Calzaghe vs Hopkins = Calzaghe vs Eubank

[.Mik.]

Now, before anyone starts complaining about Eubank being 'nowhere near Hopkin's level', thats not really what this thread is about.

I was thinking about it and I see some parallels between these two fights, particularly in how I think that they are going to play out.

Both Hopkins and Eubank are skilled, wily and highly intelligent fighters. They both have chins so rock that I cant see Calzaghe finishing off Hopkins anymore than he did Eubank. Similarly, Eubank faced Calzaghe in the twilight of his career when his stock was fading, like Hopkins, however they both had enough left in their tank to be able to cause Calzaghe trouble.

I see a similar result in both. Calzaghe being the harder worker, his youth, speed and work-rate being the deciding factor in a wide unanimous decision to Calzaghe, but not without the slick wily counter-puncher rocking Calzaghe from time to time and causing him a bit of trouble.

With that said, I think that Calzaghe is by far a better fighter than he was against Eubank, so although I see him having to dig deep in this fight like he did in that, I dont see him being in as much trouble against Hopkins as he was against Eubank. I also tend to think that Eubank had a little more left in him than Hopkins does. I think that its fair to say that one way or the other, Hopkins knows that this is most likely his last fight.

[Dynamite Kid]

Now, before anyone starts complaining about Eubank being 'nowhere near Hopkin's level', thats not really what this thread is about.

I was thinking about it and I see some parallels between these two fights, particularly in how I think that they are going to play out.

Both Hopkins and Eubank are skilled, wily and highly intelligent fighters. They both have chins so rock that I cant see Calzaghe finishing off Hopkins anymore than he did Eubank. Similarly, Eubank faced Calzaghe in the twilight of his career when his stock was fading, like Hopkins, however they both had enough left in their tank to be able to cause Calzaghe trouble.

I see a similar result in both. Calzaghe being the harder worker, his youth, speed and work-rate being the deciding factor in a wide unanimous decision to Calzaghe, but not without the slick wily counter-puncher rocking Calzaghe from time to time and causing him a bit of trouble.

With that said, I think that Calzaghe is by far a better fighter than he was against Eubank, so although I see him having to dig deep in this fight like he did in that, I dont see him being in as much trouble against Hopkins as he was against Eubank. I also tend to think that Eubank had a little more left in him than Hopkins does. I think that its fair to say that one way or the other, Hopkins knows that this is most likely his last fight.

u cant not compare Hopkins & Eubank when u make a post like that

Eubank was'nt the same type of fighter as Hopkins cause Hopkins is technically superior to Eubank ,Hopkins does'nt throw punches and leave himself of balance the way Eubank does and did against Calzaghe he gave Calzaghe the perfect opurtunity to capatalise on his bad balance & technique

Hopkins punches are much more compact than Eubank ,and Hopkins has a better defence than Eubank aswell ,u are right that Eubank probably did have more left when he fought Zag though

BTW the only similarities i see with Eubank & Hopkins is niether of them like fighting at a pace and both are counter punchers

[sparked_85]

I think that Eubank is at least as tough as proposition as this Hopkins if not more.

Eubank was scary if you hurt him.

[.Mik.]

u cant not compare Hopkins & Eubank when u make a post like that

I wasnt. I said as much in the first sentence of my post.

I'm comparing the two fights, and the situations.

[Jolly Roger]

Eubank didn't have bad balance and technique ffs. Eubank was ALOT more willing than Hopkins to go to war though, this fight will play out very differently.

[Orange Sneakers]

Everyone watched that Naz and Eubank comeback PPV. Nobody will buy Setanta for this fight, not many casual fans know who Hopkins is.

The fight itself won't be similar because Eubank and Calzaghe went to all-out warfare for 12 rounds. Calzaghe didn't look like a ***** trying to fight his way out of spider webs back then, and Eubank took the fight on a weeks notice or something and had to lose 20lbs so just threw everything he could and hoped for the best. Hopkins has that old man metabolism that is mind-numbing, and only ever throws a right hand.

Neither are quite in Eubank's skill bracket. He had a much better jab and better foot movement than either, a better sneak right hand than Hopkins and flashier flurries than Calzaghe, better mastery of range than Hopkins and better reflexes than Calzaghe, much better punch variety than Hopkins and much better punch technique than Calzaghe.

[Orange Sneakers]

The boxing system had been trying to freeze Eubank out for three years anyway, but to little avail due to Eubank's relations with the general public and TV companies.

This Calzaghe-Hopkins is obviously a much bigger fight in the boxing world.

[Orange Sneakers]

Eubank didn't have bad balance and technique ffs. Eubank was ALOT more willing than Hopkins to go to war though, this fight will play out very differently.

Textbook-wise he had bad balance on the front foot and threw a lot of his punches from out of range. But this is actually skilful in my book because he had the ability/reflexes to get his chin out of harms way after landing from out of range, unless a fighter came at him in which case he'd pick them off with flashy shots. He could never really get to grips with southpaws, though.

[Dynamite Kid]

Eubank didn't have bad balance and technique ffs. Eubank was ALOT more willing than Hopkins to go to war though, this fight will play out very differently.

Eubank did'nt have bad balance & Technique

take a look how Calzaghe schooled him and made him pay everytime he lunged in ,there is a point in the Calzaghe fight where Eubank walks foward throwing 3/4 punches & Calzaghe steps back and wacks him round the head with a left hook and makes Eubank look like a right jackass his technique & balance was terrible especially when coming foward

Hopkins aint gonna leave himself open for Counters the way Eubank did cause he is technically superior and an allround better fighter IMO

[.Mik.]

Everyone watched that Naz and Eubank comeback PPV. Nobody will buy Setanta for this fight, not many casual fans know who Hopkins is.

The fight itself won't be similar because Eubank and Calzaghe went to all-out warfare for 12 rounds. Calzaghe didn't look like a ***** trying to fight his way out of spider webs back then, and Eubank took the fight on a weeks notice or something and had to lose 20lbs so just threw everything he could and hoped for the best. Hopkins has that old man metabolism that is mind-numbing, and only ever throws a right hand.

Neither are quite in Eubank's skill bracket. He had a much better jab and much better foot movement than either, a better sneak right hand than Hopkins and flashier flurries than Calzaghe, better mastery of range than Hopkins and better reflexes than Calzaghe, much better punch variety than Hopkins and much better punch technique than Calzaghe.

Its a ****ing wonder Eubank ever lost in his career when he was so blatantly better than two of the all-time bests around his weight range.