I don't see Calzaghe beating Hopkins

STP · Post by **STP** » 24 Dec 2007, 11:27

Joe has never fought anyone anywhere near that class against southpaws. Hopkins is 11-0 with 8 KO's against southpaws, and has beaten Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright in his two previous fights - no Peter Manfredo's or Mikkel Kessler's.

Joe can throw 1,000 'punches' if he likes. Hopkins will take one or two half-steps back, make 500 of them miss and counter with the right hand clean on the button. I hope Joe's reading this, and I'm going to bump it after the fight.

If Joe holds back, he better improve vastly in the gym after Christmas - he has to learn to not square up with his chin in the air or the best lead right hand in history will find that chin every time.

You can argue Eubank's right hand was sneakier than Hopkins's, and faster, but Eubank was outboxed and made to look very disjointed by southpaws Gary Stretch and Dan Schommer.

Aside from the few hard whacks and the flash hands, and the occasional shuffle, Calzaghe looked no better against Eubank than Stretch and Schommer did.

Charles Brewer, Byron Mitchell, Richie Woodhall and Mikkel Kessler were less than ordinary belt holders. They were no Bernard Hopkins. While Robin Reid was perhaps the worst world title holder, bar Markus Beyer and Gavin Rees, ever.

Where's Joe's pedigree to live with Hopkins, bar his workrate and the hope of Hopkins's father time?

Mukel · Post by **Mukel** » 24 Dec 2007, 11:30

Firstly Kessler is better than Tarver in my opinion.

Secondly Calzaghe is too fast, throws too many punches and actually fights for the full 12 rounds unlike Hopkins.

Im sorry but Hopkins aint beating Calzaghe.

Tantum · Post by **Tantum** » 24 Dec 2007, 11:31

I'd like to see Kessler take on Tarver.

Look at Hopkins last 6.

His second worst is better than Joe's best. (And Kessler is considered Joe's best ever)

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 24 Dec 2007, 11:33

Tarver won't beat another top 10 fighter unless he's dead at the weight, old, or unless he moves up from middleweight. Tarver fvcked up with 2 of those vs Hopkins. it's curtains for the stinker slapper.

Mukel · Post by **Mukel** » 24 Dec 2007, 11:38

At the end of the day i dont care who Hopkins has fought or who Calzaghe has fought, its great that Hopkins has challenged himself more than Joe, it really is, but at the end of the day Calzaghe is a better boxer than Hopkins at this stage and he certainly would win in my mind.

bbjc · Post by **bbjc** » 24 Dec 2007, 11:44

Think it would be a good victory for Joe to finish his career off, but looking back on Calzaghe's opponents over his career don't think we will ever really know if Joe was really an elite fighter. I know he is a good boxer but was he challenged enough over his 10 years at the top it's sad to say that if Calzaghe beats a 42/43 year old Hopkins it will probably go down as his greatest victory, my fear is that if Joe would have been put in with a true world class fighter earlier he may have been found out a bit hence the reason for it not happening up until this point. Warren keeps telling us how amazing Joe is but why was he not put in with riskier opponents when he was in the peak of his career im sure there could have been some classic match ups for Calzaghe that could have been made through the years.

Mr Gunn · Post by **Mr Gunn** » 24 Dec 2007, 11:49

I think its a clear points win for CALZAGHE

Dioufy · Post by **Dioufy** » 24 Dec 2007, 11:53

Very, very clear.

bbjc · Post by **bbjc** » 24 Dec 2007, 11:55

Yeah agree Calzaghe would be too busy for Hopkins and would see out a comfortable victory

Dioufy · Post by **Dioufy** » 24 Dec 2007, 11:57

I would give anyone 10/1 for an Hopkins win on BetFair and I'm serious.

Tantum · Post by **Tantum** » 24 Dec 2007, 12:01

I'll take those odds.

My $20 says you're wrong.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 24 Dec 2007, 12:33

I love the Yanks. They hardly ever rate Europeans.

I can't wait for April. Points win for Calzaghe so wide they can build another Franklin bridge between it.

Dannyboyuk · Post by **Dannyboyuk** » 24 Dec 2007, 14:37

Dioufy wrote:I would give anyone 10/1 for an Hopkins win on BetFair and I'm serious.

10/1 that my bet is that Hopkins wins ill have a tenner on that.PM me mate

JCS · Post by **JCS** » 24 Dec 2007, 14:56

If Bika won 3-4 rounds against Calzaghe, you don't think Hopkins will? at a higher weight class? on home turf? Please. Its not gonna be a wide victory for either man, unless Hopkins lands hard on Joe's face.

chesh · Post by **chesh** » 24 Dec 2007, 15:05

I think B-Hop is the toughest fight left out there for Joe. It won't be pretty, but Hopkins will find a way to stop Joe doing his thing. Joe won't be throwing over a thousand punches in this fight. Hopkins will tie him up, rough him up and possibly open up a cut with his head. Hopkins usually finds a way to win. Apart from the two highly debatable defeats to Taylor, B-Hop hasn't lost for 14 years and even now, at his advanced age, is ranked #4 P4P by Ring. And not for no reason. Hopkins in the US is the biggest threat to JC's undefeated record. For me, Joe just nicks it in a very ugly fight.

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 24 Dec 2007, 15:58

Calzaghe will win comfortably.

Dioufy · Post by **Dioufy** » 24 Dec 2007, 16:23

JCS wrote:If Bika won 3-4 rounds against Calzaghe, you don't think Hopkins will? at a higher weight class? on home turf? Please. Its not gonna be a wide victory for either man, unless Hopkins lands hard on Joe's face.

Oh come on.

Sakio Bika is no duck-egg, even if he isn't anything special. And to top it off, he tried butting his way to victory - so when Joe was cut, and cut badly he took his foot off the mark in fear that he was going to get butted again and lose the fight on cuts. If you saw the fight you would've realised that Bika looked like one of those headbutting dinosaurs on Prozac.. Not to mention that Joe Calzaghe was facing a very tricky and difficult south-paw, and for me, showed a good performance when hurt with an intentional headbutt - it wasn't an eyeopening performance but it was an effective and professional one, and that's all that matters.

The only way I can see Bernard Hopkins winning is if he knocked Joe out, and let's be honest here, B-Hop hasn't looked like knocking anybody out since Oscar de la Hoya nearly four years ago, and I smelt a rat with that on that night - knocked him out and then become business partners? And I don't care what you say, Joe will outwork, out-punch, out-jab and out-smart B-Hop like he did against Mikkel Kessler. In fact, I would love to see B-Hop vs Kessler first as I don't think Kessler would lose against B-Hop.

Don't underestimate Joe, lads. He's got this won already.

Mukel · Post by **Mukel** » 24 Dec 2007, 16:50

Dioufy wrote:
JCS wrote:If Bika won 3-4 rounds against Calzaghe, you don't think Hopkins will? at a higher weight class? on home turf? Please. Its not gonna be a wide victory for either man, unless Hopkins lands hard on Joe's face.
Oh come on.

Sakio Bika is no duck-egg, even if he isn't anything special. And to top it off, he tried butting his way to victory - so when Joe was cut, and cut badly he took his foot off the mark in fear that he was going to get butted again and lose the fight on cuts. If you saw the fight you would've realised that Bika looked like one of those headbutting dinosaurs on Prozac.. Not to mention that Joe Calzaghe was facing a very tricky and difficult south-paw, and for me, showed a good performance when hurt with an intentional headbutt - it wasn't an eyeopening performance but it was an effective and professional one, and that's all that matters.

The only way I can see Bernard Hopkins winning is if he knocked Joe out, and let's be honest here, B-Hop hasn't looked like knocking anybody out since Oscar de la Hoya nearly four years ago, and I smelt a rat with that on that night - knocked him out and then become business partners? And I don't care what you say, Joe will outwork, out-punch, out-jab and out-smart B-Hop like he did against Mikkel Kessler. In fact, I would love to see B-Hop vs Kessler first as I don't think Kessler would lose against B-Hop.

Don't underestimate Joe, lads. He's got this won already.

I agree on everything you have said.

Just to add with regards to Bika, Calzaghe let Bika win the 3 or 4 rounds he won, he fought sloppy and didnt box his brawled and Bika's dirty tactics made Calzaghe fight sloppy.

ArtOfWar · Post by **ArtOfWar** » 24 Dec 2007, 17:02

I think it will be a very hard fight for Calzaghe even with Hopkins as old as he is. Hopkins defense is still top draw even if his offense isn't and he'll smother and spoil a lot of Calzaghe's work. Bernard Hopkins will never be worked over, so Calzaghe will have to be at his best to win.

observer1 · Post by **observer1** » 24 Dec 2007, 17:23

if Calzaghe does not beat Hopkins, he should no longer be considered as a Great Fighter.

B.Hop is 43..
Be realistic, its not a fairy tale, Calzaghe should crush him..

Spud · Post by **Spud** » 24 Dec 2007, 18:52

How hard can Hopkins really punch?

I have heard a lot of people state what fantastic boxing skills he has but his punching power in the early half of the fight are questionable - if that is the case - will Calzaghe be free to rush in and take som risks thus negating whatever skills the ever slowing Hopkins has.

And by the way - no matter how great a fighter Hopkins was or is - I just can't see what the attraction of fighting someone way way past his prime is - yeah for a fighter on the way up wanting to prove something against a great champion of yesterday era but for a fighter to stamp his authority and finally claim a place amongst the greats I cannot see why Hopkins is the choice.

Khaosai-Galaxy · Post by **Khaosai-Galaxy** » 24 Dec 2007, 18:58

Spud wrote:
And by the way - no matter how great a fighter Hopkins was or is - I just can't see what the attraction of fighting someone way way past his prime is

Thats because you're a fornicating idiot, mate

$$$$$

Spud · Post by **Spud** » 24 Dec 2007, 19:03

Khaosai-Galaxy wrote:
Spud wrote:
And by the way - no matter how great a fighter Hopkins was or is - I just can't see what the attraction of fighting someone way way past his prime is
Thats because you're a effing idiot, mate

$$$$$

Of that there is no doubt!!!

But Hopkins is 43 - are you saying he is a fighter in his prime or anywhere near it??

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 24 Dec 2007, 19:08

Here we go again doubting Joes chances of winning - Lacy and Kessler are the obvious ones where a lot of us didnt have enough confidence in him - Of course he is going to win and win well - The Hopkins of a few years back may have beaten Joe, but at 43 he cant produce the goods every round as Joe can - Joe will have to watch out for the straight right though and not hang his chin out, cos Hopkins can still bang, even if his legs are not as fast as they were.

Spud · Post by **Spud** » 24 Dec 2007, 19:18

WildWaylon wrote:Here we go again doubting Joes chances of winning - Lacy and Kessler are the obvious ones where a lot of us didnt have enough confidence in him - Of course he is going to win and win well - The Hopkins of a few years back may have beaten Joe, but at 43 he cant produce the goods every round as Joe can - Joe will have to watch out for the straight right though and not hang his chin out, cos Hopkins can still bang, even if his legs are not as fast as they were.

Ughhhhhhhh ???????

I am certainly not doubting Joe's chances of winning - I actually think he wins comfortably.

But to win against a 43 old - how credible is that??