When Hopkins faked two low-blows two rounds in a row I knew HE knew he'd lost...

He was certainly worried. Exhausted and lacking another way of breaking Joe's tempo. The ninth round for Joe was the best round either guy had in the fight. nard had to do something in the tenth to change it. Punching back didn't work, so taking a five minute break was the only option

I just wanted to point out that Hopkins faked low blows 3 times in the fight. Two were in back to back rounds though. Yes, he was hit twice with low blows, but he also was allowed to have his guard hiked way up and allowed to foul all night (headbutts, clinching, behind the head shots, his own low blows, shoving, holding and hitting, hitting after the bell). The difference in Hopkins' fouls and Calzaghe's is that Hopkins' were almost always intentional, Calzaghe's never seemed intentional.

Now, I can agree that he was milking the low shots. But to say that he was hurt? That's a stretch. He was certainly worried.

I agree they were faked. He badly needed the rest and he took it. If he had won they would have been talking about how crafty that was years from now. In a loss it just looks pussified. Exactly, biggest mark against Hopkins in this fight overall.

If I was judging I would have scored tat fight for Calzaghe just to spite Hopkins. Barring a knockdown by Bernard I couldn't imagine a more obvious indicator that a fighter was hurt than pretending to have been hurt illegally. Now, I can agree that he was milking the low shots. But to say that he was hurt? That's a stretch.

It worked for him the first time I thought. He won the 10th round in my opinion. Second time it was pitful and didn't help at all. If I was judging I would have scored tat fight for Calzaghe just to spite Hopkins. Barring a knockdown by Bernard I couldn't imagine a more obvious indicator that a fighter was hurt than pretending to have been hurt illegally.

It worked for him the first time I thought. He won the 10th round in my opinion. Second time it was pitful and didn't help at all.

I agree they were faked. He badly needed the rest and he took it. If he had won they would have been talking about how crafty that was years from now. In a loss it just looks pussified.

No I can understand milking it the first time (but it didn't earn him any fans) though I did note that he knew he was behind and fading, but the second time when he went down to his knees, well that went beyond gamesmanship. It would have been funny if Cortez had said "OK then. 1. 2. 3. 4..."

I thought it was a try from Hopkins to get Calzaghe out of his rhythm and also to get a points deduction, didn't work.

He was throwing a hail mary for a point deduction. It wasn't a bad strategy. One point wasn't going to help him (as it turns out), but I can see why he would want the extra point at that moment in the fight

The first time I said "He knows he's losing". The second time when Cortez was having none I said "He's lost and he feels it". Hopkins knew he'd been beaten. The only controversy over the result is that someone scored it for Bernard. After losing the better part of about 6 rounds in a row, Bernard needed a breather and to break Joe's momentum. It worked, for a whole round.

He was throwing a hail mary for a point deduction.

Yeah, he knew he was getting behind on points and getting outboxed, so he tried a few tricks. Obvious.

Well it sure wasn't a good sign. When you are "schooling" a guy, you don't fake injuries to your nuts. Cortez let him have the first, but I was glad to see he didn't give another five minutes

I kinda thought the same thing. He was pullin out all the stops at that point. But I REALLY knew Bernard was f*cked when Ciampa was the deciding judge. Another Italian.