Actual Basis For Picking A Winner: Hopkins vs. Calzaghe?

[Addison]

No argument can be made for Calzaghe having better footwork.

Amen-Ra.

[Addison]

Winky was on the Krispy Kreme diet, fighting at 170 really didn't suit him. Calzaghe will benefit from the weight gain as well I think. Calzaghe's punching power is good as well so we'll see how Hopkins reacts after he gets hit with Calzaghe's first power shot. Will he get overly defensive or will he open up a bit more?

As Njord said, Calzaghe has to be a little more careful with his shots, don't get wild, but stay active and I think he could beat Hopkins. Hopkins always manages to surprise me though.

Call me crazy but the fight that makes me least confident in Joe is the Bika fight. Mentally he did not look as solid as I'd like. Sakio made it a tough fight- most pass it off as Calzaghe having looked past him- but when Joe was unable to have his way easily, like people predicted, he began to get very frustrated and began clowning around like crazy. He was sticking out his tongue, doing a little shuffle, wind-milling his arms- not because he was kicking ass, but because he was flustered. He needs to be more focused than that against Bernard.

Oh, I agree. This is the hardest fight (on paper) Hopkins has had since RJJ.

I don't expect any fighter to embarass or outclass the other. Don't think it will come down to who is the better fighter in the essence of this word either.

I think it boils down to who's the better prepared for what the other brings to the table.

Unless, of course, Hopkins has become a grand-daddy since his last outing.

Id say age is the biggest factor

If Calzaghe is more active he will win ,im not advocating trying to walk Hopkins down and **** away im talking about Boxing sensibly behind the Jab and throwing more punches than Hopkins

one thing is for sure Hopkins will not chase the fight if he falls behind ,he let Jermain Taylor take his titles and showed no urgency in either fight to stop Taylor ,Taylor is'nt exactly the most active fighter in the world either

Larry Merchant had it right when he said "Hopkins used to be a tiger on the prowl, but is now a lion waiting in the weeds "

I enjoy reading brilliant insight, and good common logic like this as much if not more than the articles of our best Boxing writers. This is our work.

[Addison]

And just how the hell can you compare Calzaghe to Wright? Jeez man, Joe is in another league!

Calzaghe wins because he is just better all-round. Bernard Hopkins is deluded if he thinks he will beat Calzaghe.



Wow. Did Joe tell you his gameplan or something? How nice of him to let a random dude on a forum know exactly what he's gonna do!

HaHA.. You're starting to scare me here, my man. Regarding the second post you are as much aware of the dynamic between myself and Tyson, as I am Calzaghe's specific gameplan.

[Addison]

Call me crazy but the fight that makes me least confident in Joe is the Bika fight. Mentally he did not look as solid as I'd like. Sakio made it a tough fight- most pass it off as Calzaghe having looked past him- but when Joe was unable to have his way easily, like people predicted, he began to get very frustrated and began clowning around like crazy. He was sticking out his tongue, doing a little shuffle, wind-milling his arms- not because he was kicking ass, but because he was flustered. He needs to be more focused than that against Bernard.

The Bika fight also exposed how much Joe's tactics and methods are a pre-rehearsed series of jukes and jives. Once Joe commits to an action he's not particularly capable of making a last minute correction. Bika tends to stand still when other fighters will move, and he moves when other fighters stand still. Calzaghe was lost in space.

Bika is just plain weird as a fighter. Joe didn't know what to make of him.

[Mr. Ryan]

I like Hopkins' business sense. There is a reason he prefers to fight southpaws; Generally he beats them up pretty bad. Hopkins is handpicking his opponents at this stage of his career, with Tarver and Wright both being southpaws in his two previous fights. Calzaghe has considerably more in the tank then those two, so to write this off as in the bag is premature.

One thing that I think will come into play is experience, primarily in fighting on American soil. Fighting on foreign soil against someone who is doing everything he can to rattle him will tell. It's about decision making and composure, and Hopkins is employing every trick in the book to gain a psychological advantage.

It's going to be a closely contested affair, but I'd go with Hopkins harder, cleaner blows over Calzaghe's volume. At this level, every little detail affects the outcome. Hopkins knows that better than anyone in the game.

[CardioMonster]

if hopkins wins by fair means, i will chop my nuts off

[DiegoFuego]

Hopkins is in a wheelchair. But I still might pick him

[Addison]

Props to the guys who show their skills. Demonstrating a technical knowledge of the sport and the fighters is not for everyone.

[Orion]

I chose ring intellegince, Hopkins is the best at that and knows all the little things, Calzaghe knows **** he just goes in there and trys to outspeed you with worthless punches.

[Silencers]

I chose ring intellegince, Hopkins is the best at that and knows all the little things, Calzaghe knows **** he just goes in there and trys to outspeed you with worthless punches.

Not true, Calzaghe is a very smart fighter, not as smart as Hopkins but he's smart, there's method to his madness.