let me respond to your other post -

The difference between Jones and Calzaghe is that Calzaghe will eat a right hand willingly to land his own, he would land on Hopkins body and would hit him at odd angles consistently due to differing styles of defence and offense.

Hopkins' right is not powerful enough to keep a peak Calzaghe at bay, is certainly not powerful enough as an aging fighter to keep the current Calzaghe at bay.

Jones was always tenative about getting hit, Joe is not. Hopkins' rights are not enough to stop Calzaghe's workrate prime for prime, Hopkins' has decent power, but nothing like Kessler has.

Dropping the workrate of a blown up Wright means little at this point also, if Kessler's bombs that were landed didn't get Calzaghe tentative to throw, then neither can Hopkins.

 

He's Bernard Hopkins (PERIOD!)

 

Does a prime Winky Wright defeat Calzaghe?

 

That's fine, but it's Calzaghe's legacy we're concerned with here. Hopkins not having much to lose by making this fight only makes the fight more likely.

Wouldn't this be exacerbated if he loses to a lesser fighter than Hopkins? Any loss might have an affect on the view of his prior accomplishments, but if he loses to Hopkins, then that sets the standard pretty high. If he loses to, say, Tarver or Jones, then it really makes the SMW division look pretty weak in a hurry.

A lot of people would, which is part of the reason he has so much to gain. Other than an educated few, most people still fancy Hopkins a better boxer than any of the other guys Calzaghe might face.

As would I. I still think it would be a destruction though, just an interesting one to watch. Not a shutout, but Hopkins coasts through way too many rounds these days to deal with someone throwing 80 punches a round.

 

Thats tough. Calzaghe has a tough style for Winky and a size advantage. Prime Winky Wright is 154lbs, Winky should still be at 154 but he chased the money fights. I say Calzaghe would be the favorite for me H2H, but P4P and prime Winky Wright gives anybody a run for their money.

**Quick Note**
I may give Calzaghe and his fans **** about him fighting 2 former tv reality show stars. I also bash his resume a bit and get pissed off when he's compared to SRR and Ali, and even a prime RJJ. But I recognize the guys skills. he is a great fighter and deserves all or our respect.

 

A case can be made for Hopkins being the best opponent because according to the ring magazine, Hopkins is the champion LHW. If Calzaghe wants to be ring champ at 175, he needs to fight BHOP

 

Hopkins doesn't need to keep Calzaghe at bay, he just needs to counter punch when Joes comes in swinging, land effectively (which he will) and then CLOSE the distance. I am sure if Calzaghe wants to mix it up on the inside Hopkins will gladly take him up on that. The difference with their infighting skill a novice could see, Joe is no slouch by any means but Hopkins might be the best infighter since Duran. He doesn't have to KO Calzaghe he just has to outbox and keep Joe honest and well the man is a "supernatural" boxer, Joe gets wins on speed and pressure, Bernard Hopkins is more than ready to take on that challenge.

The only way we will find out of course is if these two ATG's get in the ring and I would like nothing more than to see it (other than Mijares-Castillo of course) :good

 

Mijares should already be ranked as a top 30 ATG, but I will play along with you tools...

Mijares-Montiel is in the works by the way, that'll help clear up some questions.:yep

 

Also Hopkins today gives Calzaghe more trouble than Kessler did. All about styles.

 

Mijares is my favorite fighter south of Super Bantam but top 30 ATG , he is not top 100 yet. Name one bad thing I have said about him?

Mijares UD Montiel also, and he stops Castillo on cuts.

 

H2H, Mijares is a top 30 ATG, this is undisputed. Mijares is god, by default we rank God in the top 30, otherwise it would be blasphemy.

On a more serious note, stopping Castillo and decisioning Montiel wide is good enough to rank him P4P top 5, when combined with his complete Lacying of Jorge Arce.

Mijares may be the most supernatural fighter in all of boxing.:nod

 

He is already top 15 p4p and will be top 5 if he clears the division. How do you feel about Gamboa does he has supernatural capabilities?