Bernard said Joe already has two losses!

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

I liked the last issue of Boxing Monthly where 3 guys - Bomber Graham, Robert McCracken and Steve Collins all were asked whom the best post-Hagler middleweight was. NONE of them said Hopkins. Graham and Collins said McCallum, and McCracken - who fought at middleweight in the Hopkins era - said Roy Jones after considering McCallum/Toney. Poor Hopkins, LOL, it's obvious he's not worshipped over here.

Dont you think Graham and Collins have agendas of their own?

Obviously they were going to pick McCallum.

AT middleweight, McCallum hardly has Hopkins credentials now does he?

Like B-Hop gives a crap about those 3 long-retired & forgotten old men have to say about fighting.

Yeah well, they would also know how good he is.

McCallum fought Kalambay, Collins, Toney (twice at middle, deserved at least one of those verdicts vs a man 12 yrs his junior), Graham and Watson at middle. Hopkins had a way weaker era. Impressive that Bernard kept his focus and ruled but certainly hadn't had the back-to-back competitive fights that "The Bodysnatcher" had. No one could humanly make 20 title defences in the era of middleweights that McCallum distinguished himself in.

Hopkins hasn't exactly fought a lot of excellent fighters at 160 despite his impressive # of title defenses. Bernard's best wins are vs welterweights and a natural light middle (all the way up at 170-lbs - how's that for handicapping!). Shit, McCallum beat excellent/good men in his days as a junior middle champ: Curry, David Braxton, McCrory, Julian Jackson (went on to hold a midlde title), Kalule (before Mike even won a world title, in something like his 2nd year as a pro boxer).

That said, Joe can make Hopkins look a lot better if he wades in face first, throwing his left hand from out of range and stepping forward sloppily into an orthodox stance like he did vs Kessler. Hopkins won't think twice to step in with right hands if offered the chance.

I agree if Calazage makes the same mistakes he did against Kessler then BHOPs will punnish him, Kessler showed limitations against Calazage showing no real inside game. Joe looks fantastic in many ways but he makes very basic defensive errors

As for BHOPS competition, I think partly he didnt let opposition look great and in some cases he may have beat the future out of them. Partly it was a weak division and he didnt get the big fights until late in his career. There were allot of good fighters with allot of different styles he overcame.

BTW COllins and Bomber Graham would have been biased in favour of the man that beat them

[fist]

is hopkins a better fighter now than when he fought eastman?
he must have been 37 then and not many guys improve at that age.
did he rearrange howards ugly mug? no.
is he suddenly going to become a destroyer of blokes about the same size as he is after all this time? i know where my money is

Exactly, he's over rated and pretty limited in terms of skill and adaptability. He has four losses on his record and reckons he's an all time great cos he fought other pseudo american legends. There are a load of these supposed legends who continually fight and lose to each other. Calzaghe has the zero and has prevented every fighter he's faced from becoming legendary. they all thought Lacy was the next best thing, Joe destroyed him and then he suddenly became overrated. Maybe he was. But thats the thing, there is a lot of hype in the US. Hopkins, DLH, Taylor, WW, Tarver - of course they are world class, but in my opinion they are over rated. They've all felt defeat and yet the pretence continues that they are the cream. Hopkins did not look great against a pretty lazy Eastman. That was him back then, now he's 43 and from looking at his recent workouts, he just looks slow, boring and ineffective. Regradless of resume, Joe simply has more skill, fire, intensity, stamina, speed etc etc. As Ive said before, Kessler IS an excellent fighter and very dangerous. If you took Joe out of the equation, Kessler would have continued to dominate the division and would have probably unified. But at this point he has been prevented from reaching greatness because of Joe. Joe has nullified the greatness of opposition because he's never lost.

Yes there are fights he could have had - Hopkins being one, but it failed to happen through no fault of his own, but because Hopkins did not feel the time was right. Joe was too dangerous. You can see Joe is still hungry to prove himself, where as Bernard seems hungry to simply kid himself and others that he is the best around. Its going to be five losses for Hopkins on Saturday.

And as for Hopkins' propensity to steal fights that people often mention, thats sums him up. The odd headbutt and elbow, constant running and infrequent countering is nothing to be proud of. Boxing is entertainment and in my view, Hopkins does not and never has provided that.

Just my opinion.

[stujones]

Don't think Hopkins' win over Tarver should be held in anymore esteem. Tarver looked like crap in his subsequent fights between Hopkins and Woods.

Woods practically put in a no-show.

[DG.]

B-Hop is a very effective fighter, legend? Not really!

Beating DLH and Trinidad means nothing in my book.

Both overrated fighters.

B-Hop best win?

Who cares?


JC is going to beat dat boy down!

[observer1]

i Must say when this Match up Began, i thought it would be a Mis-Match.

It looks Closer and Closer...

[jamesmcdonnell]

Hopkins' win over Tarver is looking pretty good now.

Come on, don't fall for it. Tarver looked entirely different, even physically he looked different for Woods. I barely recognised him facially.

Tarver was arrogant, coming off a year layoff, forty pounds overweight coming into training camp for Hopkins.

Hopkins is a con artist. He repeatedly talks big, but fails to deliver.

[ArtOfWar]

I think B-Hop's trying to convince himself - as much as anyone else - that he can win this fight.

I don't think so, he's not the type of man who lacks self belief. He's playing mind games for sure, but I think he believes a lot of what he's sayig and let's be honest, there are not many Brits who have made the grade Stateside. Calzaghe could easily falter on Saturday although he is the favourite.

[robdog]

Hopkins' win over Tarver is looking pretty good now.

Tarver was hardly on form though when they met. I would have liked to see the Tarver that beat Clinton Woods face BHop as imo it owuld have been alot closer fight.

[ArtOfWar]

Hopkins' win over Tarver is looking pretty good now.

Tarver was hardly on form though when they met. I would have liked to see the Tarver that beat Clinton Woods face BHop as imo it owuld have been alot closer fight.

I don't think so. Tarver looked good against Woods, because Woods came straight at him with no method to what he was doing. Tarver is a counter who doesn't really like to push the action. Hopkins sat back on Tarver and beat him at his own game. Tarver simply isn't that good and got throughly outclassed by an old man.

[GazMan85]

Hopkins is an incredible force of nature. The best self-promoter in the business and the most dedicated athelete of his generation.

From starting out as a straight-forward win for Cal, I've been convinced by Hops rhetoric enough to feel Calzaghe is going to have his hands full on fight night.

Despite the face Hop couldn't best Jermain Taylor twice, a fighter Calzaghe would own.

Thats a smart cookie. No matter how dominant Cal, is how many advantages he has it will be interesting to see what Hopkins is capable of under extreme pressure.

It really is time for him to walk the walk too.

I have read quite a lot of people saying

"Now its getting closer I am starting to favour Hopkins"

Surely this sentence says why??

It is only Hopkins doing what he does best, and running his mouth, that is making people change their minds!!!

Follow your instinct guys, not what B-Hop is telling you is going to happen.

JC by late stoppage or UD for me.

[Spud]

I suppose the one thing Calzaghe can hope for is they in boxing you can get old and past it over night - it will happen all of a sudden - just when you think everything will go right the body says f*ck off I have had enough of this sh*t - will that happen to Hopkins?

If it doesn't - then Calzaghe is perhaps in for a lot harder fight than he expects.

Somehow someway - Calzaghe has to get to old man Hopkins and not let him off the hook.

I will keep saying it - I want Calzaghe to win - but as Calzaghe comes charging in - lets face it he will leave himself wide open for Hopkins to pop out the jab before he runs away again.

I just can't see this as a fight at all - Calzaghe will make an awful lot of friends because he will as usual turn up to fight - Hopkins cannot afford to or he will get battered.

Be prepared for the steal of the century!!!! -- Hopkins will scupper the fans in attendance and those watching on TV a real good fight.

The American commentators will be screaming for every punch Hopkins lands and will it influence the judges.

[stujones]

Now, I score Calzaghe fights alot closer than the judges seem to... I suppose I think the clean head moving straight rights catch my eye... but there is NO-WAY anyone can suggest Starie beat Joe.

I think you can make a good case for Reid, a decent(ish) shout for Kessler (I had it a draw - albeit in a major minority).

A few fights, I think you can make an extreme case for 7-5 in Calzaghe's favour (Bika and possibly, at a push, Brewer).

The rest.... no case for further than 8 rounds to 4.

[stujones]

Hopkins' win over Tarver is looking pretty good now.

Come on, don't fall for it. Tarver looked entirely different, even physically he looked different for Woods. I barely recognised him facially.

Tarver was arrogant, coming off a year layoff, forty pounds overweight coming into training camp for Hopkins.

Hopkins is a con artist. He repeatedly talks big, but fails to deliver.

To be honest though James... I would favour a 42 year old Hopkins to beat any Tarver 10 times out of 10... Tarver is simply not that good.

Woods just wasn't at the races AT ALL... Thats as big a factor, as Tarver not being right for Hopkins.

I don't really buy this weight drained malarky anyway... I mean why? Stallone is tiny, his weight was exaggerated - why couldn't he use his artistic licence on Tarver... Plus... what weight Tarver did put on was fat - he was supposed to potray a guy not in great shape, and he looked fleshy... hardly like Roy Jones vs Ruiz.

[dr_devious]

By his own reasoning, Hopkins must also have "lost" against Sergundo Mercado in their first fight

[banjo]

Obviously 'old Bernie' didn't learn to count at school otherwise he would notice that there is a 0 in Calzaghes record.

[m1kee50]

Obviously 'old Bernie' didn't learn to count at school otherwise he would notice that there is a 0 in Calzaghes record.

and a big old 4 on his

[WildWaylon]

One thing has to be recognized and that is Hopkins is no ordinary 43 year old fighter. He has never been stopped either. One of the arguements is Joe could beat Taylor who beat Hopkins twice but it was Taylors style that beat Hopkins along with workrate. Joes style would probably work against Taylor and get him a points win but against the defensive style of Hopkins it isnt going to be easy. We can almost discount Joe getting a stoppage win, I certainly cant see it happening. Therefore Joe will have to win on points. Theoretically you can only score by landing clean on the head and body and Hopkins isnt that easy to hit clean. I think too many people are seeing this fight as a foregone conclusion for Cazaghe and that it will be a Lacy landslide all over again. I see Joe winning by about 7 rounds to five but this is boxing and the judges may have it the other way. Joe has to make sure there are not too many rounds that could be given to either fighter. I dont want to be holding my breath when they go to the judges scorecards. Having said all that I was one who doubted Joe would beat Lacy and I sat on the fence when he fought Kessler so hopefully he will get the decision again.

[WildWaylon]

Hopkins is an incredible force of nature. The best self-promoter in the business and the most dedicated athelete of his generation.

From starting out as a straight-forward win for Cal, I've been convinced by Hops rhetoric enough to feel Calzaghe is going to have his hands full on fight night.

Despite the face Hop couldn't best Jermain Taylor twice, a fighter Calzaghe would own.

Thats a smart cookie. No matter how dominant Cal, is how many advantages he has it will be interesting to see what Hopkins is capable of under extreme pressure.

It really is time for him to walk the walk too.

I have read quite a lot of people saying

"Now its getting closer I am starting to favour Hopkins"

Surely this sentence says why??

It is only Hopkins doing what he does best, and running his mouth, that is making people change their minds!!!

Follow your instinct guys, not what B-Hop is telling you is going to happen.

JC by late stoppage or UD for me.

Rhetoric means nothing, its what you do, not what you say you can, or will do. The talk though can either motivate or destroy an opponents confidence and in Joes case it will make him all the more determined to win. Surely whatever Hopkins says shouldnt make us as fans have doubts about Joe. My concern is based on a clash of styles, Hopkins is not made for Joe. Its an ugly fight.

[harrygreb]

agree with much of this. spud gets it about right except that calzaghe will be too far in front having been much busier throughout for the judges to see it as anything but a close-ish decision for the welshman.
it wont be a kessler type fight. it wont be a lacy type fight. it may be more like a bika type fight but joe will be smarter than in that one because he knows - or should do - how cute hopkins is.

[SticknMove]

You can not underestimate the power of mind games in boxing, especially with a guy as vocal and expressive as Hopkins. He knows what to say and how to act to sow seeds of doubt. No matter how great a boxer is, mental strength and fortitude are always going to be the most important ingredients come fight night and few fighters are impervious when faced with another great fighter in the opposite corner.

Hopkins knows this full well and is playing to his strength realising that this is the first time that Calzaghe is fighting away from a comfort zone in a truly big arena. He has delved under the surface by fronting Calzaghe out at the Hatton-Mayweather weigh-in and followed it up with his usual hype, throwing in a few controversial comments, knowing he is digging under the skin.

[STP]

I liked the last issue of Boxing Monthly where 3 guys - Bomber Graham, Robert McCracken and Steve Collins all were asked whom the best post-Hagler middleweight was. NONE of them said Hopkins. Graham and Collins said McCallum, and McCracken - who fought at middleweight in the Hopkins era - said Roy Jones after considering McCallum/Toney. Poor Hopkins, LOL, it's obvious he's not worshipped over here.

Nigel Benn thinks it's Sumbu Kalambay, who he calls 'the most underrated and underappreciated fighter' he knows of.

[Controversial]

On FightTV in Pennsylvania.

He said he's watched all the tapes and saw two clear losses, "in Manchester or Wales or Newplace or any of these other towns in Europe or wherever they were". From that, I assume he means Reid and Starie

Thats still 2 less than Hopkins has had !!!

[Crew2]

BIG DEALL

IF JC CAME OUT OF PRISON FOR 5 YRS HE'D LOSE ON HIS DEBUT

IF JC FOUGHT ROY JONES, HE'D OF LOST

IF JC FOUGHT THE LEADING SMW CONTENDER IN 2012, HE'D LOSE TWICE

[Controversial]

BIG DEALL

IF JC CAME OUT OF PRISON FOR 5 YRS HE'D LOSE ON HIS DEBUT

IF JC FOUGHT ROY JONES, HE'D OF LOST

IF JC FOUGHT THE LEADING SMW CONTENDER IN 2012, HE'D LOSE TWICE

So Hopkins lost his debut because he used to be in prison You do realise he did have time to train for his debut, he didn't jump straight into the ring after walking out the prison gates !!

And what makes you think Calzaghe would be beaten by whoever is the leading SMW contender in 2012...can you see into the future? What a dumb statement

The facts are Calzaghe is unbeaten and Hopkins isn't.

[Loftgroov]

I bet this fight ends up being ruled a no contest or something. An "accidental" headbut from Hopkins or something. He'll have to resort to that, and low blows etc.