Hopkins tactics against Calzaghe

[CardioMonster]

Does anyone have a really good description of what they expect Hopkins to do against Calzaghe from a technical stand point?

What tactics is Hopkins going to employ to win this fight?

I know all the BS about Hopkins fouling which i think is slightly overplayed by people like me. But I`m interested in real boxing fans' opinions of how this can play out in Hopkins' favour, not just because of what type of guy he is or because he's your local fighter, but what he is going to do when the bell rings and why it will be successful enough for him to win.

Assume fair judging, no fouls from either side and 100% from both guys.

[215Chaingang]

i think he going to fight off the back foot for the first couple of rounds counter punching. giving joe a false sense of comfort. then go on the inside in the middle rounds and stay in his chest to take away the range. after that he will probaly mix it up

[Orange Sneakers]

I think he's going to get Calzaghe on the inside. Everyone seems to think Calzaghe is an inside fighter - heck, Calzaghe seems to think he's an inside fighter. He's not. He actually does (and always has done) the vast majority of his work from the outside. Bernard will stand off, but rarely back off, and use lateral lower body movement when he has to and lateral upper body movement when he has to, to get him on the inside range.

Calzaghe (and everyone else) is expecting lead right hands all night, with Hopkins ducking in with his head. So, Bernard will be ****** to do that. He won't.

Look for hooks and uppercuts to the head and body from Bernard Hopkins, and a lot of lateral movement to reduce Joe's output, where Lacy was too slow and Kessler was too stiff.

[Orange Sneakers]

I'm actually expecting a war. Calzaghe is sitting on his punches a lot in sparring and hitting hard. Hopkins I'm sure will be trying to get him on the inside with hard shots.

I'm honestly expecting a suprising, bruising war.

[-Hyperion-]

no way bernard wins without fouling or bad judging simple as that...

[xfiles]

Hopkins is going to do three things that win him this fight easy. Hammer Joe with right hands from the outside. Not be there for the return flurries and out muscle Calzaghe when he gets inside. You will not see Hopkins covering up and waiting for Joe to stop punching like all of his opponents have so far.

[squealpiggy]

Hopkins is going to do three things that win him this fight easy. Hammer Joe with right hands from the outside. Not be there for the return flurries and out muscle Calzaghe when he gets inside. You will not see Hopkins covering up and waiting for Joe to stop punching like all of his opponents have so far.

I've said this before but the way Hopkins punches Calzaghe is in for a long night. Why at five punches per round Calzaghe could potentially be hit by up to 60 punches!

[215Chaingang]

no way bernard wins without fouling or bad judging simple as that...

stop hating cause he beat your dude twinkie

[215Chaingang]

I've said this before but the way Hopkins punches Calzaghe is in for a long night. Why at five punches per round Calzaghe could potentially be hit by up to 60 punches!

how bout you check the stats from the tarver and winky fight

[βetamax]

I agree with most of what has been said. Joe's comfort zone seems to be when a opponent just stands in front him...he'll drop his hands, throw punches from all kinds of wild angles, let off flurries, etc. Hopkins won't stand in front, instead he'll be moving around all night. He'll try to frustrate Joe by making his lunge in and look to counter. I also expect Hopkins to look for openings for the lead straight right and whether it lands or not he'll look to take the fight inside where I think he'll outwork Calzaghe. Like Hopkins said, "he'll be the bull and I'll be the matador".

I'm sure Calzaghe is expecting this as well so I'd also expect him to have his own plan for dealing with Hopkins tactics. Though Enzo has stated they don't want to give Hopkins anytime to even think, basically to overwhelm him which I think would be a mistake.