Hopkins: "I Won't Let Calzaghe Make History"

[Abe Attell]

"Some slag named Morrade Hakkar" - Hahahahaha

If you remember, the vibe was that if Trinidad could beat Hopkins, Jones was next. I think that was what was so shocking about the way Trinidad was almost shut out in that fight: people believed he could beat anyone at that point; what he was doing felt like a phenomenon.

I remember thinking that Jones would have had an easier time with Hopkins. People didn't really see the point of that fight back then, but the way things ended up for them both, perhaps it was wrong to assume that their rematch wouldn't have meant much.

the best style to beat Hopkins will always be someone that can hit and move...of course the fighter has to be a very good fighter, not some guy that is average, but can move a little.

[hugh grant]

Why is Bernhard Hopkins wanting to challenge Joe now. He should have challenged Joe when Joe had only made 15 defeces, and not 20 defences. I hope the fight goes ahead. Then i would be happy to see Hopkins see if he can do a RJJ. But Maskaevs a bit better than Ruiz isnt he?

[Abe Attell]

I think Calzaghe would be too much for Hopkins at this point. He'd pressure him early, knowing that Hopkins takes time to warm up, and win those early rounds by a landslide. Calzaghe is just too quick and heavy handed for the old master. Calzaghe by decision or he may even be the first person to stop the Executioner.

Even at this age, his declined ability, I still can't see Hopkins losing by KO to Calzaghe...Joe must have landed a quadrillion punches on Lacy, many flush, but couldn't knock him out...Lacy was puffy around the eyes, breathing through his mouth, and he went the distance, Hopkins could to, especially since his defense is still pretty solid, although it is not the same.

[Abe Attell]

You should look at that,

http://youtube.com/watch?v=utmF-SA1KyU

I don't think you have seen the fight... Roy won the first round, but during the fight, Hopkins was always better. Roy Jones, in the late round, wasn't doing anything but swing his arm in the air. Hopkins won all the last rounds on all the judges card. That wasn't a (total) domination by Jones.

After the fight, Hopkins said he found the way to beat Jones during the later rounds and he was figuring what Jones would do. He said he want a rematch, but Jones never accepted, probably because he knows he got lucky that this fight wasn't a 15 round, and he knew bHop would probably beat him.

During Jones Prime, B-Hop is the only fighter I've seen that was on his boxing level.

You still have to factor in the possible injury of Roy Jones, but Hopkins is a smart bastard and does use the first few rounds to figure out his opponent...for elite fighters it would take longer, so I could understand.

Hopkins still didn't move up and chase Jones, so you have to question why also.

I would still favor Roy's speed over Hopkins, with Hopkins advantage being countering while Roy comes in.

[Guest]

If you didn't watch any fights from Hopkins prior to Tito, that is your fault, not his...Fighters decline with age, even Hopkins...Just because the guy kept winning doesn't mean he was still in his prime...all you have to do is compare his fights after Tito with the ones prior, and you will see.

Taylor is a bit amatuerish, which is all the proof you need that Hopkins had declined...if this was years ago, Taylor wouldn't have won, and probably have been knocked out, at least in the first fight.

You have to consider also Hopkins stubborn attitude towards not moving up when he should of...your body matures as you age, even into your 30's, your body can thicken...there is a reason Hopkins wasn't eating red-meat.
I am not sure how vegan he was, but if you get rid of meat in your diet, you will also be weaker.


For the fight with Joe, the fight would of been great maybe 5+ years ago...now, if Joe loses, I would actually say he is overrated.

Also, for Hopkins to fight at Heavyweight, if he fights Oleg and wins, he better be a man and fight the rest, like WLAD or don't call yourself the Heavyweight Champion.

I've watched basically every Hopkins fight that was televised starting with the Roy Jones fight. What does that have to do with anything? Yeah, Hopkins did decline with age just like most fighters. Again, what does that have to do with anything? My point is the only natural middleweight he fought that you would consider elite is Roy Jones and he lost to him. The fight was boring as ****, but Jones was always a step ahead of Bernard. You can say he became a better fighter after that, but he never fought another top, natural middleweight during his run of defenses until he was 40. He fought decent fighters and that's about it...

Why do you think he was a huge underdog to Trinidad, a welterweight? It's because Hopkins had beaten absolutely nobody to make you think he would beat Trinidad...

[K-DOGG]

I can't see Calzaghe stoppinig Hopkins either....beating him, yes....maybe even beating him up, though this is highly unlikely; but not stopping him. Hopknis is too pround to quit and Joe doesn't have the firepower to put him away clean IMHO.

[hugh grant]

I never used to rate Hopkins until quite recently. When he beat Trinidad i wasnt impressed reallly. It is after beating the likes Of Howard Eastman and then DLH, that i thought to myself there is more to this man than i originally thoiught.

[K-DOGG]

Why do you think he was a huge underdog to Trinidad, a welterweight? It's because Hopkins had beaten absolutely nobody to make you think he would beat Trinidad...

OOO!! OO!! I KNOW!!!


Because he rarely appeared on television in high profile fights becuase he was high-risk/low-reward fighter and Tito was a phenominal welterweight who got lucky against De La Hoya, beat up "The American Dream", America's only Gold Medalist from 1996....the very green David Reid, and he out slugged a young Fernando Vargas in prime time.

So, you've got a very visible power puncher in Felix Trinidad and an unheard of counter-puncher/brawler/mauler Bernard Hopkins.....and people always bet on "the star".


How's that?

[Cutthroat]

This will be Cal***'s first true comp. This will be the toughest person he's ever fought hands down. The rest of his opponents have been crap, he's not gonna beat B-Hop.

[Abe Attell]

I've watched basically every Hopkins fight that was televised starting with the Roy Jones fight. What does that have to do with anything? Yeah, Hopkins did decline with age just like most fighters. Again, what does that have to do with anything? My point is the only natural middleweight he fought that you would consider elite is Roy Jones and he lost to him. The fight was boring as ****, but Jones was always a step ahead of Bernard. You can say he became a better fighter after that, but he never fought another top, natural middleweight during his run of defenses until he was 40. He fought decent fighters and that's about it...

Why do you think he was a huge underdog to Trinidad, a welterweight? It's because Hopkins had beaten absolutely nobody to make you think he would beat Trinidad...

He wasn't a boring fighter prior to Tito...with his declining ability, he became more of a passive fighter, making him boring.

For Jones, I said Jones was better, and Yes, it was the only elite true middle he fought, and he lost, thus making him below Roy.