Hopkins vs Calzaghe Educated Discussion Thread

[-CANE-]

I want to hear from you as to who will win this fight and why will they win.

Both are at the tail end of their career, both are extremely well conditioned by vastly different training methods. Both still feel they have something to prove, B-Hop the best middleweight over the last 10 years and reigning light heavyweight champion versus Joe Calzaghe the best supermiddleweight argueably of all time and stepping up to light heavyweight and more importantly fighting in america for the first time. Both are pure class in the ring and I see this being a very close fight. They both pose difficulties for the other and both are very clever and can adapt to a situation and turn a fight.

IMO one of the biggest factors is who controls the pace of the fight, if Bernard manages to make Calzaghe stop and think and reduce his workrate then he wins if not Joe will outwork him, either way it will be a close decision.

Your thoughts please.

[Nacho_Analstain]

calzaghe

For calzaghe to win he needs to do what he says hes going to do, keep the fight in the center of the ring and keep a high punch output, not let hopkins get into his comfort zone and build confidence in the ring, calzaghe needs to make the ring HIS ring and be extremely smart.

Couple of things to think about:
Joe has never fought in the USA
Joe has never fought at light heavyweight

hopkins

For hopkins to win he needs to rough calzaghe up, jump inside and land short hooks and uppercuts to the body and head, give calzaghe no range, calzaghe likes to jab then jump in with combinations and shift to the side, hopkins has to either counter the jab, or move with calzaghe not allowing the space and range were calzaghe is most comfortable.

Couple of things to think about:
Hopkins is 43 years old
Hopkins seems to have failed at getting into joes head
Hopkins has picked his team very carefully, possibly has some doubt in his mind

[-CANE-]

calzaghe

For calzaghe to win he needs to do what he says hes going to do, keep the fight in the center of the ring and keep a high punch output, not let hopkins get into his comfort zone and build confidence in the ring, calzaghe needs to make the ring HIS ring and be extremely smart.

Couple of things to think about:
Joe has never fought in the USA
Joe has never fought at light heavyweight

hopkins

For hopkins to win he needs to rough calzaghe up, jump inside and land short hooks and uppercuts to the body and head, give calzaghe no range, calzaghe likes to jab then jump in with combinations and shift to the side, hopkins has to either counter the jab, or move with calzaghe not allowing the space and range were calzaghe is most comfortable.

Couple of things to think about:
Hopkins is 43 years old
Hopkins seems to have failed at getting into joes head
Hopkins has picked his team very carefully, possibly has some doubt in his mind

Not a bad assesment Azza, I think Hopkins is gonna have to pick his shots carefully and not try to match Joe punch for punch. But there will be a fine line between not doing enough and doing to much. If he doesn't do enough work early he will start to fall behind on the points and if he does too much then he could blow himself out for the later rounds. The first half of the fight will be crucial for Hopkins and if he can land the right hand enough as Joe comes in throwing his combos then he has enough power to earn Joe's respect and make Joe think a little.

[thegreatone1]

I think Hopkins will run and try to get Calzaghe falling short with his shots and use his right hand. And it will work until calzaghe adapts then Hopkins will trench it and find that Calzaghe is also far better on the inside than anyone he has faced.

If Calzaghe turns up at 100% i find it very hard to see a way for Hopkins to win Joe is just to fast and to busy. And remember in two fighter against Jermain Taylor he failed to take his heart or adapt to being the aggressor.

[-CANE-]

I think Hopkins will run and try to get Calzaghe falling short with his shots and use his right hand. And it will work until calzaghe adapts then Hopkins will trench it and find that Calzaghe is also far better on the inside than anyone he has faced.

If Calzaghe turns up at 100% i find it very hard to see a way for Hopkins to win Joe is just to fast and to busy. And remember in two fighter against Jermain Taylor he failed to take his heart or adapt to being the aggressor.

According to Roach the plan is to take it to the centre of the ring, which suggest he won't run, this could all be mind games though.

[Ryn0]

i got 20k on calzaghe to win? anyone wanna bet?

[T-97]

I, to be honest, do not know anymore.

I instantly thought Joe would win becuase he has a very high workrate so would outwork Bernard and that his great chin would mean Bernards counters would not hurt him.

Now though, i re-watched some Hopkins fights and the media workouts, and it seems Hopkins is practicing falling forward after his shots. He would hit then move forward quickly (he has very good footwork) as if to smother Joe and stop his workrate.

I just don't know, but i lean towards a Decision for Joe Calzaghe...My points don't seem safe to me anymore..

[ßringer]

calzaghe

For calzaghe to win he needs to do what he says hes going to do, keep the fight in the center of the ring and keep a high punch output, not let hopkins get into his comfort zone and build confidence in the ring, calzaghe needs to make the ring HIS ring and be extremely smart.

Couple of things to think about:
Joe has never fought in the USA
Joe has never fought at light heavyweight

hopkins

For hopkins to win he needs to rough calzaghe up, jump inside and land short hooks and uppercuts to the body and head, give calzaghe no range, calzaghe likes to jab then jump in with combinations and shift to the side, hopkins has to either counter the jab, or move with calzaghe not allowing the space and range were calzaghe is most comfortable.

Couple of things to think about:
Hopkins is 43 years old
Hopkins seems to have failed at getting into joes head
Hopkins has picked his team very carefully, possibly has some doubt in his mind

This is supposed to be educated discussion, not opinion. You can't say if 'Nard got into Joe's head or not, because nobody knows if he has. As for him picking his team, it's the same team he's had since the Tarver fight, only with Roach as head trainer since Naazim's stroke.

[abadger]

I made my own thread about this a while back, my first post sums up my opinions:

http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172426

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TIGER BLOOD

[majestiC]

Im getting worried for Joe, he said hes going to sit on his punches more which can only mean one thing... Joe won't be able to get away with boxing with one hand like he did vs Reid & Ashria. Hopefully this doesnt happen but it's a possibility. Benard will have to throw a hell of alot of uppercuts and right hands if he wants to slow Joe down. But even when Calzaghe's workrate is down he is still an awesome boxer who can counter all day long. At times I think Benard will be overwhelmed but will land a huge shot just to keep Calzaghe thinking, my prediction is Calzaghe to win 8 of the 12 rounds.