I think I may finally realize what the Mayweather fans are feeling.Being a Bernard Hopkins fan I ask myself what more does the guy need to do to get the respect that he rightfully deserves.We are talking about a guy who Is 43 years old with a work ethic that a guy half his age would have a hard time keeping up with.Hopkins Is a master In the ring with a granite chin,and a defense that Is second only to Mayweather.The guy knows how to win and Is one of the smartest fighters to ever step Into the ring.Bernard Is just simply one of the best ever and weather you love him or hate him you have to respect his accomplishments.I absolutley hate Mayweather but the fact remains that he Is one of the greatest fighters to ever fight and would stand a chance(and more than likley be succesful) against anyone In his weight class from any era.
C-drone...Calzaghehas said many times about hopkins pussying out of a fight..not jsut Warren...dnt u think the number of times JC has said it..to the press..and it ahs been printed..do u not think if it wasnt tre that Hopkins would say something about it?...he doesnt seem the shy n retireing type..ims ure if it wasnt true,he'd have aot to say for himeslf
What are you talking about, Calzaghe is one of the most accurate punchers in the business! Hand speed and accuracy is what all his opponents bat on about after the fight! Just look at his compubox numbers he's almost always above 50%, very accurate for a SMW who sometimes throws 80/90 punches a round. Not all of them hurtful I'll give you that but they help set him up for bigger punches.
The only time he punches wild is when he's been hurt and goes toe to toe, which he's not afraid to do with bigger, supposedly harder punching guys, Mitchell, Brewer, Kessler! And he usually comes on top. Hopkins hasn't got that kind of punch and you expect him to "tear Calzaghe apart" I dont think so. In all departments Calzaghe is far superior.
Hopkins saw easy-pickings in Tarver, which is what he was looking for, someone his age and someone with lower risk. Like I said, Hopkins was on the decline for many years and picked his fights carefully, going after big reward, low risk, like Oscar.
Hopkins never moved up before because Roy (back then) ran the LH division, who Hopkins could never beat, and SMW, well, nobody really gives two shits about the division when it comes to history, at least not then. Setting a legacy at MW cements you in history, that's what Hopkins wanted, along with big paydays.
Ask yourself what's the point of Joe fighting a 76 year old man that has lost to a younger fighter twice?
Why go after Hopkins?
To get his name out there? OK, good reason, but one would think if he wanted to do that he would have been over here years ago trying to do that with Jones Jr.
he already lost to roy though
i would pick prime Hopkins to beat Calzaghe but now, he will lose unless he gets a judge in there that alows him to hold and rough Calzaghe up all night.
Not good for the truth though eh?
True fans want to see Best V Best.
They want to see Ring smarts not Promotion Smarts.
Hopefully 2007 has made the Big names realise that they can't keep hoodwinking people.
Its time to get back to basics and make Boxing THE sport to watch.
Warrior V Warrior , Best V Best.
Not the eternal production line of Champ v "Bum" of the last 10 years.
Sorry, but nobody knew Joe in America, they knew Roy. The big money and stage was, and for right now, still is in the States. And it's not about just America knowing Roy. If you took a poll around the World who was the better known fighter, they would say Roy.
Joe made no attempt to go after Roy. An attempt would be to move up to LH.
So who were the big names at Light-Heavy?
Fair enough it looks good on paper.
But when you talk about who was a challenge at Light heavy.....please tell me who they were.
Who was Joe fighting at SMW???
Bigger fighters can still pose a problem, ask Ricky Hatton what a 7 pound increase in division can do.
All anyone of them had to do is move to LH, get in the rankings, and go after Roy.
Lightheavyweight Champion sounds sexier than Super-Middleweight.
Roy has an ego, he likes the ego boost of calling himself LH Champion.
Plus, like I said, in America nobody knew of the SMW division except for die-hard fans, which is another reason Roy went into the LH division.
Just the way it works. Good for promotion.
Joe was a Champ at 168 the same time as Roy.
Steve Collins , Nigel Benn & Eubank were all active as well.
Out of their prime to boot.
Nobody cares about the 168 Champ, not in America. It is a relatively new division, not a Historical division at all. Roy made a pit-stop at 168, then went up to the Lightheavyweight division. Better historically to call yourself the Lightheavyweight Champion than the obscure Super-Middle-weight Champion.
Just move up to LH to fight Roy, that's all I was aksing.
You can't just sit on your ass expecting Roy to come to you.
Joe was a Champ at 168 the same time as Roy.
Steve Collins , Nigel Benn & Eubank were all active as well.
Out of their prime to boot.
Couldn't it just be that all three were a bit tentative? Out of the three, none of them seemed SO EAGER to fight eachother. Ducking, is just where I have to put my foot down. EVERY fighter wants his percent of the money. From Robinson to Mayweather.
Has nothing to do with ducking.
can't remember i'll try to find the link but fran warren offered money to Hopkins and the deal was almost closed then Hopkins wanted double.
http://www.vegasinsider.com/boxing/story.cfm/story/629266
I remember hearing that as well, but the facts are cloudy. Have to refresh, that's why I'm asking for the article.
can't remember i'll try to find the link but fran warren offered money to Hopkins and the deal was almost closed then Hopkins wanted double.
I've never heard of so many people taking the word of a promoter at face value. Amazing.
The problem is my friend that Roy wasn't exactly a man you fought to earn money was he bearing in minde the guy always wanted ridiculous 85-15 split etc.
Roy's demands were no doubt the biggest reason why it never happened.
In fact this has what has been wrong with boxing for a LONG time and a factor until recently in its decline.
Top fighters unwilling to fight top contenders unless they get outrageous percentage cuts of the purses.
Agree?
How many knew Roy and how many knew Joe at the time?
Who was the known as the P4P King?
Joe wasn't even in his division, he was down at 168, which shows you he didn't want part of Roy.
If Joe beats Roy, the rematch would make him $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, and thereafter.
He never went for it.
yes. i am.
Then what kinds of odds are you willing to give me on a DESTRUCTION of Hopkins? (Which I assume, means you think Calzaghe will stop Hopkins)
Huh? I'll bet you that the fight goes the distance, but you gotta give me good odds. Since, you know.. you're so sure of it and all.
What was the amount and put a date on it.
can't remember i'll try to find the link but fran warren offered money to Hopkins and the deal was almost closed then Hopkins wanted double.
http://www.vegasinsider.com/boxing/story.cfm/story/629266
From memory they offered him 4-5 million.
Hopkins demanded double after they had verbally agreed.
First, that's not exactly a printed bit of evidence. Number two, that's at Warrens word, right?
None of this will make the fact Hopkins is 43 years old. Being beat at 43 is normal for most fighters, unless you're Rand Couture (UFC, nvm). What's the point anyway? Hopkins will perform very much like Hollyfield performed in his last fight, slow, out of timing and Joe of course, will look awsome in comparison. This fight is only good for Joe to add a big name to his record in a desperate quest for credibility. I do believe he's a good fighter, very skilled fighter indeed. I would not bet against him vs any of the current champions but... A question always pops: If he's so good, why has he been fighting in europe for so long? It's the equivalent for a brazilian soccer player (they are considered the best in the world) to be playing in Brazil, where there's little to no money, until his mid 20's and then fly directly to korea to compete against the former european glories in the end of their careers. That's scavanging really.
I've seen the fight Hopkins did not dominate the fight the way JMM did to Pac after the knockdowns it was quite boring apart from the knockdowns. It was a Mercado win.
Hopkins went where the money was? he was offered decent money by Warren to fight Calzaghe early but declined.
What was the amount and put a date on it.
Firstly mucker...Joe isn't the one spouting shit like Hopkins about being a "world" fighter.
When did Hopkins have a "Title Fight" outside the USA?
Apart from being down twice to Supermercado when they "Drew"?
When did Joe fight for a Title outside the UK?
Technically England Wales Scotland are all different countries.
Also Hopkins Lost to a Prime Jones who just like Hopkins didn't want anything to do with Joe.In fact Roy didn't want anything from a fighter who may just beat him did he?
Anyway you miss my point of course.
Roy was sitting there at LH for many years. Joe only need to move up one division and make some noise. Come to the States like Woods did.
The Money is in the States. Roy was the Name you have to go chasing.
I've seen the fight Hopkins did not dominate the fight the way JMM did to Pac after the knockdowns it was quite boring apart from the knockdowns. It was a Mercado win.
Hopkins went where the money was? he was offered decent money by Warren to fight Calzaghe early but declined.
And how much money was that? Since you were in the meeting.......
18y ago
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