How controversial was Calazaghe's split decision win over Hopkins?

[ShoulderRoll]

It doesn't seem like that was as clear a loss for B-Hop as the second Chad Dawson fight, for example.

[UTEP]

No controversy, Hopkins lost to a "Whiteboy"

[taansend]

Oh great. Another thread about Calzaghe & Hopkins

[ShoulderRoll]

No controversy, Hopkins lost to a "Whiteboy"

The Associated Press scored it for Hopkins, didn't they?

[A-Wolf]

ESPN, BBC Sport, Yahoo Sports and the Associated Press all had Hopkins winning. How controversial is this match and it's outcome? Without any question it's the most debated most controversial match of the current era.

[Sparked_26]

That fight has to be crappiest sporting event that has ever prompted this much discussion.

If Calzaghe had dropped that decision we wouldn't be hearing anything about it.

[johnm is...]

Close fight, no robbery. I remember watching it, thinking, "Hopkins isn't going to win this fight."

He clearly landed the cleaner shots, but just got out worked. And people can say what they want, but Calzaghe had Hopkins uncomfortable in there.

[warp1432]

It's not as controversial because there was a lack of clean punching by both sides. I had Hopkins winning 114-113, but it was by no means a robbery. Of all the closely contested fights that have gone against Hopkins, the second fight with Jermain Taylor is easily the worst IMO.

Btw, Hopkins at 43 had a lot better defensive reflexes than the Bernard that fought Dawson and Cloud. In those fights, he gets hit with shots that he used to get out of the way with. He can still roll and counter efficiently, but Dawson was able to use his speed when Hopkins couldn't get out of the way. Calzaghe used his speed, but Hopkins was still able to negate and block those punches.

edit:

For the sake of discussion, here is how I rank Bernard throughout his career

96-03: Hopkins switched to a Boxer-Puncher style where he was the most efficient. Was able to have a great work rate while also being a master boxer. One of the best middleweights of all time.

04-05: Started to be more conservative with his punches, often throwing one right hand and then tying up his opponent. Never took the risks he would earlier in his career. Part of this had to do with Middleweight being harder to make, IMO.

06-11: A combined style of his conservative self with his prime. Hopkins knows all the tricks of the trade and has let his self go. Punch resistance is a little worse, but his countering and footwork is all still there. He's slower but knows what it takes to win.

Current Bernard: His age shows. Even in his win vs Cloud, he still had to be perfect when throwing knowing when to move. His mind is still there, but he can't step back or neutralize 100% the way he used to. Dawson had a great gameplan and "exposed" his age. Cloud was neutralized, but still hit him with some shots that Hopkins would never used to get hit with.

Pretty damn remarkable for 48, but the signs are there

[BattlingNelson]

In before Daggum!


I had Calzaghe winning. No way it was a robbery.

[Mr. Fantastic]

It was a shit fight thanks to Hopkins. Calzaghe or should I say that "white boy" put him in his place.