BoxRec

So what's your predictions on this fight...? The majority seem to be favouring Joe by decision due to the pressure he can provide, speed, activity and adaptability. There have also been those stating that Hopkins will be able to spoil and counter sufficiently to take a decision.

I personally think Calzaghe will enjoy greater power at this weight. I think his speed, ferocity and increased power will result in a TKO. As for Hopkins' counters....they'll be countered.

JC by decision, IMO. Its not that I doubt he has the power, but I dont think he will get the chance to go for an accumulation stoppage, let alone a one-shot KO

I think Joe on split decision. I think Hopkins is going to fight bette than we expect him too.

leforge wrote:I think Joe on split decision. I think Hopkins is going to fight bette than we expect him too.

I think UD but close. I actually think this will be in ways closer to the Bika fight - Hopkins might try to get in and work inside, then withdraw, I dont see him counterpunching for 12 full rounds. Joe takes over after round 8 and wins it on the cards.

I'm having a few second thoughts after Tarvers decent performance. Tarver is very similar to Calazage in many ways and BHOPS dissected him. Calazage is open to counters, right hands and straight sharp shooting can beat his wide punches to the target. Calazages defense can be very poor, whereas BHOPs is very tricky with his. BHOPs also is excellent against southpaws

I'm going with Calazage UD but if BHOPs can get near to winding the clock back 5 years he wins

Tough decision win for Calzaghe.

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:I'm having a few second thoughts after Tarvers decent performance. Tarver is very similar to Calazage in many ways and BHOPS dissected him. Calazage is open to counters, right hands and straight sharp shooting can beat his wide punches to the target. Calazages defense can be very poor, whereas BHOPs is very tricky with his. BHOPs also is excellent against southpaws

I'm going with Calazage UD but if BHOPs can get near to winding the clock back 5 years he wins

Yep, this is probably the closest to my sentiments. Joe should come through, but I'm concerned with how he'll handle fighting in Vegas and Hopkins is such a canny operator. Calzaghe's suseptibility to right hands is also a worry as Hopkins is a master of timing.

Calzaghe has better pace than the 1-paced Tarver. As Abrams wrote, Tarver has only one gear. Joe can adapt, which Tarver can't really do, and the Lacy & Kessler fights are a big boost. Calzaghe's ability to fight more than one day is a massive difference between himself and Tarver. Tricky fight, because Hopkins is clever, crafty and rough.

I think/hope that Calzaghe will be stronger, that being at light heavyweight will add something to his game considering that he has been a drained super middleweight apparently for a while.

Joe wont let us down, and he'll send Hopkins packing.

Anywhere offering good odds on a Calzaghe stoppage? Best I could find was 4/1. I thought there'd be better ones considering Hopkins has never been stopped and Calzaghe has gone the distance in a good few of his recent fights.

Calzaghe by points decision. TKO from a flurry of punches very unlikely. KO almost impossible Joe wont risk busting his hand but if Joe was behind on points (most unlikely) he could go for it late. Joe 7 to 5 rounds.

I had been thinking Calzaghe would win a unanimous decision, but from watching both the media workout videos I've changed my mind. I think he will win by KO. He looks a lot stronger than he has done previously. Comparing the Lacy fight with the Kessler one, you can see that he has more confidence in his hands (and gloves?) now. He has also said he is punching harder.

Calzaghe outworks Hopkins to take a decision. Will be very surprised if he stops Hopkins - I mean a prime Roy Jones couldnt do it and at middleweight Roy Jones was blowing everyone away and Hopkins wasnt the defensive master he is today and took more chances back then - making him more exciting but more open. Calzaghe, despite what he says - won't really load up and go for the stoppage because of the risk to his hands. He won't be able to beat Hopkins with one hand like he beat Ashira for example.

Joe will hand out an old fashioned arse kicking

The Tarver fight does make Hop look a lot better though, I thought Tarver showed some brilliant moves in taking apart an outclassed Woods.

I hate to admit it, but Joe will beat Hopkins, and beat him good. Hopkins is way over the hill and i cant see it going the distance to be honest. I think Joe will wear hopkins out and bust him up for a late stoppage.

3 or 4 years ago it would have been a totally different story, this is why Calzaghe is fighting the Yank. its not about who is best its about how much money is in the pot for the fight.

you don't honestly think if hopkins was in his prime this fight would be happening do you. Its all very good buisness sence through a shrewd promotion team.

mimmy123 wrote:I hate to admit it, but Joe will beat Hopkins, and beat him good. Hopkins is way over the hill and i cant see it going the distance to be honest. I think Joe will wear hopkins out and bust him up for a late stoppage.

3 or 4 years ago it would have been a totally different story, this is why Calzaghe is fighting the Yank. its not about who is best its about how much money is in the pot for the fight.

you don't honestly think if hopkins was in his prime this fight would be happening do you. Its all very good buisness sence through a shrewd promotion team.

Hopkins agreed then RAN from a Calzaghe fight years ago.

mimmy123 wrote:I hate to admit it, but Joe will beat Hopkins, and beat him good. Hopkins is way over the hill and i cant see it going the distance to be honest. I think Joe will wear hopkins out and bust him up for a late stoppage.

3 or 4 years ago it would have been a totally different story, this is why Calzaghe is fighting the Yank. its not about who is best its about how much money is in the pot for the fight.

you don't honestly think if hopkins was in his prime this fight would be happening do you. Its all very good buisness sence through a shrewd promotion team.

You've got your facts wrong mate, Calzaghe wanted to fight Hopkins years ago, but Hopkins dropped out. He admited as much in the recent press conference. Hopkins now insists the time is right. Basically, he;s getting a huge pay day and chance to fight an undisputed and undefeated fighter in Joe. He has nothing to lose now, with four losses already on his record.

close decision for hops.

never liked this style for joe.

hops will pose problems with his fast counters outside and spoil joe inside.

i see it being a frustrating night for him.

mimmy123 wrote:I hate to admit it, but Joe will beat Hopkins, and beat him good. Hopkins is way over the hill and i cant see it going the distance to be honest. I think Joe will wear hopkins out and bust him up for a late stoppage.

3 or 4 years ago it would have been a totally different story, this is why Calzaghe is fighting the Yank. its not about who is best its about how much money is in the pot for the fight.

you don't honestly think if hopkins was in his prime this fight would be happening do you. Its all very good buisness sence through a shrewd promotion team.

looked awful in his last 2 fights hasn't he.

the winky fight wasn't pretty but what he did was damn effective.

hitman_hatton1 wrote:close decision for hops.

never liked this style for joe.

hops will pose problems with his fast counters outside and spoil joe inside.

i see it being a frustrating night for him.

JC it is then!

DG. wrote:

hitman_hatton1 wrote:close decision for hops.

never liked this style for joe.

hops will pose problems with his fast counters outside and spoil joe inside.

i see it being a frustrating night for him.

JC it is then!

ha ha ha.

it's a mis-conception i always get it wrong.

got everything right at the weekend.

admittedly a couple of those were a bit easy to read.

i see it being competitive.

i just think hops has the style to do it.

hops can go with a pace if he has to.

Always stated I want Calzaghe to win this fight.

But I am going with my gut feeling - Hopkins by decision - an awful decision which will have us all screaming at the judges.

I will give you an example of the recent madness - who had Dawson winning that fight against Johnson by 4 rounds - yeah okay not the biggest controversy in the world but nonetheless - 4 rounds? - no chance!!!

Spud wrote:Always stated I want Calzaghe to win this fight.

But I am going with my gut feeling - Hopkins by decision - an awful decision which will have us all screaming at the judges.

I will give you an example of the recent madness - who had Dawson winning that fight against Johnson by 4 rounds?

Have more faith! Calzaghe is hitting harder than ever. He'll get a TKO, you watch.

That was bad decision Dawson by 4

fist wrote:

Spud wrote:Always stated I want Calzaghe to win this fight.

But I am going with my gut feeling - Hopkins by decision - an awful decision which will have us all screaming at the judges.

I will give you an example of the recent madness - who had Dawson winning that fight against Johnson by 4 rounds?

Have more faith! Calzaghe is hitting harder than ever. He'll get a TKO, you watch.

Joe Calzaghe has never been a concusive puncher!!! look at his results - it is his sheer speed and volume of punches that has overwhelmed his opponents - okay he will be faster than Hopkins - but there again Hopkins is also one of those fighters in fact one of the very few who will be able to cope with Calzaghe's speed.