Expect to see a physically "big" Bernard Hopkins against Calzaghe

[ElGranLuchador]

calzaghe is gonna get a lot bigger as well
in my oppinion the weight favors hopkins but just slightly

[ИATAS]

Also, after re-reading your original nonsensical post, it has occured to me you know absolutely NOTHING about Joe Calzaghe. When hurt, Joe ups the workrate and sits down on his shots more to fight through the rough patch. Hurting Joe is the last thing Hopkins wants to do.....

Hey dip****, did I ever say anything about Calzaghe or did I only speak about what Hopkins gameplan will be?

And this isn't something I just pulled out of my ass, read hopkins recent interview in the ring and other places where he emphasizes on slowing down Joe's high work-rate by effective counter punching and hurting him. Seems pretty logical if that's his plan power training. If you have a problem with that you sensitive little ***** talk **** about hopkins not me.

[FRKO]

Hopkins definitely looked bigger against Tarver when he had Shilstone, who he now has again. I think it's possible he may show up like he did in that fight since he wants to rough up Joe with counter rights and general inside roughing.

He won't be able to rough Joe up. Joe is naturally around 196 lbs, he's a big guy and can give as good as he gets when it comes to inside fighting. Cortez might have something to say about Bernard trying to rough Joe up anyway.

[βetamax]

He won't be able to rough Joe up. Joe is naturally around 196 lbs, he's a big guy and can give as good as he gets when it comes to inside fighting. Cortez might have something to say about Bernard trying to rough Joe up anyway.

I haven't seen the Bika fight in a while but I recall him roughing up Joe with Bernard-like tactics inside. He looked like a poor man's Hopkins so I'd imagine Hopkins having better success.

[FRKO]

I haven't seen the Bika fight in a while but I recall him roughing up Joe with Bernard-like tactics inside. He looked like a poor man's Hopkins so I'd imagine Hopkins having better success.

Cortez won't stand for it.

[Jolly Roger]

Obviously, his fight against Winky was at a catch weight and lower then what he fought against Tarver at so that also had something to do with the physical difference, but more so I think the strategy was to physically hurt Tarver, whereas against Winky, he knew he couldn't hurt him so it was more of a tactical approach and strong emphasis on conditioning training rather than power training.

Against Calzaghe, he knows Joe is faster and has a higher workrate. He knows that even if he trains hard in these areas, Joe will still have the advantage. So his game plan will be to work on power and counter punching. He will try to hurt/stun Joe around the mid rounds, just like against Tarver, which in theory will slow down Joe's workrate and make him more cautious.

Thoughts?

If this is his game plan then he is taking a big risk and could very well be ****ed IMO. He can't bank on hurting Joe, and there is little chance of Calzaghe fighting cautiously, when he IS hurt he just ups the tempo even more.

[Mugwump]

I don't think there'll be much difference in size come fight night. Strength is a different matter. I'm not sure who'll have the advantage there. Before the fight against Lacy I would have laid money on Joe finding it hard to gain a physical advantage, and yet he threw Lacy around - very easily - all night.

Against Bernard - I don't know. It's one of the imponderables which make this fight interesting.

[Jolly Roger]

I haven't seen the Bika fight in a while but I recall him roughing up Joe with Bernard-like tactics inside. He looked like a poor man's Hopkins so I'd imagine Hopkins having better success.

I don't really think the Bika fight is a great example. In that fight Joe had no respect for Bika and fought with his hands down, he was very complacent. And even then he handled Sakio pretty easily and scored a wide UD. I expect Joe to treat this fight very differently.

[RisAri0]

Bernard has the ability of making it look like his opponent is holding him so that way Bernard can hit him, since a fighter isn't allowed to hit while holding...it'll be interesting to see both men fight in the clinches...u have 1 that can quickly punch his way out of the clinches in Joe while Bernard knows how to stay in the clinch by lowering his head sticking it to his opponent's chest as he pounds away....when it comes to in-fighting the edge goes to B-Hop...but when it comes to fighting off a clinch, Joe wins that department...april 19 looks very interesting

[sparked_85]

If this is his game plan then he is taking a big risk and could very well be ****ed IMO. He can't bank on hurting Joe, and there is little chance of Calzaghe fighting cautiously, when he IS hurt he just ups the tempo even more.

This is it essentially. Anyone who has watched Calzaghe knows that when he gets hurt everything goes up, workrate and he sits down on all his punches.

Personally I think you need to knock Joe the **** out to win.

Your not going to slow his workrate down by hurting him. Joe has the biggest heart in boxing.