Why do Hopkins fans say he was washed up when he fought Calzaghe?

This fight (Calzaghe-Hopkins) was suposed to crown the #1 P4P boxer at the time, true story.

 

He wasn't washed up.

Now **** off.

 

I wouldnt say prime but as evidence shows he wasnt done

i think one thing the Calzaghe fight did prove was that Hopkins was winding down and that if you could push the pace he had a hard time going 12 rounds and he took breaks in the Hopkins and Jones 2 fights

Dawson won by making Hopkins have to work

Pascal made it close by making Hopkins have to work and be the aggressor he also moved a lot and made Hopkins have to use his old legs

Hopkins lost a close one to Joe but was to go unbeat for quite a while so you cant say he was shot

 

Physically Hopkins was at his best before the Trinidad fight. If you see Hopkins Pre Trinidad, BHop was knocking out his opponents left right and centre, or atleast was going for the KO win.

Prime Hopkins Knocked out Glen Johnson, who has never been stopped, that version of BHop was an aggressive fighter.

As BHop aged, and his physical attributes declined, he stopped being aggressive and more defenisive. From around Howard Eastman fight onwards.

Hopkin's is just a fighter who mastered the craft and has that warrior mentality, this is why he is still relevant in the game. There aint many like BHop.

 

People said that at the time, including me, but then he went on to continue to do great things.

But he wasn't in his athletic prime.

 

Great post, the Eastman fight made me nervous leading up to the Taylor fight

hopkins wasnt as aggressive and he also got hit more than he usually does

His great boxing and ring savy extended his yrs as a fighter even though physically it was clear he was on the slide

 

Calzaghe didn't win.

 

Who said he was washed up :huh He was still top p4p

 

not shot, but even a Hopkins at 50% lungs and speed was enough to beat Calzaghe over 6 or even 10 rounds.

Pity for Bernard that the fight was a 12 rounder, Cal got exposed first half of the fight but then outworked the gasping grandad to scrape it.

 

HerolGee is still posting about Calzaghe, you're obsessed with the guy, it's not healthy!

 

I don't think anyone would agree with you saying that Hopkins was in his prime at 43 years of age. He was clearly declining at the time. He lost his speed, stamina and a good bit of his reflexes by that time. His failing stamina was the reason why he had to overreact when Calzaghe slapped him in the balls.

He fought Tarver two years before he fought Calzaghe. You don't think he declined during those two years? It would be impossible for him not to.

Winky Wright was coming up two weight classes when he fought Hopkins and was obviously out of shape during the fight.

Kelly Pavlik wasn't very good to begin with and wouldn't be able to handle the style of Hopkins.

I like Hopkins, but he chose fighters like Pavlik, Wright and even Pascal, because he had big advantages over them. You can also claim that that's also the reason why he wasn't in a hurry to fight Dawson. Dawson didn't have the flaws that those other guys had. He was young, skilled, not moving up in weight, fast and he didn't have a problem upping his activity when he needed to. Those other fights were shrewd business moves by an old and past it Hopkins.

 

i am a big fan of several brit boxers, I am allowed to post about them.

its a discussion board, if I'm not mistaken.

 

I agree with Herol to a extend, but I will favor Calzaghe over Hopkins any day.

**** Hopkins.

That being said, I admit he is sort of like Holyfield in that he had 'several primes' his prime come in streaks... etc

Still a massively underrated win for Calzaghe

I had it 116-112

 

He was years past his best. I think there was even some decline from the Tarver fight to the time he fought Calzaghe.

With that said even a past it Hopkins is still a really good fighter and IMO he beat Calzaghe that night.