I'm surprised there's anything left of Hopkins and Calzaghe

[abadger]

This fight has picked apart in excruciating detail on this forum, with the consensus seeming to swing back and forth almost at random.

First of all Calzaghe was a heavy favourite, then people started wondering aloud whether Hopkins roughhouse tactics might be too much for him. Next came another swing back to Calzaghe, with a backlash against Hopkins age.

Since then every aspect of each of the fighters games has at various times taken on the status of unbeatable weapon. Joe's handspeed, Bernard's counter right, culminating today in an analysis of Bernard's devastating footwork!

It's too much! The analysis of this fight requires only one thing:

"Plain and basic common sense"

Bernard Hopkins is 43 years old and is demonstrably no longer the fighter he used to be.

Joe Calzaghe has looked better with each of his recent performances and is younger, stronger and faster.

Everything points to a Joe Calzaghe win.

That is all.
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Find Dispensary

[DiegoFuego]

I mean I don't care about this fight AT ALL just because of the matchup. I don't think it will be exciting and I don't think either guy is going to come close to getting hurt or stopped. Would love to be proved wrong of course.

It's a fight that's really 6 years too late. It's big for Calzaghe (but ALL of his fights are now that he wants to retire with only one good win on his resume), but not Hopkins. I just hope Hopkins treats it like his last whether it is or not and actually fights.

I've never picked against Hopkins other than the Taylor fights, but I am strongly leaning towards Joe in this one simply because Hop has to eventually get old, right? If not now, WHEN?!?!?!?!

[DiegoFuego]

Even the racist stuff isn't getting me interested. I'll end up watching like always, but if this was PPV I wouldn't even go to a bar to catch it.

[ИATAS]

Pfffffffffft, plenty left!! I don't think anyone's made thread comparing their shoe sizes yet or how many chest/back hairs they have.

**leaves to make new threads**

[xfiles]

This fight has picked apart in excruciating detail on this forum, with the consensus seeming to swing back and forth almost at random.

First of all Calzaghe was a heavy favourite, then people started wondering aloud whether Hopkins roughhouse tactics might be too much for him. Next came another swing back to Calzaghe, with a backlash against Hopkins age.

Since then every aspect of each of the fighters games has at various times taken on the status of unbeatable weapon. Joe's handspeed, Bernard's counter right, culminating today in an analysis of Bernard's devastating footwork!

It's too much! The analysis of this fight requires only one thing:

"Plain and basic common sense"

Bernard Hopkins is 43 years old and is demonstrably no longer the fighter he used to be.

Joe Calzaghe has looked better with each of his recent performances and is younger, stronger and faster.

Everything points to a Joe Calzaghe win.

That is all.

That's it abadger, Keep building up those points for me!

[abadger]

That's it abadger, Keep building up those points for me!

Haha. You are my nemesis. I was thinking of saying the same thing to you. May the best man win!
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SILVERSURFER VAPORIZER

[Kilrain]

Demonstrably no longer the fighter he used to be? Hmm. Demonstrate.

Sure, he was more active several years ago, but his style has changed more than his skills have declined; that's clever. Case in point: his win over Glen Johnson several years ago (can't even remember when that was, 97?) was a 12 round massacre where Hopkins threw bundles of punches every round (not unlike Calzaghe incidentally), whereas in the Tarver fight he threw less, but was no less effective. That's called preservation. Keeping one eye on father time.

Hopkins proves age is only a number. He still gets up every morning to run, sleeps early, never lets his weight stray north, eats healthily and maintains focus. For some fighters, who rely on handspeed or power, age can be a problem because both of those things diminish somewhat over time (power less so), and stamina also deteriorates to a degree. Hopkins throws less punches nowadays, but he's always been very selective in that area anyway, he just used to prefer going forward all night.

Hopkins to win

[Kilrain]

Demonstrably no longer the fighter he used to be? Hmm. Demonstrate.

Sure, he was more active several years ago, but his style has changed more than his skills have declined; that's clever. Case in point: his win over Glen Johnson several years ago (can't even remember when that was, 97?) was a 12 round massacre where Hopkins threw bundles of punches every round (not unlike Calzaghe incidentally), whereas in the Tarver fight he threw less, but was no less effective. That's called preservation. Keeping one eye on father time.

Hopkins proves age is only a number. He still gets up every morning to run, sleeps early, never lets his weight stray north, eats healthily and maintains focus. For some fighters, who rely on handspeed or power, age can be a problem because both of those things diminish somewhat over time (power less so), and stamina also deteriorates to a degree. Hopkins throws less punches nowadays, but he's always been very selective in that area anyway, he just used to prefer going forward all night.

Hopkins to win

[Moon]

Demonstrably no longer the fighter he used to be? Hmm. Demonstrate.

Sure, he was more active several years ago, but his style has changed more than his skills have declined; that's clever. Case in point: his win over Glen Johnson several years ago (can't even remember when that was, 97?) was a 12 round massacre where Hopkins threw bundles of punches every round (not unlike Calzaghe incidentally), whereas in the Tarver fight he threw less, but was no less effective. That's called preservation. Keeping one eye on father time.

Hopkins to win

Hops might actually land much cleaner and more effective punches, but it's Calzaghe's volume of lesser quality stuff that will beat Hops on all cards.

Hops could afford to be economical against Tarver, who's getting sleepier and slower with every fight, but Zaghe aint Tarver. And, there's no way Hops can repeat his Glen Johnson performance, because it's just not in him, but it's exactly that performance he needs to beat Zaghe.

[Kilrain]

Winky's volume didn't win it for him. And he was very much busier than Hopkins throughout that fight.

Also, I really dont think Joe's gonna land as many punches as usual. He's fighting the best fighter of his career. A guy who hits and doesn't get hit. A guy who knows how to judge the distance of a punch and use the ropes. He's the complete article. Calzaghe will be busier, but the more important, meaningful punches will be landed by Bernard, especially I think coming off the ropes and out of clinches.