Cherrypicked opponents..

**Fox McCloud** · 01-24-2008, 02:13 AM

Originally posted by JoeyBB

There comes a time when older fighters who cherrypick infrequent comeback fights have to pay their bill.

I saw it when Ray Leonard thought he had an easy comeback against Camacho.

I saw it when Ray Mancini thought he had one against Haugen.

Foreman made a second career by largely avoiding the most dangerous opponents while rebuilding himself with a steady diet of fights. Still, when he came back again at 45, he fought a small, fragile chinned Moorer and not a Lennox Lewis ...

If Calzaghe is real which I believe he is, I don't see a 43 year old inactive Hopkins beating him. This might be the fight where Bernard has to pay his bill.

Zag in 12.

I doubt Bernard actually feels like this is an easy fight for him...

**JoeyBB** · 01-26-2008, 03:39 PM

yuh yuh..............

**Fox McCloud** · 01-26-2008, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by JoeyBB

yuh yuh..............

I get what you are saying that Bernard is going to have to pay his dues for ths one most likely, but are you saying that Hopkins cherry picked a supposive easy opponent in Joe Calzaghe?

**JoeyBB** · 01-26-2008, 03:50 PM

.....yup....

**javelin_fangs** · 01-26-2008, 03:52 PM

Joey I'd agree with you except for the fact that I don't think Bernard Hopkins is in need of money. Plus, he left a lot of money on the table by taking this fight on HBO WCB instead of PPV. I think he believe as I do that he's not there to be hit the way Kessler and Lacy were.

I still think Calzaghe should win, whereas I get the feeling B Hop probably believes that he will win. But the point is this, Calzaghe does a lot of his damage with pile on flurries after his opponent sticks around too long or misses wildly. How often do you see Hopkins get caught in those situations? I really believe Hopkins thinks he's going to win. Casamayor against Katsidas might be a better case of what you're describing. But in that fight I also believe Casamayor's defensive prowess will save him from getting embarrased even if he does eventually lose.

**TheGreatA** · 01-26-2008, 03:53 PM

I can't blame Foreman for the Moorer fight.

Moorer was the undefeated, undisputed, linear heavyweight champion who had just decisioned Holyfield. It was actually Moorer's camp who thought Foreman would make an easy opponent but they were obviously wrong.

Foreman's tune-up fights were handpicked though.

I suppose Joe Louis thought Rocky Marciano would make an easy comeback opponent. How wrong he was.

Calzaghe isn't a handpicked opponent, Hopkins wants to cement his legacy with that win.

**Scott9945** · 01-26-2008, 03:54 PM

[quote=DWiens421;3080657]I get what you are saying that Bernard is going to have to pay his dues for ths one most likely, but are you saying that Hopkins cherry picked a supposive easy opponent in Joe Calzaghe?[/quote]

That would be the craziest thing I've heard. Hopkins prepares like a fiend for every fight. No way is he looking at Joe as an easy win. Hopkins is fighting for the money and thriving on the challenge.

**Fox McCloud** · 01-26-2008, 03:55 PM

Originally posted by JoeyBB

.....yup....

Huh...

I don't think I agree with you.

A unification showdown with Stipe Drews would have been a cherry picked opponent, or a rematch with Antonio Tarver.

Joe Calzaghe, the P4P #5 undefeated volume puncher has a better chance at Bernard than any of his previous opponents were given (with the exception of Jones and Tarver)... at least I think so, I wasn't around for the rest, but I figure that Hopkins was the favorite in pretty much all of his middleweight defenses, and I know the second Taylor fight was about even money, so the first went to Hopkins.

If Hopkins is sleeping on Calzaghe, he is as good as ****ed.

**JoeyBB** · 01-26-2008, 03:56 PM

I think in his mind he views Zag as an easy opponent. He is so far gone and delusional that he probably thinks this. Just like when he was slagging of Kessler as a nobody and a ****e fighter. Which he isn't....clearly.

Cherrypicked opponents..