The Official Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe Poll/Prediction Thread

[Degsy]

So let me fill you in!
First of all old man Hopkins is a smart as they come! He wins fights before fight night! He tricked Trinidad, DLH and Wright into blowin up to face him! Sounds familiar? Joe will be a blown up Joe come April 19th! His work rate will go on strike when he realizes he doesnt have the game that Bernard has!

Calz's fans is banking on Hop's birth certificate and Calz's punch rate! Bernard has slowed down some of the most active hand throwers n the game, and none of Bernard's last 5 opponents feel like they were in the ring against a old man! Its a shame Joe's people are not fore-warning him with the facts!

In reality, Joe Calzaghe is customed made for a counter punchin Bernard Hopkins!

Hopkins does Calz like he did Tito!

Calzaghe won't be coming in blown up, He's struggled to hit 168 so he's just going to have to loose a few less pounds, not like Winky who looked bloated. If you look at them their height is within an inch and their builds aren't too far off - Joe's neck looks about 1.5 to 2 inches thicker than Nard's in the presser photos.

I think it will be a good fight, Bernard knows he will have to be active and Joe knows how good a counter puncher and in-fighter Bernard is. I think Joe will have too much, as I have said before, but I will be here praising Bernard if he pulls it off fair and square. Roll on April !!!

[warp1432]

I disagree with you about the mayweather right hand counter, hopkin's right hand is lazy and he tends to look downwards whilst throwing it, but hey i can live with your opinion.

Your right about everything else though, some of the comments on this board worry me, ive been watching calzaghe for years, he has never been in the ring with a fighter this good, hopkins aint gonna be one dimensional like lacy and he isnt as predictable as Kessler. Watching him in Taylor 2 pissed me off no end because he threw the fight away in the early rounds with inactivity and even then i still had him 1 point ahead of taylor by the end.

I think another key to the fight is this, If calzaghe cannot land on hopkins early on, what is he gonna do? Is he gonna keep fighting with a high output, or will he sink into a tactical fight with hopkins? because if he goes tactical with hopkins im not sure he can win this fight. Calzaghe has some real flaws in terms of his balance and defence, which is largely reflexed based, Kessler exposed some of these flaws early on in their fight. I reckon These flaws are down to the fact his dad trained him. Regardless flaws like these can be masked when you dont get in the ring with world class fighters on a regular basis, (and i dont care what anyone says, his last 3 fights are Kessler, Manfredo and Bika) someone more skilled than these guys could give him more issues.

The irony is, that whilst Pavlik beat Taylor twice and Taylor beat Hopkins twice, i cannot see pavlik beating hopkins, no way can pavlik land those shots consistently on hopkins.

Bernard has a lazy right? Tell that to Tarver, Wright, Mercardo, and pretty much everyone else he's faced. He also comes in with his head down so it'll be a headbutt. It's a sly trick.

And I think you are really underestimating kessler. Kessler couldn't adapt, but he's a lot better then Bika and Manfredo that's for sure.

There was a great topic by Nmburner22 (something like that) on why Bernard was going to win and I pretty much agreed with it. Also watching Calzaghe Kessler yesterday, like you said, Joe was really off balance in some parts.

Anyway I predict a 115-112, 114-113 x2 decision for Bernard. I think the ref might actually take points from Benard this time though.

[SkillspayBills]

Where is the "Calzaghe will win a close but debated UD"?

[ironmike3434]

like they say, "that's why we have the fight!". This is gonna be one of the best scientific matches in ages. Similar to Hopkins-Trinidad.... and we all know what happened there and then. The age thing does not matter; Hopkins' body age is mid 30s. He's a freak. I have to lean to the mega-fight experience. Joe might be overwhelmed. Either way, the boxing fan wins on this fight!!!!!!!

[Mizzou]

I hope Bernard smashes ****** ass Joe Calzaghe's teeth in. Prob won't happen but would be great. Did you see him looking like he was in high school standing by Enzo in a ****ing Abercrombie and Fitch shirt.

[Jan(DK)]

This guy is smoking ****...

When have Hopkins Ever Been Dominated....

@Ironside

Slapping a boy is cruel (page 3). 3 grown up planing it (1 slaps and 2 records it) is sickening. Get reed of it idiot!!!!!!

Agree anybody ?

[Jan(DK)]

Slapping a boy is cruel (page 3). 3 grown up planing it (1 slaps and 2 records it) is sickening. Get reed of it idiot!!!!!!

Agree anybody ?

Anybody

[Drunk Punch]

JC by UD.

He won't school B-Hop like Lacy and Kessler but it will still be convincing.

[Truth]

bump.............

[Jolly Roger]

So let me fill you in!
First of all old man Hopkins is a smart as they come! He wins fights before fight night!

Like the Taylor fights? Calzaghe is hardly green, he is a wily veteran aswell.

He tricked Trinidad, DLH and Wright into blowin up to face him! Sounds familiar? Joe will be a blown up Joe come April 19th! His work rate will go on strike when he realizes he doesnt have the game that Bernard has!

7 extra pounds on a big SMW? Get a grip.

Calz's fans is banking on Hop's birth certificate and Calz's punch rate! Bernard has slowed down some of the most active hand throwers n the game, and none of Bernard's last 5 opponents feel like they were in the ring against a old man! Its a shame Joe's people are not fore-warning him with the facts!

And his speed, his excellent inside game, his footwork, his boxing brain etc etc etc.

In reality, Joe Calzaghe is customed made for a counter punchin Bernard Hopkins!
Hopkins does Calz like he did Tito!

You realise Calzaghe isn't a welterweight?


It seems to me like alot of Hopkins fans have picked who they WANT to win and are now trying to rationalise their choice, until they actually end up believing that he will win.