BoxRec

I do. (I meant poundage, not pondage)

I think Calzaghe is a truly great fighter. Awesome in fact. I backed him to beat Lacy in what I said would be one of the easiest fights of his career.

I also backed him to win against Kessler but not as comfortably.

I just feel that a number of factors, most notably the weight will suit Hopkins.

I cant pick an outright winner but I am edging toward Hopkins using his guile and accuracy to dictate the pace and win a decision.

I hope I am wrong.

I think Hopkins will show Calzaghe a few new tricks but Joe has always found a way to adapt his style, even mid contest, which makes him the top drawer fighter he is.
Hopkins will play lots of mind games over the next few days, but I don't see that having any impact on either of the Calzaghes, who will just call him a wanker and get on with it.

I think people are getting a bit twitchy as the fight draws near - There is no way on this planet that Hopkins will dictate the pace of this fight.

I don't think Joe will muller him from ring post to ring post, but I fancy a clear win in a rough house affair, simialr to the Bika fight.

Calzaghe will not do a Woods.

I think JC will come in at about 173lbs and be at his peak.

Not having to lose the 5lb will be in his favour.

JC has to fight HIS fight and not wait to see what Hopkins is doing. A mixture of Boxing and 2 fisted brawling will be what is required.

I am sure Hopkins will e strnger than JC thinks, but I also think JC will hit harder than B-Hop thinks.

JC must concentrate on defence also, B-HOP will be pot shotting and posing but shaking the shoulders to get cheers from the crowd but JC will keep a fast tempo and win every minute of every round and still only get a 116-113 115-113 116-113 UD!

Gwannn JC!

Calzaghe needed to move to Light Heavy, he's looking more healthier.

Hopkins Is going down, you don't lose to Taylor, struggle with Winky and Echol's If you have a chance at winning against a supernatural.

I think there's a number of things that will suit Hop in this fight, not least homeground, and he does really seem up for this one.

But I really think Joe is more than good enough to find a way to win. A cagey start looks on the cards, at least from Hop, but Joe works him out by around half way and takes over.

KO Artist wrote:I do. (I meant poundage, not pondage)

I think Calzaghe is a truly great fighter. Awesome in fact. I backed him to beat Lacy in what I said would be one of the easiest fights of his career.

I also backed him to win against Kessler but not as comfortably.

I just feel that a number of factors, most notably the weight will suit Hopkins.

I cant pick an outright winner but I am edging toward Hopkins using his guile and accuracy to dictate the pace and win a decision.

I hope I am wrong.

Calzaghe will clearly dictate the tempo, pace and the whole fight for me!! Dont really know how you think BHop will dictate the tempo, this is not his style, that is what Calzaghe does best IMO.

As for the Poundage, I think, like most other people that it will suit JC at this weight. He will finally show people that he has more power than most people think. KO in the latter rounds for me.

I think the added weight will help Joe every bit as much as Hopkins.

Im sure we'll see Calzaghe hitting that bit harder and feeling that bit fresher with the extra few pounds on his frame.

it will probably like the Calzaghe-Kessler Fight...

Hopkins, like Kessler will have a few chances and moments, but other than that, Calzaghe will be dominant..

8 year gap...... I reckon Speed will be a factor, we all know hopkins has lost some over the years.

KO Artist wrote:I do. (I meant poundage, not pondage)

I think Calzaghe is a truly great fighter. Awesome in fact. I backed him to beat Lacy in what I said would be one of the easiest fights of his career.

I also backed him to win against Kessler but not as comfortably.

I just feel that a number of factors, most notably the weight will suit Hopkins.

I cant pick an outright winner but I am edging toward Hopkins using his guile and accuracy to dictate the pace and win a decision.

I hope I am wrong.

It is a tricky question, one that we won't know the answert o unti fight night.

Will Joe be superhuman at his "natural" weight? Or will he be vulnerably puffy and comparatively sluggish?

I think Hopkins will be stronger than in the Winky fight. That nigth he was practically a suoper middle. Though he put on a masterclass in rds 1 and 12, unfortunately the middle ten sessions saw him land few clean shots, struggle with the pace later on, & generally had the edge in a cuffing contest.

I think Bernard will look stronger vs Joe, if he fight closer to 175-pounds. However, Hopkins is a career middle, Joe a career super middle, and I think the weight may favour Calzaghe.

Like DG. says, I want to see Joe come in around 173 for SPEED, and look to be at his best.

I think after seeing Clinton do so badly last weekend, we're not going to take Joe's big win for granted.

Remember Joe was under by 2-3 pounds last time out wasn't he?

DavidPayne wrote:Remember Joe was under by 2-3 pounds last time out wasn't he?

true, he took off too much by accident

By accident?

Amateurish isn't it if he's as tight as he says he is?

yeah, i think he trained that extra bit harder knowing Kessler was a threat.

Anyway, he's been going on about light heavyweight since I can remember, so let's see how he looks at that weight.

I think if Calzaghe weighs in around 173lbs, he'll be at his best, more hydrated, less moody not having to drain the last 5lbs or so he normally does.

However, when B-Hop & Joe appeared at the weigh-in for Hatton-Mayweather, Hopkins looked the bigger man. Although Hopkins moved up from MW, it was only extraordinary discipline that allowed him to campaign at 160lbs for so long. He must have been really struggling to make 160lbs in his last few fights at that weight.

The key to the fight is how Calzaghe deals with Hopkins craftiness, his ability to perhaps use dirty tactics & not be penalized for it. I'm not saying Hopkins is a dirty fighter, just that he'll do various things to win the fight.

Like someone has already said, Calzaghe needs to focus & figth his fight, not be drawn into things Hopkins does. I've no doubt Hopkins will try to get an edge come the weigh-in & it will be interesting to see what develops there.

Mackie Shilstone is once again working with B-Hop, so I expect Hopkins to be solid & in the shape of his life come fight night. I don't think Hopkins has ever been out of shape for a fight.

I was reading an interview in last week's BN. Calzaghe reckons Hopkins will be a much easier fight than Kessler was. What do you all think on this? One thnigs for sure, Kessler does not have the experience Hopkins does. Hopkins has been there, seen it, done it!

If Calzaghe truly feels this will be an easy fight for him, then I think he be proved wrong come saturday night.

Only the best Calzaghe will be sufficient to beat Hopkins in my view.

Hopkins is pretty incredible..
he could have done light middle if he wanted to... against Felix and Oscar he was only a couple of lbs off.

We have seen how Hop performs at the weight, will be more interesting to see the effect it has on Joe.

Rocky Balboa wrote:I think if Calzaghe weighs in around 173lbs, he'll be at his best

I disagree.

173.29lbs and he'd be at his best.

KO Artist wrote:I do. (I meant poundage, not pondage)

I think Calzaghe is a truly great fighter. Awesome in fact. I backed him to beat Lacy in what I said would be one of the easiest fights of his career.

I also backed him to win against Kessler but not as comfortably.

I just feel that a number of factors, most notably the weight will suit Hopkins.

I cant pick an outright winner but I am edging toward Hopkins using his guile and accuracy to dictate the pace and win a decision.

I hope I am wrong.

What a random selection of sentences

Care to venture a single reason as to why the weight will suit Hopkins?

DavidPayne wrote:By accident?

Amateurish isn't it if he's as tight as he says he is?

I did her a rumour about the scales that day...

Weights irrelevant to this fight, they are around the same size, it will come down to stamina/workrate and skills

Both will be stronger than in their last fight, that's for certain.

It should be an easy night for Calzaghe .. his biggest threat will come from Hopkins head .. only way Hopkins wins is on a cut

tonyevs wrote:It should be an easy night for Calzaghe .. his biggest threat will come from Hopkins head .. only way Hopkins wins is on a cut

Joe should hit it when it's on its way in, to double the power.

Autobarn wrote:

tonyevs wrote:It should be an easy night for Calzaghe .. his biggest threat will come from Hopkins head .. only way Hopkins wins is on a cut

Joe should hit it when it's on its way in, to double the power.

BUT, he has to preserve his hands.

In fact - lately - Hopkins has been a borderline rubbish/brawler apart from against Tarver.

KO Artist wrote:I do. (I meant poundage, not pondage)

I think Calzaghe is a truly great fighter. Awesome in fact. I backed him to beat Lacy in what I said would be one of the easiest fights of his career.

I also backed him to win against Kessler but not as comfortably.

I just feel that a number of factors, most notably the weight will suit Hopkins.

I cant pick an outright winner but I am edging toward Hopkins using his guile and accuracy to dictate the pace and win a decision.

I hope I am wrong.

I agree with your summing up of the outcome of the fight - I honestly believe to really get Hopkins on the back foot and making mistakes is punch power and speed - calzaghe has one of those and that is speed - but if there is one fighter in the world who can cope with the speed it is Hopkins - he doesn't involve himself in unnecessary sh*t - how many life and death struggles have you seen him involved in?? - that is down to his ringcraft and that is why he is still around today.

I want Calzaghe to win for one of the first times ever - but Hopkins has the skills to make this fight very close indeed - and then it comes down to the judges - that means Hopkins!!!