I think Hopkins 'best' time was around the Tito Trinidad fight, he had developed his skills, but still was fresh, it was because of his age he has had to adapt, fighting at a slower pace, not going all out. Calzaghe was at his prime years too, if you look at his fights before Lacy etc, he had injuries, and looked pretty poor in some fights. I still reckon that Hopkins had done enough in thier fight to win, but Hopkins style sometimes goes again him. Peak vs Peak, I think Hopkins wins.
He was quite hated at one time, now most people think he is a bit of a joke. Decent fighter, but once he got that money for his 'world tour', and obviously the Watson fight, he lost it. I don't think he would have beaten Toney, or Jones Jr, but would have given them a good fight.
There is more than one way to skin a cat, and more than one way to wrap a hand. Most of the times, and I'm no expert, but I've had my own hands wrapped and have seen it done many times during my brief and pathetic attempt at promotion. The knuckle pads are supposed to be crosslayers of gause, anywhere from 10, 15, maybe 25 thick, depending on what you want and what you can get away with. Those pads can be made right in front of you as your watching, or the trainer can make them an hour before, a day before... hell, he can make them before his fighter is born. I know you've seen gauze rolled up before they are used. Its a big puff of sterile cotton. If I walked in with two puffs of white cotton and called them knuckle pads, and said "I'm going to put these on your hands", you wouldn't know if it was cotton all the way through, if I had a chunk of moist gauze in the middle (which right now is all the Margarito camp is guilty of), if I had Jelly Beans wrapped up in their, if I had a used condome wrapped up in there... the point is, you would see a layers of white gauze.
I'm only saying its possible that Margarito didn't know. If you're naive enought to believe my scenario is the ONLY possibility, you're a damn fool. If you believe my scenario is not entirely possible... you're an even bigger fool and a waiste of oxygen.
Good post.
I saw the fight, Reid wasn't robbed as some make out, it was a close fight that could have gone either way. Calzaghe looked really poor in that fight, there was something about broken hand or whatever, but basically he was up against someone good. Reid was an excellent fighter, with a good chin, shame at the tail end of his career though.
To the American fight fans, seriously, watch old Calzaghe fights, he really looks shit in some fights, then you will understand why it has taken him this long to get 'recognition'.
strangely no. It's not broadcast on this side of the atlantic.
I thought it was? I read that they were offering good deals on tickets, and had changed the fight time for 'the fans' to a lot earlier.
Maybe the TV companies don't think the fight is worth it?
I would say Purrity, Thompson was sort of ocmpetitive at world class in his division, and was VERY VERY tough. It was Haye's what 10th fight? I think they underestimated him..Purrity is a journeyman
I have watched most of Calzaghe's fights over the years, when has he ever really looked legandary, apart from Lacy maybe?
When Jones Jr won a title at 175, Calzaghe had just won the WBO 'world title'. Watch his fights over the years, peak oer whatever, Jones Jr at his peak would have far too much for him and would win on points.
The reasons why Calzaghe never came to the states is because after winning his WBO title, he looked very very shit in his few defences after, against Rick Thornberry & David Starie for example. Who was going to pay big money for him to fight Jones Jr, or Toney etc? His promotor (on the world scene) wasn't much good either, and Calzaghe himself got a reputation for being injury-prone, and happy enough beating up on his WBO mandatories (and not even looking too great in doing that). It took him from 1997 - 2006 to fight Lacy, the IBF champion. His promotor couldn't even or didn;t even try to unify the division. All this 'peak Jones and Hopkins dodging him' is all bullshit.
Bit harsh on Haye there, he has serious power, and he beat the decent guys and the champion and number one guy in Mormeck. He has stopped virtually everyone at cruiserweight. He has also destroyed in 1 rd a european heavyweight..he has the skills and power to beat all, just his chin. I think he could take Wlad out, Vitali I dunno...I think one of the heavies will KO him though
Put it this way, who would rather have as the heavyweight no 1, the Klit bros, or Haye?
When Jones and Hopkins had the leverage they never fought Calzaghe, Ottke or DM. When Calzaghe has the leverage the fights with Hopkins and Jones happen. So who was ducking who?
When Jones Jr won the title at 175lb, Calzaghe just won the vacant WBO 'world' title against an old Chris Eubank who had to lose a silly amount of weight to make 168. In Eubanks next fight, he fought at cruiserweight. Hopkins unified at middleweight, it took Calzaghe from 96 or 97 until 06 to even fight for the other titles (Lacy). No one was 'ducking' anyone. Fact is, Calzaghe was more than content in defending the WBO title against crap/past it 168 mandatories, rather than moving up to try to get a fight with Jones. Jones was the marquee name then, not Calzaghe. Calzaghe wasn't known much even in the UK. He had quite a few poor fights, which didn't excatly make him marketable to the US TV companies.
The heavyweight division needs him. Thing is, he is starting to come across as a bit of a cunt. All good though, at least people will hopefully tune in to watch,,,
This is all talk i doubt that Warren is gonna let his cash cow get sparked again...
I dunno, he didn't seem to bothered the first time did he? I have heard that Warren was quite annoyed at his family and advisors, basically getting a bit too big for thier boots, changing trainers (I think Warren wasn't consulted), the appointment of Rubio, and the selection of Prescott as an opponent (which they did themselves). Khan getting knocked out puts them down a peg or two.