Prime Calzaghe beats Prime Hopkins convincingly

[Mr. Philadel]

Hopkins ruined him. He made him look like he couldn't even fight. It's one thing to look ordinary, but he made Joe looked like he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. Did yall mofos see the gif natas posted. Calzaghe tries to force a flurry missing everything and akwardly lunges himself in front of Hopkins amidst getting decked for his efforts. That was the fight in a nutshell, this was like what
I saw on fight night. He barely got passed a man who did everything he could to conserve energy in the bout, including trying to milk excessive recovery time for 2 feigned low blows. The fact that Hopkins looked an ancient 43 when it was all said and done and Joe got what many consider to be a questionable win is a testament to Bernard's greatness.

You guys thinking Joe beats Nard in his prime are nuts, when the version that fought Wright would've ran away with the victory. **** even Wright put up a better showing against Bernard than Joe and Wink was gassed after 10.

this is the best post of 'em all! dude speakin the truth!

[RichCCFC]

And it is exactly this type of post that makes boxingscene such a frustrating place to discuss boxing in. I said that prime Calzaghe beats Jones, Hopkins and Toney, which is actually a fairly reasonable opinion. Calzaghe is one of the more talented boxers I've seen so to think he could beat three boxers who have all lost to much inferior boxers than Calzaghe, even in their primes is hardly delusional, its a valid opinion even if you disagree with it. It is not the same as saying Calzaghe beats any boxer ever and you know it.

Exactly.

I don't know why we have to even bother defending Joe Calzaghe and what he has done.

There are some ****tards saying Pavlik will KO Calzaghe based on his flash KD against Hopkins. Don't go with the flow... People too easily follow a trend in boxing (Williams hype train etc). Make your mind up for yourself.

Nothing you guys can say will change my mind on certain fighters so don't start preaching.

[Dynamite Kid]

And it is exactly this type of post that makes boxingscene such a frustrating place to discuss boxing in. I said that prime Calzaghe beats Jones, Hopkins and Toney, which is actually a fairly reasonable opinion. Calzaghe is one of the more talented boxers I've seen so to think he could beat three boxers who have all lost to much inferior boxers than Calzaghe, even in their primes is hardly delusional, its a valid opinion even if you disagree with it. It is not the same as saying Calzaghe beats any boxer ever and you know it.

common oponents means ****

Boxing is about styles

Ricky Hatton beat Tony Pep up Floyd Mayweather went the full distance with him ,Hatton beat Castillo While PBF [lost]should have dropped a decision against him but PBF knocked Hatton out

Boxing is not so symplistic

[Degsy]

Its a very difficult question if you look at it.

Both fighters were past their prime physically, but Bernard's later style of counterpunching and clinching to conserve energy is probably the best style against calzaghe.

The younger, hunter Bernard would risk getting hit more and against a version of Joe with undamaged hands would have to pay to get his own work off. Both of them have got grantie chins, so the ko situation isn't happening either way IMO.

The fact is the best versions of Nard and Joe are an amalgum of physical from early career and skills from later career. I don't think either of them would beat the other easily in any part of their careers, personally I would favour Joe, but I could understand someone rooting for Nard.

[Degsy]

common oponents means ****

Boxing is about styles

Ricky Hatton beat Tony Pep up Floyd Mayweather went the full distance with him ,Hatton beat Castillo While PBF [lost]should have dropped a decision against him but PBF knocked Hatton out

Boxing is not so symplistic

Very good points

[RichCCFC]

Its a very difficult question if you look at it.

Both fighters were past their prime physically, but Bernard's later style of counterpunching and clinching to conserve energy is probably the best style against calzaghe.

The younger, hunter Bernard would risk getting hit more and against a version of Joe with undamaged hands would have to pay to get his own work off. Both of them have got grantie chins, so the ko situation isn't happening either way IMO.

The fact is the best versions of Nard and Joe are an amalgum of physical from early career and skills from later career. I don't think either of them would beat the other easily in any part of their careers, personally I would favour Joe, but I could understand someone rooting for Nard.

Exactly!

Nard fought no where near like he does now in his prime. THAT WOULD SUIT CALZAGHE.

Calzaghe is a counter puncher and I knew before the fight he would look bad when he had to lead.

[Degsy]

Because he was able to produce a higher workrate he was somehow less of an intelligent fighter? It could also probably be argued that because of Calzaghe's recent experience against more top level competition his mental prime wouldn't have been during his physical prime as well but that really ranks low on what I find to be important. I've said it before but physical decline is the ULTIMATE factor for performance decline. This is why despite gains in experience it's very rare to see anyone fighting past 40.

As far as speed, power, etc. I think it's a bold claim to say that Cazlaghe had the advantage. Maybe a slight edge in speed but Calzaghe has never had any impressive KO's that would put him in the class of a power puncher and certainly done nothing where you can clearly say he had more power then Hopkins.

To me this is almost a silly argument. A 43 year old Hopkins outclassed Calzaghe for most of the fight. He put Calzaghe on his ass, landed the cleaner & harder punches, he put on a defensive show, and made Calzaghe look amateurish throwing wild shots. The fight was won on Calzaghe's workrate plain and simple. Yet somehow Calzaghe would still win if Hopkins had the ability to match the workrate?

But to quote Hopkins, you throw more, you get hit more...., he had the right tactics for the fight, try and conserve energy and steal rounds. If he fights more he gets hit more, counter punching works both ways

[Dirt E Gomez]

I
The younger, hunter Bernard would risk getting hit more and against a version of Joe with undamaged hands would have to pay to get his own work off. Both of them have got grantie chins, so the ko situation isn't happening either way IMO.

Hopkins handed Glen Johnson his only defeat before the final bell in his long, loaded career. I think people really underestimate the type of power Hopkins had. He was never a huge power puncher in terms of his style, so I think people really like to overlook it.

But to quote Hopkins, you throw more, you get hit more...., he had the right tactics for the fight, try and conserve energy and steal rounds. If he fights more he gets hit more, counter punching works both ways

Judges only award ***** shots if there are no other shots to be seen. Hopkins would be throwing the visibly harder more accurate shots, even in their primes, and the judges would favor them greatly even if Calzaghe was throwing more.

[abadger]

common oponents means ****

Boxing is about styles

Ricky Hatton beat Tony Pep up Floyd Mayweather went the full distance with him ,Hatton beat Castillo While PBF [lost]should have dropped a decision against him but PBF knocked Hatton out

Boxing is not so symplistic

Style matchup prime for prime with Calzaghe:

Jones no doubt has the edge in terms of athletic ability, but defensively he could be awful. Good chance to outpoint Joe but could just as easily have been KO'd by him.

Toney an excellent defensive fighter with good power, but was badly in the habit of taking two thirds of a round off. Had tons of close shaves throughout his career and if he couldn't knock Joe out then would be very likely to be get outpointed.

Hopkins is a harder one to call. When was his prime, how would he have fought? The more aggressive Hopkins of earlier in his career would have been much easier for Joe to handle than the later ultra defensive fighter, and the later B-Hop didn't beat Joe, he got outworked. Back in the day Calzaghe would have won on points in an open fight and later on points in a scrappy one.

You may not agree with these opinions, but they are not delusional so don't say they are.

[RichCCFC]

Calzaghe didn't "***** slap" back in the day though..

A quote from Hopkins leading up to the Joe fight.

"I may be 43 but he's no spring chicken himself" Calzaghe isn't in his prime now...