I find it laughable all this talk of HOpkins getting a KO, if anyone gets the stoppage it's Joe, not Bernard.Asterix wrote:Kessler caught Joe with a very good uppercut and it had very little effect. I don't see Hopkins knocking out Calzaghe.WildWaylon wrote:Not sure about it being a clever move, it has been a burning ambition of Joes to fight Hopkins for years now. Joe pleaded with Hopkins quite a few years ago to fight him but Hopkins told Joe to get in line behind all the others who wanted the chance. Finally Joe has a big enough name in America and Hopkins has finally agreed. For Joe its a dream come true but I think Joe would have preferred fighting him in his prime rather than at 43. Even so Hopkins is still good enough to give Joe problems. My money would have to go on Joe for a points win. No way will Joe get a KO victory, but one mistake, a bit of showboating and Hopkins might.mimmy123 wrote:yes my grand would be on calzaghe too. its a easy fight for Joe in my opinion, took this fight at the right time. 3 or 4 years ago i would go for Bernard. This is a clever move for the calzaghe camp a great name on your record and its looks brill on paper.
Who was the last top flight opponent who belonged at the weight that Bernard stopped, Trinidad! Trinidad was moving up in weight.
Let's not forget, Joe is a career 168 lb fighter, he wont have to build up to the weight, he will just have less weight to lose, whereas Hopkins had to recruit Mackie Shilstone to move up to 175.
If Bernard couldn't stop Eastman, he won't stop Calzaghe, Joe has an excellent chin, and is used to taking shots off of far bigger punchers than Hopkins. Kessler hits way harder, and was an accurate puncher too, and Calzaghe shook off this shots pretty easily.