Your Official Standpoint on Calzaghe vs Hopkins

[abadger]

OK, What do I have to do?

Click user cp at top forum screen, choose edit signature on next page. Voila.
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Pregnant video

[xfiles]

Ok that's what I did. Gotta go, my pain in the ass kid wants the computer.

[warp1432]

Not only old but small

How was Winky "old"? Sure he was 35, but he really hadn't slowed down in the Quartey fight. What basis do you have that he was old? That he looked slow against Bernard? Every fighter looks slow against Bernard .

Even Taylor wasn't blazing fast. If it looks like his "legs were gone" that's because he was in a really rough fight that takes a lot out of you.

Also Winky may have been small, but Hopkins had to meet him at a catchweight of 170. Winky, who hadn't been at 154 since 2004, had to come up 10 pounds, not the full 15 like Bernard did for Tarver.

That and all this and Winky was #3 p4p at the time, and Bernard was 42. Not to mention Winky's style is really frustruating to fight.

That is a huge win for Hopkins.

[TheGreatA]

How was Winky "old"? Sure he was 35, but he really hadn't slowed down in the Quartey fight. What basis do you have that he was old? That he looked slow against Bernard? Every fighter looks slow against Bernard .

Even Taylor wasn't blazing fast. If it looks like his "legs were gone" that's because he was in a really rough fight that takes a lot out of you.

Also Winky may have been small, but Hopkins had to meet him at a catchweight of 170. Winky, who hadn't been at 154 since 2004, had to come up 10 pounds, not the full 15 like Bernard did for Tarver.

That and all this and Winky was #3 p4p at the time, and Bernard was 42. Not to mention Winky's style is really frustruating to fight.

That is a huge win for Hopkins.

I don't see it as a huge win for Hopkins. A good win but not a huge win.

Winky is still competitive at age 35-36 but he is not nearly as good as he was during his run at LMW when he was younger and fought at his natural weight.
That's the weightclass where he was truly a top p4p fighter, the fact that he could compete at higher weights just adds to his greatness.

Hopkins always had the frame of a light heavyweight (6'1), Wright can only compete at his best as a LMW/MW (5'10) (especially LMW).




Wright vs Hopkins


Wright vs Mosley

I don't think the fight was that dominant either, some people thought Winky Wright won (not saying I did). Not the kind of a performance that makes me think he could dominate Calzaghe.

[Mr. Philadel]

Calzaghe will come out in round 1 with no respect for Hopkin's power until he's introduced to a counter right hand that will floor him! Joe will get back up and fight like the champ he is! Later on he'll get cut from a punch or butt and have to fight with a bloody face most of the way! I say it'll be the 11th round when Hopkins will get pulled off of Joe or Enzo will throw that towel in and save his son! Joe will get commended for a villiant effort and blame the cuts for his loss! So Hopkins will knock him down early, then out late! Joe will want a Rematch in the UK and use the cuts to promote it!

Hopkins by late stoppage!! I got another k on it!

[CardioMonster]

Calzaghe performs best against offensive fighters who come forward, he never really looks that comfortable as the aggressor. Calzaghe likes to box and then pick his moments to go toe to toe without regard for his safety. He can get away with this because he has one of the best chins ive seen from 160 to 175. A known killer puncher like Kessler nailed him with 3 or 4 ful blooded uppercuts that would have knocked out most other fighters at 168 but calzaghe took them.

I think Hopkins game plan will be to slow the fight down and try and make Calzaghe think before he throws shots. If Hopkins can get Calzaghe to fight at his pace, he will be able to win the fight.

I dont think he will be able to do this, Calzaghe will stand off him, peppering him with jabs, double jab left hand , double jab left hand over and over.

Hopkins will have to try and force the fight late on, and in my opinion will get stopped in the late rounds. at 43 years old, his legs and feet wont be able to do the things that his mind is telling them to do. I think he gets hit alot in this fight and the referee waves it off.

[Verstyle]

Hopkins by split decision...........

[FRKO]

We should keep arguments out of this thread. It just means less bull**** to wade through later on. If people can do this, it's be easier for all of us.

My prediction: Calzaghe UD

It's too difficult to say how it will go. For all I know, Calzaghe could win every round -- I would never be so foolish to underestimate Calzaghe -- or he could just squeeze out a razor thin decision. It's too hard to predict.

On the other hand, I would never count Bernard out, he deserves more credit than that. He has a slim chance of winning but I think it's not too likely. He can't out-box Calzaghe. He won't KO him because a) he doesn't have the power, and b) Joe's chin is ridiculously tough. To be honest, the only way I can see Bernard winning is by using dirty, illegal tactics to gain an advantage like he did over Winky Wright (and Taylor, but he wasn't as successful because Taylor only got cut on his head). If this happens, I will absolutely lose all the respect I have for Bernard, 100%. I believe a truely great boxer should win on truely great skills, not cheating.

Finally, although it's extremely unlikely, I wouldn't say stoppage by Joe is totally of the question. Bernard will be surprised by Joe's power because he thinks he slaps. Wrong. The only problem here is that Joe risks damaging his hands when he hits hard. I consider Joe to be a fighter with a huge amount of heart and guts, though, and bernard will try to hurt him. As ****** as it may sound, hurting Joe is not wise because it forces him into top gear. To get an idea of what I'm saying, see round 2 of the Byron Mitchell fight.

Calzaghe wants to win this fight more than any other fight he's had before. After all, he's been thinking about it for at least 10 years. Had this fight happened when it was supposed to (2002 when Bernard backed out at the last minute), I would have given Bernard a bigger chance. The fact that he's left it until now is a bad thing because Bernard hasn't gotten any better, he just aged more.

This is only just my opinion. I have been wrong before, and I am prepared to give either fighter good credit for the win.

[warp1432]

I don't see it as a huge win for Hopkins. A good win but not a huge win.

Winky is still competitive at age 35-36 but he is not nearly as good as he was during his run at LMW when he was younger and fought at his natural weight.
That's the weightclass where he was truly a top p4p fighter, the fact that he could compete at higher weights just adds to his greatness.

Hopkins always had the frame of a light heavyweight (6'1), Wright can only compete at his best as a LMW/MW (5'10) (especially LMW).



I don't think the fight was that dominant either, some people thought Winky Wright won.

It wasn't dominant, but to me it was still a clear Hopkins wins.

And what made him great at 154? His wins over Mosley right? Of course they did, but I could easily say they ****** because Mosley's best weight class was Lightweight. I'm not going because Winky is a great fighter and it shows.

We don't necessarily know if Winky can compete at 168 because Hopkins is such a difficult fighter to fight, as is Winky. And people thought Taylor beat Pavlik the second time, but it doesn't mean they are always right.

[Jim Jeffries]

Depends on what the fight looks like. If one guy gets away with fouls too numerous to count, and is given a gift decision, it means nothing either way. If a win is earned, credit should be given to which ever fighter earns that win.