BoxRec

Surprise surprise, Hopkins-Jones 2 couldn't agree terms. Now HBO want...Calzaghe-Hopkins PPV in July. No I can't find the link anymore.

If this happens - a very big IF - we can safely say that Calzaghe has been put at a crippling disadvantage from not facing pure boxers. He will have to use all of his speed, fitness and determination in what will be avery hard style matchup.

There was Larsen, Ottke, and Kessler. There were fine boxers in Europe and IMO the minimalist, peck and move and move some more that has been awarded "pound for pound" plaudits was perfected by Ottke in the late 90s!

This is a fight I've wanted to see for a long time, despite the age of Hopkins.

Can anybody see them agreeing terms though?

I think he wants 60-40 and home (US) advantage. That's what appeared to undo Hops-Jones 2.

Calzaghe should take 60-40. He'd be fighting on a huge stage and get very well paid.

There is no way Hopkins can fight at Calzaghe's pace for 12 rounds. I can only see one winner here.

Hopkins was a great, it will be a shame to see that charlatan Calzaghe cashing in on his name and fame! Will he ever fight a real, live, current, proven champion?

Hopkins only fights a minute a round these days. Calazaghe outworks him, but Hopkins will have his moments, could even floor Calzaghe I think.

Calzaghe is wide open to a right hand - a punch that Hopins can time well - and is vulnerable in clinches/scuffles (Salem, Bika) which Hopkins specialises in.

viciousmaussa wrote:Calzaghe is wide open to a right hand - a punch that Hopins can time well - and is vulnerable in clinches/scuffles (Salem, Bika) which Hopkins specialises in.

Definitely. Hopkins is so good when he throws that out as a lead.

As Tarver found out the hard way. But then again, Hopkins seems way out of synch/off balance when he throws it against a fast fighter, like Taylor.

I do think the Tarver fight put across an illusion of dominance. Tarver was always lethargic, deluded, and had lost the weight...suddenly everyon thinks Hops would dominate every man from middle to light heavy.

I pick Calzaghe to have too much in the engine, but he may have to look bad to put the wrok in.

I just think somebody will wriggle out of this fight.

Tough 1 to call. Hopkins workrate is very low these days but is so much better quality and hard to tag cleanly. If Bika made Calazage made Cal look sloppy and tagged him with lead rights Hopkins should do the same better.

Taylor outworked and outjabbed Hopkins and used range to edge out the old man. Calazage has much more workrate, but doesn't have as good a defense or the same range or jab as Taylor.

Hopkins does very well against southpaws and always has this is an advantage here.

Remember Calazage is vunerable to the straight right and rough house in-fighting that is a staple of Hopkins game. He can also be made to miss and Hopkins has a great defense.

Calazage is the younger, fresher, faster, fitter man.

Will Hopkins continue to have an improved workrate at 168-175? He may do

This is a fascinating match-up and 1 I'd love to see. Shame it didnt happen years ago.

Should've happened in 02.

If Joe has got any sense he will fight Hopkins at his house for 20% if that is what Hopkins wants. It is an impossible fight for JC to lose, as it always was.
Calzaghe is simply too good for Hopkins in every department. And again, he always was.

Not sure why but i really hold little interest in this fight. Hopkins will never retire gracefully and Calzaghe is probably too fresh. Still glad Hopkins-Jones 2 didn't happen, a win for Hopkins over this version of Jones would mean absolutely zilch in my book.

This is a far bigger fight than Hatton-Castillo in my book. Hopkins is still higher than Castillo P4P and ion his prime was near no1 P4P. People make out hes shot but hes only lost a close fight to Taylor. How many close calls has Castillo had?

Sure Hopkins past his prime but who would be a bigger threat to Calazage than Hopkins 175 or below? Maybe Adamek, Briggs, Kessler or Taylor and thats it and those are big maybes. Comparitively there is Mayweather, Cotto, Margarito, Witter, Harris, Mbaiye, Judah, Collazo, Mosley, Williams that are all bigger threats to Hatton 147 and below.

Why are people forgiving of Hatton and not Calazage?

It's the bigger fight, but not necessarily the better.
Hopkins is now an established name - he should have been much longer ago - but is still efficient and functional.

I worry for Calzaghe lunging in from out of range, throwing wild punches and hooks that miss and make him turn himself round 180 degrees. I've seen Calzaghe wild and undisciplined a # of times, vs Bika, Salem, and like them Hopkins has a tendency to bring out the worst in fighters.

But then again, Calzaghe is best in a big event when the pressure is on him. His rep would've been in tatters if he'd lost to Lacy, so he made damn sure he didn't.

But Lacy's style suited him. But Calzaghe IS a class fighter when he has to be, and he should be too active for Mr Minimalist.

Like I said yesterday I've wanted to see Hopkins/Calzaghe for a long time. Could be a messy fight to watch though. Hopkins is bound to have problems with Calzaghe's workrate but he's such a wily old fox that I can see him countering Calzaghe cleverly all night long.

Anybody think Hopkins has got the power to hurt Calzaghe?

Can you imagine the ITV & tabloid PR bilefest of praise if JC beats the 42 year old man?

For decades we'll all have to stomach non-boxing fans in the pub telling us "Joe Calzaghe was the greatest ever!"

Luger round to the temple will be the only way out.

overhand_right wrote:Can you imagine the ITV & tabloid PR bilefest of praise if JC beats the 42 year old man?

For decades we'll all have to stomach non-boxing fans in the pub telling us "Joe Calzaghe was the greatest ever!"

Luger round to the temple will be the only way out.

it would legitimize him for beationg an elite p4p fighter, but I'll never quite forgive him for avoiding Ottke and Kessler. If he beats a still impressive Hopkins - if way past his prime - and looks convincing doing so, I'll give him credit but I'll still hold Ottke and Kessler against him.

Folks, Hopkins is 42 years old, lost his last two fights at middleweight, and comes out of semi-retirement.

This one has "celebrity fight" written all over it. In boxing terms though its value is rather low. 4, 5 years ago this would have been a great fight, today -- no.

Yes, but celebrity fights are what it takes these days.

Not that I can see Calzaghe taking this fight. You know, July or nothing type of proposal. They'd have to mess about, start over, renegotiate...if Calzaghe were to lose in America, his reputation would take a battering and they would want to be compensated with the good money. So I don't see them taking a deal that doesn't make 'em come off nicely.

viciousmaussa wrote:It's the bigger fight, but not necessarily the better.
Hopkins is now an established name - he should have been much longer ago - but is still efficient and functional.

I worry for Calzaghe lunging in from out of range, throwing wild punches and hooks that miss and make him turn himself round 180 degrees. I've seen Calzaghe wild and undisciplined a # of times, vs Bika, Salem, and like them Hopkins has a tendency to bring out the worst in fighters.

But then again, Calzaghe is best in a big event when the pressure is on him. His rep would've been in tatters if he'd lost to Lacy, so he made damn sure he didn't.

But Lacy's style suited him. But Calzaghe IS a class fighter when he has to be, and he should be too active for Mr Minimalist.

Calzaghe wins. As for Castillo Hatton, Hatton has been off the pace for his last three fights, and Castillo looked about 50 in his last outing on the Hatton undercard. Calzaghe - Hopkins is BIG, Hatton - Castillo ranks behind it imo.

I wouldn't go that far. Hatton came up vs a bigger southpaw in Collazo which in retrospect was always going to unnerve him. He was in great shape vs Maussa, and when he got his timing looked fine in that fight.

Castillo beat a fierce younger fighter & he never looks on his A game in these non title bouts. In his best he's steady, subtle, deceptive yet he takes his toll on foes and knows how to put enough rds in the bank.

viciousmaussa wrote:Yes, but celebrity fights are what it takes these days.

Not that I can see Calzaghe taking this fight. You know, July or nothing type of proposal. They'd have to mess about, start over, renegotiate...if Calzaghe were to lose in America, his reputation would take a battering and they would want to be compensated with the good money. So I don't see them taking a deal that doesn't make 'em come off nicely.

Calzaghe should be able to beat a 42 year old semi-retired middleweight who lost twice to Jermain Taylor (prior to his retirement). Calzaghe will take this bout before he has to fight Kessler.

Roy Jones has signed with Lou diBella, who also has Jermain Taylor. They are calling out for a Jones-Hopkins match. DiBella has great contacts with HBO - he used to run their boxing - so that must be more likely than Hopkins-Calzaghe. Hopkins will know that Jones is an easier pay day. Taylor-Calzaghe may be the more likely.

that thtows a spanne rbecause DiBella wants to make Hopkins-Jones 2, however my guess is Jones just doesn't want it