Prime Calzaghe would've beaten prime Popkins EVEN WORSE!!!

[Pugilistic™]

Rubbish.

Hopkins was tired because of CALZAGHE pressuring him. He wasn't tired against Tarver because Tarver didn't do ****.

Wright pressured Hopkins and made Hopkins work harder than what Calzaghe did, the thing is Hopkins had a better workrate at that stage, one year later it clearly wasn't so good.

[RichCCFC]

Wright pressured Hopkins and made Hopkins work harder than what Calzaghe did, the thing is Hopkins had a better workrate at that stage, one year later it clearly wasn't so good.

Winky isn't a pressure fighter and significantly smaller than Hopkins. Hopkins didn't have to work anywhere near as hard as he did against Calzaghe because he could bully winky around in there.

[Pugilistic™]

Winky isn't a pressure fighter and significantly smaller than Hopkins. Hopkins didn't have to work anywhere near as hard as he did against Calzaghe because he could bully winky around in there.

Winky of the last couple years has become a pressure fighter, Hopkins had alot more trouble breaking through wrights defense than he had with Calzaghe. Hopkins workrate at 43 was clearly not as good a year or two previously.

[Jim Jeffries]

The 2000-2003 version of Hopkins beats any version of Calzaghe.

Hell even the Hopkins vs Tarver version beats Calzaghe.

It's after that fight that Hopkins started slipping due to Delahoya-esque inactivity.

Wasn't Hopkins twice as active against Winky Wright as he was in either fight with Jermain Taylor?

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Post Trinidad, Hopkins had very little workrate. I didnt see a difference between the Hopkins that fought Taylor/Wright/Tarver to the one that fought Calzaghe.

[ippo]

prime Hopkins dismantles prime calzaghe

[Vladimir303]

Wasn't Hopkins twice as active against Winky Wright as he was in either fight with Jermain Taylor?

He was too defensive vs Taylor but still should have won the first fight. Second not so much.

He was garbage vs Winky which is what was required to crack that shell defense.

Post-Tarver is where he lost his prime. Too much inactivity and the old age caught up to him.

Like 2000-2003 version of Hopkins beats anything Joe has to offer. The version before his little retirement after Tarver, maybe.

[warp1432]

Winky isn't a pressure fighter and significantly smaller than Hopkins. Hopkins didn't have to work anywhere near as hard as he did against Calzaghe because he could bully winky around in there.

Did you see him against Taylor, Quartey, and Hopkins? He was a pressure fighter in these fights. Hopkins had to work just as hard if not harder, but Winky had tougher defense and they clinched more often.

Popkins was not as smart back then, his counter right was not as developed so "prime Popkins" is not any different from today's Popkins.

Don't forget, Popkins was much more vulnerable in his prime and his defense was nothing more than average, add Calzaghe's prime power and you would've witnessed a spectacular KO.

Calzaghe beats Popkins in his worst day to be honest. He's just too good for him.

No, his defense in his prime was pretty damn good. His right hand was equally just as good as it is now.

I think Hopkins beats Calzaghe in a 116-112 type bout in his prime. Calzaghe still puts a good effort, but Hopkins throws more and lands more.

[Ryn0]

prime calzaghe wins over prime b hop 114-113 imo they were both completely different fighters in their primes

[Ryn0]

He was too defensive vs Taylor but still should have won the first fight. Second not so much.

He was garbage vs Winky which is what was required to crack that shell defense.

Post-Tarver is where he lost his prime. Too much inactivity and the old age caught up to him.

Like 2000-2003 version of Hopkins beats anything Joe has to offer. The version before his little retirement after Tarver, maybe.

the 2nd hopkins taylor fight was closer than the 1st