Calzaghe v Hopkins - who'd you put your money on?

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 12 Jan 2004, 17:25

McCoy's post got me thinking, as a lot of people rate Calzaghe these days.
Would he have too much for the legendary Hopkins? Or would be be exposed big time?

I think Joe on points, even in the USA 8)

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 12 Jan 2004, 17:28

Hopkins on points

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 12 Jan 2004, 17:28

No, Hopkins would expose him. Hopkins UD.

I do seem to be rating Joe with my post - trust me, it more me not rating the opponents being mentioned.

I think Johnson and Tarver would beat him a Light heavy.

lirva33 · Post by **lirva33** » 12 Jan 2004, 17:30

How can you bet against Hopkins? One thing is certain, Hopkins will not be stopped. Hopkins is not a Tocker Pudwill, Miguel jiminez or Mger Masdfas. This is Bernard Hopkins we are talking about here.

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 12 Jan 2004, 17:31

Calzaghe for me.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 12 Jan 2004, 18:20

Hopkins is 38. He's gotta start feeling that soon. Calzaghe, at 31, has a real chance if he can get him over here for the fight.

shakermaker · Post by **shakermaker** » 12 Jan 2004, 18:24

Over in the states I'd expect BH to win a points decision, use his ring smarts and ring experience to win rounds and put points in the bank. In Wales I'd expect the cards to be much closer and could sway in JC favour.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Jan 2004, 20:36

These things give Calzaghe a chance, youth, strength, punchpower, natural size, handspeed.

However Hopkins is all around a much better fighter, and what's the betting that he wouldn't force Calzaghe into fighting his fight, like he has with everyone he faced except Jones.

I just feel that Hopkins wouldn't allow him to work him over, and would negate Calzaghe's offence. Calzaghe has never fought anyone with Hopkins' overall savvy, and it would tell.

Hopkins UD

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 12 Jan 2004, 21:04

In another boxing forum, Kurt Ermhoff tipped (and still does if it were ever to happen, although very unlikey) Bernard Hopkins to beat James Toney at cruiser. You don't have two geniune world champions in your small stable, if you don't know a winning fighter.

I was quite surprised he picked Hop, but his argument was pretty compelling - I don't think this extra size would be that much of an issue vs Calzaghe, Hopkins is a strong as they come. I know Eastman put Joppy down, but was in no way near as close to stopping him as Hopkins was (it should have been stopped). Nobody, has said that Calzaghe size would be a major factor in an Eastman fight, I don't think it will vs Hopkins.

Hopkins has got brains, he wouldn't have agreed to a Toney fight if he geniunelly didn't think he could do it. I know the fight didn't happen, but I don't believe it was through a lack of self-belief. If he thinks he could beat a cruiserweight, then I'm sure he'd be strong at Super Middle.

bigynzing · Post by **bigynzing** » 12 Jan 2004, 21:59

bennie wrote:Hopkins is 38. He's gotta start feeling that soon. Calzaghe, at 31, has a real chance if he can get him over here for the fight.

Totally agree, even though he dominated Joppy, there were sign`s. I think speed would be a huge factor, i also think Hopkins is a bully and i`d like to see what happens when someone doesnt let Hop`s have it his own way.....I cant believe this isnt going to happen...it would be spectacular, of that im sure.

bigynzing · Post by **bigynzing** » 12 Jan 2004, 22:21

What about a trilogy, One fight in the U.S. one in the UK, and maybe the last one in Germany so the germans can see what real fighter`s look like

Lugh · Post by **Lugh** » 13 Jan 2004, 05:55

The factors pushing people towards a Calzaghe win tend to be "what ifs" -

"BHop has to start slowing, he's 38, etc"

For me the most compelling factors in favour of JC are pace, workrate and pressure. Add that to the MATCH of strength I anticipate ie JC will at least be able cope with BHop's strength and not be pushed around by him.

I reckon that JC would throw more punches than BHop, with comparable power and at least pressurise BHop for 12 rounds - few have managed that if any - Trinidad lacked JC's variety for example and wasn't able to (or allowed to) apply educated pressure.

The most interesting what if for me is - what if JC pushed BHop for 10 really hard rounds? Then what? I am certain that JC can go flat out for 12 - BHop can do 12 EASILY at his OWN pace - but at someone elses?

My only fear is that BHop would be just too tricky in terms of movement and evasion - but thats where JC's variety counts - he won't be cancelled out so easily as some.

last point. I am certain thast JC can handle BHop's punching and vice versa, but the only potential stoppage I can concieve of would be Hopkins, - on his feet.

Sweet P · Post by **Sweet P** » 13 Jan 2004, 07:36

Hopkins by KO8-10, Hopkins is 38 but never started his boxing career until he was around 30 so he is not worn out like most fighters of that age. Calzaghe has never faced an opponent anywhere near as good as Hopkins and would be completly outboxed if they met at the moment. Also Hopkins chin is much better than Calzaghe's and there would be no difference in power but Hopkins is faster.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 13 Jan 2004, 07:43

Hopkins 120-108 pts or by late stoppage.

Hopkins in in a different league and will be a first time HOF.

Remember Hopkins can make 154 if he really tried. But he stays at 160 because he is the best.

Calzaghe should take a leaf out of Hopkins book and cement his legacy in his own division.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 13 Jan 2004, 08:12

Errr Hopkins started his career in 1988, if he started when he was 30, that would make him what 45!

Hopkins was 23 when he started his pro career, you're not even close.

Lugh · Post by **Lugh** » 13 Jan 2004, 08:13

Anyone suggesting a stoppage win for BHop has not done their research - Calzaghe has one of the best chins on the PLANET - how is a middle weight (even a hall of famer) of reasonable punching power - BHop is no one punch KO artist - going to put a dent in that?

Calzaghe's first visit to the canvas - amateur & pro - 12 years of boxing thousands of rounds of sparring - came from a respected puncher at super middle and even though it was a MASSIVE punch - JC was straight up to TKO Mitchell - the ref didn't even get to four before JC was up and ready to go.

Bearing in mind that the knockdown was a flush punch from a noted puncher (no flash knockdown, not off balance) the fact that JC was up so quickly speaks as much for his chin for the previous 12 years of it passing tests.

He has never been cut either (as in NEVER - 12 yrs in boxing, 5+ years as a decent world champ) so please tell me how he is likely to be stopped by a guy from a division below?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 13 Jan 2004, 08:14

Everyone seems to be focussing on what Calzaghe could do to Hopkins,
but how would Calzaghe cope with Hopkins pressure? Hopkins has
faced fighters faster and harder hitting than himself before, but he's
found a way to beat them all, except Jones of course.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 13 Jan 2004, 08:18

If the fight were made this year I would go for a Hopkins points victory. I still feel class would tell and Hopkins oozes class. As the years go by the advantages that Calzaghe does hold would become more telling but for now I'll plump for The Executioner.

Won't happen though....

shakermaker · Post by **shakermaker** » 13 Jan 2004, 08:52

JC arm punches wouldn't budge BH and lets face Hopkins has mixed it with harder punchers......Echols twice (see what he did to Brewer), Tito and even RJJR.

Has JC ever gone in with a fighter of Hopkins pedigree?

Every time JC would swing Hopkins would counter him. Bh is a young 38/39 he keeps in shape, he doesn't mess about outside the ring and he has a body as healthy as a 30 year old. Any doubts BH is/was gonna grow old just have to look at the Joppy fight to see he is still a dangerous fighter.

as for Mitchells 'power' look at his record and tell me who wouldn't knock out the guys he was facing.......I think it was Farhood who pointed it out a few months back in BM that Mitchell's power is grossly overated.

The_Power · Post by **The_Power** » 13 Jan 2004, 12:25

This is a mis-match for me, Hopkins is something else, he would win an embarassingly easy points decision. maybe even late stoppage.

JimStone · Post by **JimStone** » 13 Jan 2004, 12:32

Hopkins for me. Joe doesn't know enough to beat Bernard.

The REAL McCoy · Post by **The REAL McCoy** » 13 Jan 2004, 17:18

McCoy thinks that Hopkins is a modern day great

After the way he dismantled the great Felix Trinidad with ease, McCoy would pick him against anyone around his weight division for at least the next year

What is so impressive about Bernard is how he can win every round against world class slick boxers like William Joppy & Keith Holmes

Bernard knows how to deal with rugged brawlers also with ease, as he showed against Glencoffe Johnson, Antwun Echols(twice) & of course the aforementioned Felix Trinidad

But unlike McCoy he aint gettin any younger, so you never know when 'ol father time will catch up with him

If you were to put a gun to McCoys afro & ask him who would win this fight McCoy would say Hopkins on points(after asking with a trembling voice "Is that gun loaded cha cha?")