Hopkins-Calzaghe.... how I see it going...

[!! Shawn]

Good post, I agree with many of your points, but I do not see Hopkins winning. However, I do see Calzaghe getting into some difficulty in the later rounds.

Calzaghe is getting older, and he is losing his stamina, but I am not sure he knows how much. The same pace he pushed against Kessler could leave his tank empty this time around.

The Kessler fight was the first time I saw signs of aging in Joe. There were several rounds where I could tell that he was having difficulty with his pace, but he did not seem to want to admit it to himself, although he did touch on it in the post fight interview.

I have a feeling that he will be pushing a pace that he can not keep. He will gas in the later rounds, look horrible, and win a UD on the points lead he built up in the early rounds.

I think Calzaghe can out smart Hopkins, he can out work Hopkins, and he can probably out punch Hopkins.

But he needs to realize he is getting older, he needs to turn back his work rate a bit, and he needs to fight a little smarter.

Maybe he should throw 800 punches in the fight instead of 1000, maybe he should fight in spurts with Hopkins. What ever he does, he cant just go in and try to knock Hopkins out, it doesn't work.

The fight will not look pretty, Calzaghe just needs to make sure it looks like he is the one making it that way.

[zapata]

calzaghe -hopkins

calzaghe is due for a loss soon but it wont be in this fight -hes an unorthadox fighter who gives everyone trouble because of his unorthodox style and punching angles-can he take it on the chin? we should find out in this fight but i think he land a lot more than b-hop thre fore descion calzaghe

[ElGranLuchador]

good points but if the hopkins that fought winky fight against the calzaghe that fought kessler i think joe wins just on activity alone hopkins was throwing like 12 punches a round that fight

[Johnny Rebel]

The best weapon Hopkins has is his use of the headbutt. The only way Hopkins beats Calzaghe is if the referee lets him use his illegal tactics and the judges give him a hometown decision. JC knows he will have to most likely KO Hop and he will go for the KO and get it IMO. JC TKO over Hopkins in 9.

[Dick-Sucker]

I haven't been too into the boards lately, or religiously watching as much boxing as I used to, for those of you who were around a few years ago know, but this is a fight that certainly intrigues me, as I've watched both of these guys fight for the past ten years at least. Here's how I see it, for those of you who are betting on it, points...money...whatever...

Now this fight is at least 7 years overdue, and I confess I said Hopkins would never take this fight, but he's finally found the stars aligning just right. Hopkins is naturally a little bigger, and has had time to settle into 175 nicely, which is really a natural weight for him, and I think Hopkins liked what he saw from Joe against Kessler. Joe didn't throw much with real power, used those big gloves, and seemed to have lost just a little and like I said, Hopkins thinks the time is right, finally. Hopkins doesn't take a fight unless he smells weakness, sees little danger, or thinks he has a big advantage of some kind. Hopkins isn't out to challenge himself or prove he's a warrior, or any of that macho stuff-- Hopkins fights for money and his legacy, and has for a long time now.

The key to winning for Joe is to watch the Taylor fights. Taylor's haymakers and Hopkins' overcautiousness won Taylor the fight. I saw someone try to compare Joe's power to Jermaine's in another thread, and ask if Joe punches harder. Yes, I think Joe's a little stronger than Jermaine, and yes if he sells out on a shot it's going to be harder than Taylor's punches, but Taylor sold out several times per early round, every round, against Hopkins in their first fight, and even though most of them missed or were blocked, they still won him the fights. Why? Because Hopkins fights very cautiously. He wanted no part of those punches, thought that Taylor would tire and miscalculated when to push the fight, once the steam came of Taylor's punches around the 7th-8th round (but it was too late by then).

Joe would be wise to learn from that. Hopkins is a physical specimen, and really has no weaknesses there, and his boxing game doesn't have many weaknesses either, except inactivity and overcautiousness. That is the way to beat him: mentally. Because Hopkins is a smart fighter, but not nearly as smart as he thinks he is. If Joe can get his respect early, put him on the defensive, and put a lot of cautiousness in Hopkins, then he wins. If he lets Hopkins get comfortable early, or isn't active or pushing Hopkins back, then he's in trouble.

If I were a betting man, I'd bet on Hopkins. Hopkins is going to be naturally a little bigger and stronger than Joe, and he's going to give Joe the ring I believe, and try to move back and counter. Joe is certainly there to be hit at times, and Hopkins is going to look for a big counter-right hand, probably around the middle rounds.

I believe if Joe uses those poofy gloves and tries to beat Hopkins with a swarm of light activity, as with Kessler, then I think he will lose and get overwhelmed by either a Hopkins swarm or a big counter in the mid-lates. Joe needs to use the tighter gloves he fought Lacy with, hands be damned, and needs to sell-out on some big shots early, esp on the inside. It doesn't matter if they miss or not, they will make Hopkins cautious and fearful of getting caught with a big punch. And then Joe could conceivably coast to victory just by keeping Hopkins off-balance and on the defensive. Hopkins doesn't listen to his corner, and doesn't really make adjustments, and if things get going the wrong way for Hopkins early, then he's in trouble. Hopkins always thinks he's right, and always thinks he's winning, and really only listens to Hopkins.

But I don't think Joe has that in him anymore. 10 years ago, five years ago, even three years ago, Joe beats Hopkins handily. But unlike many out there, I didn't like what I saw from Joe against Kessler. It was dominant and impressive, yes, but it doesn't add up to a victory against Hopkins. And I'm not sure if Joe can turn back the clock and wake that dragon again. He will need to, and will need to punch bigger and have better defense than he has shown lately in order to have a chance.

So, in the end, bet on Hopkins if you have to bet. Vegas just hasn't been good to the overseas fighters, and I think Joe has faded just enough for the move up in weight to work against him. Hopkins is just going to be stronger and more natural at 175.

It'll be fun to watch, either way.

Are you serious?

This is a massive mismatch. Calzaghe TKO within 6.

Calzaghe will be under rated his entire career. Until he retires than we will realise how great he was.

[ElGranLuchador]

i dont care if its a tko or a boring decision all i want its the hopkins hype to be over
bernard shoulda retired after his embarrasing winky wright performance hopefully after he loses to joe he will retire with some dignity left unlike roy jones or holyfield who are still fighting and ruining their legacy in the process

[duffgun]

i dont care if its a tko or a boring decision all i want its the hopkins hype to be over
bernard shoulda retired after his embarrasing winky wright performance hopefully after he loses to joe he will retire with some dignity left unlike roy jones or holyfield who are still fighting and ruining their legacy in the process

Well i must be one of the few people who like the Bhop Winky fight, I see Joe winning but it will be close Bhop will land a fair number of rights on Joe and some head.

[mECHsLAVE]

Are you serious?

This is a massive mismatch. Calzaghe TKO within 6.

Calzaghe will be under rated his entire career. Until he retires than we will realise how great he was.

Joe certainly has a chance, as I said, but he will not win by a TKO within 6, I can assure you of that. LOL

[bluemax]

Come On!! This fight is so easy to figure the outcome. Hopkins will lose a decision by a wide margin. Those picking Hopkins, take off your rose colored glasses your embarrassing yourselves. Hopkins WAS a great fighter but is past his prime and please don't bring up the Tarver win. He showed in his two straight losses to Taylor that if you make him fight and keep him from holding he can't go 12 full rounds anymore. Fighting Tarver he was fighting a shot fighter anyway whose only claim to fame was beating another shot fighter named Jones. Fighters like Hopkins and Dela Hoya are making a new carreer out of almost winning fights well after they should be retired. Hopkins will be out pointed and in the later rounds will get dirty in desperation. While anything can happen in a boxing match this one on paper is an easy fight to pick. Quite frankly if it costs to watch it I wouldn't pay a dime!!! Calzaghe while no spring chicken himself has shown he can still go 12 full rounds and against harder punchers than Hopkins and out box them easilly and thats what your gonna see here, 12 round wide unamious decision for Calzaghe with Hopkins claiming he was robbed in the end. Fans picking Hopkins are the same fans who continue to pick Dela Hoya, they simply can't disconnect there heart from ther brain

[majestiC]

Come On!! This fight is so easy to figure the outcome. Hopkins will lose a decision by a wide margin. Those picking Hopkins, take off your rose colored glasses your embarrassing yourselves. Hopkins WAS a great fighter but is past his prime and please don't bring up the Tarver win. He showed in his two straight losses to Taylor that if you make him fight and keep him from holding he can't go 12 full rounds anymore. Fighting Tarver he was fighting a shot fighter anyway whose only claim to fame was beating another shot fighter named Jones. Fighters like Hopkins and Dela Hoya are making a new carreer out of almost winning fights well after they should be retired. Hopkins will be out pointed and in the later rounds will get dirty in desperation. While anything can happen in a boxing match this one on paper is an easy fight to pick. Quite frankly if it costs to watch it I wouldn't pay a dime!!! Calzaghe while no spring chicken himself has shown he can still go 12 full rounds and against harder punchers than Hopkins and out box them easilly and thats what your gonna see here, 12 round wide unamious decision for Calzaghe with Hopkins claiming he was robbed in the end. Fans picking Hopkins are the same fans who continue to pick Dela Hoya, they simply can't disconnect there heart from ther brain

pretty much how i have it!