Who can king Calzaghe fight after Kessler?

Whatever has Lacy done to you, to make you wanna see him hurt like that again???

 

Denis Inkin is probably the number 3 at supermiddle.Inkin would be a tough match for Joe,and probably no great fun to watch due to Inkin's style.

 

Dawson if he gets past his madatory in Adrian Diaconu. Calzaghe would get massive props for such a fight early next year. :good

 

Bhop is his best choice. BUT, you say he is old....he is also a top 5 p4per on just about every list you look at. On top of that, it would also be a HUGE purse....

So money and resume wise, Bernard is the most logical choice.

As for his fight with Kessler...I truely believe Kessler is in over his head. Joe will UD him.

 

That's the fight I want, my favourite vs. a current top favourite. He'd get massive credit in a win or loss, it'd be close.

 

Yes, for as excellent as Kessler is, he's going to be drowned in this bout.

But Hopkins is a logical money choice, but a worthless fight for the long time legacy even if he is technicall a 'top 5 P4P'. Would you rate a victory over Dawson if he defeats Diaconu higher than a victory over the older Hopkins?

I know I would. I just can't rate Hopkins as a true threat anymore to any skilled 168-175 level fighters. Wright and Tarver are different.

 

In all honesty, I would give him more credit for beating an ATG in Hopkins, even at his advanced age, than I would for an untested Dawson, or the inevitable Kessler win :hey . Taylor would also be a great choice if he beats Pavlik (which I think he will). He is an undefeated, young great in the prime of his career and is a recogized p4p top 10 fighter.

But with the Hopkins thing, it would do plenty of things for Joe.

1- It would pretty much be a given to be in the US...and what better an introduction could Joe get than Bernard for the US crowds?
2- We already mentioned the money, but seriously, there isnt a fighter at or around that weight class that would get a better purse than Hop vs Joe.
3- Bernard is the best fighter of this era (arguably...and even arguably, he is top 3), for name recognition alone, this is win win.
4- Even if Joe were to lose (which I believe is a strong possibility...sorry but anyone who counts Hop out in ANY fight is just a maniac at this point....), at least it would be to a recognized top30 ATG...there is NO SHAME in that.

Like I said, other fighters would be nice wins....but Bernard is the logical choice win or lose.

:good

 

Dawson is not 'untested' in the least bit, he virtually shutout the undefeated Adamek, nearly shutout a damn good LHW veteran in Eric Harding and is about to take on top 10 Adrian Diaconu.

You can judge Hopkins on legacy alone, I'm judging him on where he currently stands H2H in my opinion, not his 'name' or 'reputation' and Dawson is easily the best H2H LHW.

I hope you understood what I meant in that the Tarver and Wright victories are decieving people when Tarver is essentially at journeyman level and Wright really looked awful at 170 and is a small MW, not a SMW or a LHW and also getting up there in age.

Dawson and Kessler both are going to go on and accomplish great things, Joe Louis' win over Charles and Walcott weren't considered much at the time, but Charles and Walcott later established awesome victories and Louis' wins over them are now signature legacy wins late in his career... this is what I mean. Bernard is 42 and at the end of the line on what he can do, he will not defeat any young, fresh skilled SMW's or LHW's because he can no longer fire it off like he needs to.

Calzaghe said after Kessler there is only 2 fights left, he's ending his career very soon, even then, I'm not so sure Hopkins would realistically select Joe at this stage of the career.

A final unification with the Bute/Berrio winner would be a good notch before a Dawson type fight to give one final attempt.

Agreed, Bernard is a top 30 ATG, but at this point, he'd just be name recognition and not really much of a challenge and over time, this would be looked at as lesser than the MK win coming up.

I am a Hopkins fan, from way back also, I've always been a fan of western fighters over Euro fighters generally, but I am judging him on where he physically stands and in my opinion, he's not a top 5 H2H fighter at 175 at this point, I feel even Johnson would get him right now judging from the Wright fight.

I'm wanting a real challenge though man, you can't blame me since most fighters are not a challenge to Joe. Prime Hopkins, hell yeah that's a fight for the ages, but Hopkins is showing his age and it's not much of a fight now.

Dawson is a true 50/50 fight, I really want it, I want to see the slightly declined Calzaghe really battle tested against a future HOF fighter.... win lose or draw.:good

 

Bad choice of words on my part. Dawson has fought some good comp, but no GREAT comp. Untested was rough....as I do believe he has some good wins, but if you look, they are not as good as it would seem.

Adamek in my opinion (which I got BLASTED for before the Dawson fight BTW) is overrated. He is good, but I dont believe he will ever be great....and at CW (which I believe he is at now) he is going to get HURT, he just gets hit too damn much.

You say Harding is a damn good LHW veteran, but you consider Tarver a journeyman now? Tarver DESTROYED HIM in their last meeting. He also lost to Johnson as well. He WAS a damn good LHW veteran, but he is way past it now....if anything, he is more of a journeyman than Tarver is.

So by untested, I meant against comp on the level of a Hopkins, a Calzaghe or even a Taylor at this point. I do believe he will be great....I love Dawson's potential, but a fight vs Calzaghe would be a HUGE step up for him.

Just my opinion on the guy....and again, untested = bad choice of words...but ya see where I was coming from now! :good

Well its hard to look at the Wright fight and fairly judge Hopkins H2H ability. Wright may be small, but except for Hopkins and maybe Floyd, he is the best defensive fighter out there. NOONE is going to look good vs Wright. The fact that Hop won it clearly should speak to the level at which he is still able to compete.

Plus, as I said, he is still top5 p4p on most peoples lists.

Tarver may have faded...tho I dont believe to the severity that you are eluding to....but he was still the recognized champ at LHW and Hop shut him out. The fight was a clinic. THAT, should speak more to Hop's H2H ability!

The Wright thing, I eluded to. Look at how other great defensive fighters were able to compete above their suited weightclass. Whitaker, Byrd, HOPKINS, Jones, etc. all made fighters who were bigger and stronger and better in some instances look bad even in losses at higher weights. Wright is a fighter that NOONE will EVER look good against, even in a win. But youll be hardpressed to find anyone who gave the fight to Winky....speaks volumes if you ask me.

I agree with most of this. And I understand the parrellels to Charles and Walcott, but again, it touches more on the (wrongly worded) point about how much they have been tested. Whether they go on to greatness or not....I think we can both agree that they probably wont reach half of what Hop has.

And as for Bernard vs younger fighters....I dont agree. He is arguably the best defensive fighter alive right now. Until he retires, he will give EVERYONE he fights a tough night. His style dictates that (much like Wright).

I think Hop would definately take (select) this fight. Joe is closing in on HIS record for defenses. Joe is a topten fighter who is HUGE draw (much of the same reasons Floyd is fighting Hatton). Joe is also a great fighter....something I think means something to Hop who isnt just trying to get paychecks anymore, but cement a legacy....just think of what a win vs Cazaghe would mean to Hops resume. I believe only a shot at the HW title (vs the right champ...Sultan/Holyfield maybe) would deter him from taking this one.

It would...but not on the level of Kessler, then Hop and if a win, close it out vs Dawson (who would be more thought of and higher ranked at that point).

Not necessesarily....Hop is an ATG, and if the fight is competative it will speak to the two's longevity and true greatness. And Im sorry, as I said, I just dont see ANYONE looking good vs Hopkins....he is just too freakishly good defensively.

And I am a Calzaghe fan, was actually one of the only "Yanks" (sorry couldnt help myself... ) who picked him vs Lacy and KNEW he would win.

But as I have stated. Hop shut Tarver out and clearly beat Winky (one of the best defensive fighters alive), I think most are severly underestimating how good he still is....especially H2H.

As for Johnson....cmon. I love Glen....I mean, how could anyone not. But this guys struggled vs Tarver (Hop schooled him...as well as schooled a PRIME Johnson) and Woods recently. He would lose vs Hop....badly again actually.

Again, I think a Dawson fight would be good....but I think a Hopkins fight is just too much win/win for Joe to turn down. It truely makes the most sense.

And totally different from you, I see Hop winning. He has one of the best chins ever....as well as is one of the best defensive fighters ever....so Joe's power (RIDICULOUSLY UNDERRATED POWER BTW) isnt going to be a factor. And tho I can see Calzaghe outworking him for a decision, I can also see him getting countered ALLLLL NIGHT as well. I think this would be a better fight than most would expect.

And damn I hope it happens. Just imagine what both fighters names would mean to the others legacy?

:good

 

Dawson

 

Hopkins OF COURSE

 

I agree, with you on most things however i don't think Bhop will crush JC, i think Hop takes a close UD. I believe Bhop will benefit best by sparring with the people inin the below vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLob3lj9_Ng

 

Move up to 175 and fight Hopkins.

 

I think JC-Bhop happens if Joe beats Kessler. There's nothing really to lose for Joe. He's certainly not going to be knocked out by one punch and his imense workrate will see him get lots of success in the fight. The talk about Hopkins last four opponents being better than Calzaghe's whole resume has some credability (should you live in the US), but people looking in can see that:

a) Calzaghe actually throws punches and will be in shape(opposed to Winky Wright)
b) Can mix it up by boxing & brawling (opposed to Tarver being a great wet lettuce)
c) Will be insanely busy all fight

JC will pose problems to Hopkins (like speed, boxing ability and heart - attributes severely lacking from Bernard's last few opponents) that he's not had for years and years. This fight will show Hopkins true age.

But first, let's think about a more important fight: Mikkel Kessler. Hopkins means nothing in Denmark.

 

Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins or "Bad" Chad Dawson