How confident are you on your pick?

[TommyGunn.]

Good post, TG. I won't devalue your argument, it's most excellent considering. You know of course that there are some arguments that could be made, but I come here for the sake of this sort of debate. Hope you stick around, fella.

Will do Addisson and thanks bro, you seem to be one of the better posters ive came accross around all these forums.

[Addison]

I disagree strongly with your first point in the quote. What's I feel is important is the way in which the opponent is defeated. Controversial decision? Robbery? KO? Tight split decision? ... You appear to have jumped the gun and rushed to the conclusion that, should he lose, Calzaghe never had the right to be considered elite.

Second point is more of a question, really. Which of Bernard's opponents do you consider far more slick, dangerous, and unpredictable than Joe Calzaghe, apart from the obvious Roy Jones Jr. back in 1993?

No, not at all. Calzaghe will be considered elite regardless. Can he beat this particular craftsmen is the purpose of this exploration. Nothing more.

I won't be a **** and answer a question with a question without a proper response, but tell me honestly FR; how much of Hopkins have you seen? You know how good he is, and he's had some cage matches.. I assure you. I'll standby for your response and expand further.

[Motofan]

60-40 that Joe wins. I expect him to win, but Hopkins always seems to find a way.

[Dirt E Gomez]

Im smart enough to know records dont win fights.

But are you being dumb enough to suggest I do?

As for that extra gear, when has Hopkins really need to "switch it on" or something of that nature? He's methodical in his fights and believes he was ahead on the scorecards in both JT fights. He has taken apart basically every fighter he has ever faced is pretty solid fashion to the point where he doesn't need to turn it on late in the fight.

[Addison]

Will do Addisson and thanks bro, you seem to be one of the better posters ive came accross around all these forums.

Gracias, TG. I would say exactly the same thing about you, sir.

[TommyGunn.]

But are you being dumb enough to suggest I do?

As for that extra gear, when has Hopkins really need to "switch it on" or something of that nature? He's methodical in his fights and believes he was ahead on the scorecards in both JT fights. He has taken apart basically every fighter he has ever faced is pretty solid fashion to the point where he doesn't need to turn it on late in the fight.

He could have been doing with it in both Taylor fights.

PS. Im not sujesting you think that way about records what im saying is i beleive strongly that one should judge a fighter on how they perform in the ring and not what a peice of paper says.

If records won fights then Tarver would have beaten Hopkins seeing how Tarver beat the man that beat the man.

[BALLISTIC]

calzaghe all the way...no doubt....

[FRKO]

No, not at all. Calzaghe will be considered elite regardless. Can he beat this particular craftsmen is the purpose of this exploration. Nothing more.

I won't be a **** and answer a question with a question without a proper response, but tell me honestly FR; how much of Hopkins have you seen? You know how good he is, and he's had some cage matches.. I assure you. I'll standby for your response and expand further.

I have seen a lot of Hopkins, and whereas many people didn't even know who he was until he beat Trinidad, I'd seen him fight a good amount of times already. I like what I saw in the mid 90's, and his win over Johnson (1997) impressed me. I still consider Tarver and Johnson to be two of his best. Bernard's a great fighter, but I can't help but have second thoughts about his resume at times, and especially dismantling guys who started their pro careers at 135, 140, etc. Which leads me to another thing; sometimes I feel like I was one of the few people on earth that knew Hopkins would defeat Trinidad. It was like he was pulling the legs off an insect. Not that I agree with pulling legs off insects, cause that's not very nice.

[BALLISTIC]

i just honeslty think hopkins isint an explosive fighter where people would die for like tyson back in the days..or like pacman now days...hopkins is old and dont know if he can go the distance anymore..take a payday and retire...calzaghe all the way...

[TommyGunn.]

I have seen a lot of Hopkins, and whereas many people didn't even know who he was until he beat Trinidad, I'd seen him fight a good amount of times already. I like what I saw in the mid 90's, and his win over Johnson (1997) impressed me. I still consider Tarver and Johnson to be two of his best. Bernard's a great fighter, but I can't help but have second thoughts about his resume at times, and especially dismantling guys who started their pro careers at 135, 140, etc. Which leads me to another thing; sometimes I feel like I was one of the few people on earth that knew Hopkins would defeat Trinidad. It was like he was pulling the legs off an insect. Not that I agree with pulling legs off insects, cause that's not very nice.

I agree in regard to Bernards wins over Oscar and Tito and i could not put it better than you did with the pulling the legs off insects. To the casual fan Tito was winning that fight, no doubt about it, to anyone who knew the sport though it was close to a mis-match in the sense Tito was punching way above his weight and he was fighting a guy with a great chin who could box and had power.

Glen Johnson and Tarver for me are Hopkins best wins, both are naturaly stronger fighters and both caused problems for different reasons.