Schaefer: "Hopkins Doesn't Need Joe Calzaghe"

[eazy_mas]

Hopkins catn fight Calzaghe even if he was near his prime it wont happen.

But Calzaghe will pressure him if he Hopkins doesnt want he could give an excuse that he is old and retire and comeback if another Jr MW wanna fight him at LHW

[.Mik.]

Of course Hopkins doesnt NEED Calzaghe. He doesnt need anything. He could retire today as a Hall of Famer.

On the other hand, I do understand Calzaghe's call that the fight would make more money in the UK, cos it may very well do that. 9000 tickets sold for a huge fight like Wright vs Hopkins is very disappointing.

[THe TRiNiTY]

First of all.. Hopkins has 20 defenses of his middleweight title. Middleweight division is much tougher than the supermiddleweight division. He beat De La Hoya, Trinidad and Johnson along the way. Not to mention, by name, the 17 others.

He's only lost to three different people, and he's been fighting pro for around 20 years, and he's active at 42 years old. When he finally moved up in weight.. He beat Tarver and Wright, and became the WORLD recognized Lightheavyweight champion. Had a long undefeated streak, after losing to a close-to peaking Roy Jones.

How in the hell, is beating Kessler, going to topple that?

Also, Hopkins, at this point.. DOESN'T need Calzaghe.. He could easily fight Jones. Doubt that match would be made, but that's an opinion. As is a chance at Heavyweight if the right guy had a title.

[majestiC]

beating a blown up De La Hoya counts for nothing, sorry but it was crazy seeing Oscar that high when hes been as low as 130lbs. Trinidad moved up in weights to, I give him props for beating Tarver that was a shocker at the time. Winky doesn't even look close to being natural at 170lbs. Kessler is a natural 168lbs with a 39-0 record, holds two belts it would match any of those put in context.

[.Mik.]

See, I would like to question some things in this post. Though I certainly dont believe that beating Kessler quite puts Calzaghe on a par with Hopkins (in that, I agree with you to an extent).

First of all.. Hopkins has 20 defenses of his middleweight title. Middleweight division is much tougher than the supermiddleweight division. He beat De La Hoya, Trinidad and Johnson along the way. Not to mention, by name, the 17 others.

And Calzaghe has 20 defences of his SMW title. Thought the names arent as impressive, it can not be denied that De La Hoya and Trinidad were nowhere near naturals at that weight. That fact HAS to diminish those victories considerably. Dont get me wrong, beating De La Hoya and Trinidad at any weight is great, cos they are supremely skilled boxers. Beating them both at THEIR level is exceptional. Beating them at a level unusual to them is simply impressive.

He's only lost to three different people, and he's been fighting pro for around 20 years, and he's active at 42 years old. When he finally moved up in weight.. He beat Tarver and Wright, and became the WORLD recognized Lightheavyweight champion. Had a long undefeated streak, after losing to a close-to peaking Roy Jones.

Calzaghe has NO losses, neither does Kessler. Calzaghe has been a pro a long time too, he's also coming to the late years of his career. Unlike Hopkins', Calzaghe's style does not allow for huge longevity in his career, he takes a lot of punches and fights very aggressively taking punishment to be able to land flurries of his own. Calzaghe's long undefeated streak is ongoing, but in no way will he be able to continue as long as Hopkins. Again, as great a fighter as Wright is, he was by far stretching his weight to fight Hopkins to a close loss. That victory for Hopkins can be considered impressive, but by no means exceptional.

Also, Hopkins, at this point.. DOESN'T need Calzaghe.. He could easily fight Jones. Doubt that match would be made, but that's an opinion. As is a chance at Heavyweight if the right guy had a title.

So what you're saying is that he doesnt need Calzaghe (which I agree with), but lets admit that Calzaghe is the best real option for him out there. Your alternatives consist of him either fighting a Roy Jones who has shown no real indication for the past few years that he ISNT the shot shadow of his former self that he seems to be. OR, he could wait until there is someone genuinely quite ****e as Heavyweight (that seems to be your indication), who is quite light and hopefully slow and then get a hollow and meaningless victory over him that will simply mean nothing more than the fact that he has stepped up to the biggest division and add another accomplishment to the list for the record books (and lets be honest...if he couldnt do that now, when the heavyweight division has some truly shocking champions, when would be a better time?).

[col Blake]

Hopkins un like joe the slapper has fought the best out there, who has joe fought nobody

[majestiC]

Hopkins un like joe the slapper has fought the best out there, who has joe fought nobody

i wouldn't say nobodies, but is really Hopkins record much better?

[THe TRiNiTY]

As far as the Trinidad and De La Hoya being unnatural at the weight... Hopkins beat them. All there is to that. His defenses against Joe's first 20 defenses, Hopkins beats him. Like I said.. OVERALL, The middleweight division is tougher, and def. was at the time of most of their defenses.

Calzaghe doesn't have losses. Correct. He's fought.. maybe 3 people who had an actual shot at beating him.. Whereas Kessler has fought virtually, nobody. It's easy to have no losses under those circumstances. Not discrediting their skills, just their opponents.

As far as a shot Roy Jones.. Jones looked decent in his last two, and another quality win, possibly looking decent against Trinidad, would make Hopkins/Jones a good money fight. For where they are in their careers. When it comes to the heavyweight thing. He's a 175 fighter, he needs a heavyweight with a style he can beat. Just like Jones did. Not exactly a skill thing, it's a style thing. He's even acknowledged, he couldn't beat Wlad. He's just too big.

You say Hopkins only has impressive, not spectacular wins. (I assume you're not talking about the Tarver win, and I hope you're not trying to make the argument that the SM division is tougher than the Middleweight division. ) Only impressive wins. OKay... Calzaghe only has one PRETTY spectacular win, against Lacy. otherwise, he beat a faded champion and a reality TV star. Trust me, ask someone on the HOF voting panel. If Calzaghe beats Kessler, ask them if he would be voted in BEFORE Hopkins if they retired on the same day. The answer is..... No. No disrespect to any people mentioned. And you make a valid argument. I just don't see him getting in OVER Hopkins. Even with the Kessler win. Not with his legacy as is. Maybe if he beat another two or three top guys (including Kessler)... Otherwise.. Not seeing it.

[col Blake]

you can't compare joe the slapper's record to hopkins joe has had hand picked fights from day one point the finger to wank warren joe is his only money maker and wont through him in with some good Kessler his first real fight in 7 years as champ

[majestiC]

i mean seriously 3 Blown up great fighters on his record other than that? anything really special? Joppy wasn't that good Eastman was robbed vs him. Glen Johnson? Glen came good at the right time other than nothing that special Woods has beaten, just. Allen wasn't great.