sorry to say..joe`s 0 gonna go

macxwell66 · Post by **macxwell66** » 22 Mar 2008, 08:56

workrate aint gonna be a factor...the man who picks his shots economically takes the spoils....dont want it to happen, hopkins wins tko late...

imo

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 22 Mar 2008, 09:34

Joe ain't just a workrate and fast hand fighter, he can box too and can change tactics during the fight.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Hopkins stopped after being so outclassed, Hopkins couldn't handle Roy Jones speed either.

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 22 Mar 2008, 09:54

Hopkins has one stoppage win in 5 years, and that was against a blown up DLH (and it was an oscar performance from DLH)- Anyone declaring a Hopkins Ko or tko is kidding themselves :)

Same goes for Hopkins being stopped, I just can't see it.

Points decision for Calzaghe in my book, and it will be quite a tight one.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 22 Mar 2008, 09:58

There is a chance that the holes in Joe's record could leave him not knowing what he's doing vs experienced and crafty Hopkins.

You could make a case that Joe beat only one elite fighter, and that was Kessler.

However, Joe has a lot of physical and tactical talent. I can't see him being fooled by what I feel is Hopkins' "smoke and mirrors" routine. Joe on points unless he gets robbed. He could get robbed, you know, Jeff Fenech-Azumeh Nelson 1 style. It won't be the first time, a guy getting jobbed 1st time he goes to America. (though this can happen with guys coming to the UK or anywhere).

macxwell66 · Post by **macxwell66** » 22 Mar 2008, 10:01

yep...agree with joe`s workrate,tactical nous etc...speed will be a factor but have a feelin joes american bow coupled with his obvious disgust at how macc submitted to haye..will have joe tearing after hopkins to show em how its done...counter punchin popkins might just get him comin in....must admit he`s handled all kinds of pressure for years..so being able to re-establish himself as the premier british fighter of his era (excluding the rockstar mr HATTON) MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A BEARING... think of BIKA with variation to his shots!!!!!!!!!

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 22 Mar 2008, 10:05

Joe Is the ultimate.

Someone has to keep favouring the other guy though.

Bika still lost 9 of those rounds but yeah Hopkins fouls too like Bika.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 22 Mar 2008, 10:08

I see the Bika comparison. Where Joe can be spoiled inside. I just think Joe felt Bika's strength inside, which seems to be pretty huge, and was made to look bad.

Reckon Joe is the stronger fighter vs Hopkins. Jope up at 175 could have frightening speed and a harder dig (or, it is possible, could be sluggish) Hopkins is a manufactured light heavy. Shilstone had to build him up to the weight, and almost as much fuss was made of this as Mike Spinks packing on 20 odd pounds to fight Larry Holmes.

macxwell66 · Post by **macxwell66** » 22 Mar 2008, 10:34

GOOD POINTS...am trying to see both sides.am just thinking someone with smarts heart..skills n will...an enough sense to step back,to the side ,an keep a rigid defence ancatch joes jab. may have joe a bit desperate.......easier said than done...i know....will he oldman him,or will joe jump on him an wear him down??..dont get me wrong..am a calzaghe admirer....sneaky-feeling though...

fist · Post by **fist** » 22 Mar 2008, 10:36

macxwell66 wrote:workrate aint gonna be a factor...the man who picks his shots economically takes the spoils....dont want it to happen, hopkins wins tko late... imo

Workrate? You havent mentioned he speed, his accuracy, his chin, his movement, his jab, his combinations, his ability to box, his ability to fight inside, his relentless attacking, his countering.

Really silly to try undermine one of his stengths - his intensity, and try somehow to make it a weakness. Its a major asset and it highlights a huge difference between warriors and boring runners. Hopkins being the latter of course, its Hopkins who has tasted defeat on numerous occasions, no way can you adopt a crap style like that and expect to fight your whole career undefeated, he's just not adaptable enough. Calzaghe's fight is better in so many ways than Hopkins.

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 22 Mar 2008, 10:44

The only thing people have not mentioned is the GHETTO mentality of Hopkins.

Similar to the way I KNEW PBF would never want to risk losing to a White boy due to the standing of White Fighters in the Ghettos of America.

I KNEW PBF KNEW HE WOULD MASH DOWN HATTON.

Now -when Hopkins said he would never lose to a White Boy - he
meant he could never RISK losing to a White boy.

I can not see Hopkins taking this fight UNLESS he was 100% sure he would win.

BUT THIS TIME HE IS WRONG!

JC just need to slow it down a bit and not stand straight on in front if Hopkins.

JC UD 12

118-109 OR even a ate stoppage if he can make Hopkins work the whole time.

Do not get upset at the picture I have painted - it is just the way it is.

Peace

macxwell66 · Post by **macxwell66** » 22 Mar 2008, 11:11

looks like one or three people think its a one horse race.......not saying its gonna be easy for either...hopkins has waited a while for this...joes been chasing anybody to justify the `GREAT` tag.....this aint a foregone conclusion....old but not cold...

as the man said...when if he gets whipped, it may be difficult to convince the HOMEY`s that he`s the badboy ghetto warrior ,he claims to be...thats the mind games hes playin with himself.... for 1 night only,,,too hard to call....rocky n appollo creed again...

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 22 Mar 2008, 11:51

DG. wrote:The only thing people have not mentioned is the GHETTO mentality of Hopkins.

Similar to the way I KNEW PBF would never want to risk losing to a White boy due to the standing of White Fighters in the Ghettos of America.

I KNEW PBF KNEW HE WOULD MASH DOWN HATTON.

Now -when Hopkins said he would never lose to a White Boy - he
meant he could never RISK losing to a White boy.

I can not see Hopkins taking this fight UNLESS he was 100% sure he would win.

BUT THIS TIME HE IS WRONG!

JC just need to slow it down a bit and not stand straight on in front if Hopkins.

JC UD 12

118-109 OR even a ate stoppage if he can make Hopkins work the whole time.

Do not get upset at the picture I have painted - it is just the way it is.

Peace

you talk about Hopkins' ghetto mentality. But you totally ignore Calzaghe's valley mentality!

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 22 Mar 2008, 11:58

Autobarn wrote:
DG. wrote:The only thing people have not mentioned is the GHETTO mentality of Hopkins.

Similar to the way I KNEW PBF would never want to risk losing to a White boy due to the standing of White Fighters in the Ghettos of America.

I KNEW PBF KNEW HE WOULD MASH DOWN HATTON.

Now -when Hopkins said he would never lose to a White Boy - he
meant he could never RISK losing to a White boy.

I can not see Hopkins taking this fight UNLESS he was 100% sure he would win.

BUT THIS TIME HE IS WRONG!

JC just need to slow it down a bit and not stand straight on in front if Hopkins.

JC UD 12

118-109 OR even a ate stoppage if he can make Hopkins work the whole time.

Do not get upset at the picture I have painted - it is just the way it is.

Peace

you talk about Hopkins' ghetto mentality. But you totally ignore Calzaghe's valley mentality!

No have not - if Calzahe looks across the ring and see a LAMB CUTLET, Hopkins gets masked down early!

Calzaghe is a bad man - just because he is Welsh and sounds like a div people fail to see it.

Mimmy · Post by **Mimmy** » 22 Mar 2008, 12:46

in my humble opinion Calzaghe has done the right thin fighting Hopkins, he as caught an excellent fighter at the right time way past his peek. Calzaghe has done this before and its not any supprise that he is doing it again.

Calzaghe's record looks great on paper, but if he had fought Hopkins 2 or 3 years ago then i agree with the first post.

Nah, this is another calzaghe win im affraid. Im sure some might dispute it but in my humble opinion Calzaghe is fighting the 'Daddy' sorry, 'Granddaddy' of the boxing world.

round 6,7,or 8 for me Calzaghe stoppage!

Colesy · Post by **Colesy** » 22 Mar 2008, 12:47

Joe wins handily. He brings things to the fight Bernard has never seen. Joe is awkward and that is probably his biggest strength.

The judges will make it close but those in the know will see that Joe will dominate. This is Hopkins last fight.

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 22 Mar 2008, 14:06

Terry D wrote:I cannot see how a guy with weak hands and few recent stoppages is going to stop a guy who has hardly ever been put over let alone stopped.

This is going to be a very tough fight for Joe. Despite beating Kessler it was not optimum Calzaghe so it is a case of which of the two men handles age better.

There may only be a point or two in this one, cue cries of 'robbery' on either side.

Pace, my friend, pace.

Constant pressure all the way, after 7 rounds I think B-Hop might geel 43. I doubt he will hurt him as such - but work rate might wear down old B-Hop.

Calzaghe has to land his punches though, he has to make B-Hop ounch more than usuall just to keep him off.

Intriguing fight but JC is a bad man, imo.

Spud · Post by **Spud** » 22 Mar 2008, 14:22

Had a right old debate with Clive Bernath Editor at Seconds Out only today about this fight -

He can see why I have a theory that the judges will cheat Joe out of a win - but he thinks the fight is going to be that clear cut that Calzaghe's all round pressure and speed of punch will have Hopkins in a tizz and there is going to be no way the judges will cheat him out of it - I have to disagree.

I remain convinced Hopkins on a SD - not that he will deserve it!!!

We will be raging on this forum about the fight!!!

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 22 Mar 2008, 14:36

If Ronald Winky Wright can give Hopkins fits how's he going to cope against a Calzaghe who's on top form at the moment.

Joe's going to batter the crap out of him and I look forward to every second of it.

B-Hop isn't good enough to 'old man' Calzaghe out of it. Abso fornicating lutely no way.

Referee steps in after nine rounds.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 22 Mar 2008, 14:52

Hopkins has been living off the overrated win over Tarver for too long.

The fact is Hopkins had 2 goes at beating Jermain Taylor (who turned up to fight) and neither time could he do it.

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 22 Mar 2008, 15:04

Joe will win in what will be a nasty, ugly, messy fight, and no pleasure to watch. You will see Hopkins headbut, elbow and low blow Joe. Calzaghe will do all he can to keep his distance while BHop will want to fight up close. Ultimately Joe will outwork Hopkins and win on points but he will earn his purse in a horrible battle which could see joe bleeding.

tony3 · Post by **tony3** » 22 Mar 2008, 15:05

People often point to Joe's bad fights (of which there have been more than a handful) when trying to find chinks in his armour - Bika, Salem, Starie etc.

However, when he's up against someone who he considers a legitimate threat, most of those weaknesses seem to disappear because they are almost exclusively a product of complacency.

There is no way that Joe Calzaghe will underestimate Bernard Hopkins though. Hopkins stock may have dipped a little after the two bouts v Taylor, but I think that his shutout of Tarver and the generalship he demonstrated against Winky Wright prove that he has still got plenty to offer.

If I was to pick two fighters to make each other look bad it would be Hopkins and Calzaghe which makes this a very hard one to pick. Calzaghe's high punchcount creates a great defensive firewall, but I'm not sure he will be able to land many clean blows on someone as defensively astute and experienced as Hopkins.
In turn, I can't envisage Hopkins having the athletisim to produce a sustained and effective attack of his own.

macxwell66 · Post by **macxwell66** » 22 Mar 2008, 15:16

good call....i see hopkins showing joe dirty moves an making it more than awkward..cant see him landing anything more than effective single shots (counters) but you gotta landcombo`s to dent calzaghe..aint nobody done that yet,.

an if joe gets any kind of cut..you watch the fight finish....imo

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 22 Mar 2008, 15:41

Terry D wrote:
DG. wrote:
Terry D wrote:I cannot see how a guy with weak hands and few recent stoppages is going to stop a guy who has hardly ever been put over let alone stopped.

This is going to be a very tough fight for Joe. Despite beating Kessler it was not optimum Calzaghe so it is a case of which of the two men handles age better.

There may only be a point or two in this one, cue cries of 'robbery' on either side.
Pace, my friend, pace.

Constant pressure all the way, after 7 rounds I think B-Hop might geel 43. I doubt he will hurt him as such - but work rate might wear down old B-Hop.

Calzaghe has to land his punches though, he has to make B-Hop ounch more than usuall just to keep him off.

Intriguing fight but JC is a bad man, imo.

The pace that he set versus Lacy, and not replicated since, that still did not take Lacy out? Could be wrong but barring a huge dip in Hopkins Joe will not take him out, Hopkins is no Manfredo.

Putting work out means that your opponent can put punches in and Hopkins' footwork is going to cause problems for Joe also.

Throw in possible head clashes and cuts and it could turn into a fight that either man can argue they won.

Jeff Lacy should have been stopped.

I said earlier that Calzaghe has to SLOW it down a bit but constantly force the action and make Hopkins work.

Tarver was/is shit always was.

Hopkins does not box anymore, he roughs people up BUT JC is able to beat Hopkins.

In fact 0 I alwaus thouhg JC would beat Hopkins.

IN FACT THE ONLY PERSON I THOUGHT WOULD BEAT JC WOULD BE A PEAK RJJ AND EVEN THEN - THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TOUGHEST FIGHT RJJ EVER HAD!

JC beats B-Hop my a landslide of a knackered Hopkins is saved by the ref.

observer1 · Post by **observer1** » 22 Mar 2008, 16:18

I cant see Hopkins Stopping Joe in This Fight..

If Hopkins is going to win, it will be a disastrous day for Joe where he just cant connect and find his rhythm and be totally outboxed by Hopkins, but chances are Joe will take it with a comfortable UD.

Colesy · Post by **Colesy** » 22 Mar 2008, 17:46

Can't see anyone getting stopped in this fight. Both are tough as nails.

Anyway, booked my flights. I'm taking Mrs Cole to her debut fight. Hope its a belter and the atmosphere is good and jovial.

sorry to say..joe`s 0 gonna go

sorry to say..joe`s 0 gonna go

Re: sorry to say..joe`s 0 gonna go