Because Hopkins takes the big fights, and Tarver was the big fight back then. Also he was perhaps after rematch with Jones at LH... This content is protected This content is protected , This content is protected
To avoid Calzaghe imo. Plus we all know Tarver was never much cop to begin with, Hopkins saw the weaknesses, just as he did with Pavlik.
Actually, Hopkins stated prior to the first Taylor fight that because of his age, his body just couldnt handle the physicality of getting to 160 anymore, and that after the first fight with Jermain, he would be moving up. Only staying for one more fight because he believed he had won the first one. And as for him "starting his career" at 175...it was for a few fights and he had stated that he didnt feel comfortable at that weight, so as you stated, he dropped down to a more comfortable 160.
re: Calzaghe Bernard never considered him more than a fraud and generally a typical white hype job and didn't think he was worth his time. Hop looked like he didn't really train for the fight (when it occurred) so clearly he thought he could KO such a limited fighter without any substantive prep. He underrated Joe's level of effort (not his skillset though). Also, 168 as a division doesn't have a long historical legacy like 160 & 175. He was killing himself to make 160 and 168 (at 43) wouldn't have alleviated that circumstance much (i.e., he wanted to put on some muscle and feel better which with his frame meant 175 not 168). The real targets for his legacy and the greater ring accomplishment was waiting at 175 in Hop's view. No US great from Hop's era EVER really noticed Calzaghe as any kind of obstacle, peer, or fighter with a legitimate legacy.