Hopkins game plan against Calzaghe....

[ßringer]

I downloaded and rewatched the fight again just a few nights ago. I still scored it 114-113 for Hopkins. Hopkins clearly took the first 5 rounds IMO, and then he picked up another one, the 7th or 8th I think.

He landed the cleaner, more effective blows consistently. Joe adapted and was able to get his game going around the 6th, but he still was barely landing.

Hopkins held too much for my liking, but I could see why he was doing it. It was taking away from Joe's workrate.

To think what the outcome would've been had Hopkins not been suffering from his thyroid condition, and had dumbass Freddie Roach not been in Hopkins corner is something I do from time to time.

[Chunk..]

When fighting Calzaghe it's very hard for a judge to score a fight for you if you just land a right hand straight from here and there all fight.

Calzaghe was coming into Hopkins at a 100 MPH and throwing his arms at him, what part of that constitutes as a punch landed? I've seen enough Calzaghe fights to know the difference, when he comes in he hits his opponents with a flurry of combos while his opponent has no where to go but he wasn't doing much of that against Hopkins.

[ИATAS]

I agree that his gameplan was a good one I just think he faded too much in the late rounds and didn't have enough output.

This is what hopkins always does - he tries to take away his opponents best weapon and use it against them. With Pavlik he took away his jab and wouldn't allow him to set up. With Calzaghe he stated his best weapon was his output, which he did successfully take away - calzaghe threw about 50% less then he normally does. Problem was hopkins didn't throw enough himself, mainly I believe cuz he fatigued (possibly becaues of his thyroid problem but that's another story) late.

If a rematch ever happens I would imagine hopkins being much more aggressive.

[catalinul]

Calzaghe was coming into Hopkins at a 100 MPH and throwing his arms at him, what part of that constitutes as a punch landed? I've seen enough Calzaghe fights to know the difference, when he comes in he hits his opponents with a flurry of combos while his opponent has no where to go but he wasn't doing much of that against Hopkins.

If you watch the fight you can see Calzaghe was hiting him with very precise punches in the second half of the fight,clean left hands.He arguably won the last 6.

[RichCCFC]

I agree that his gameplan was a good one I just think he faded too much in the late rounds and didn't have enough output.

This is what hopkins always does - he tries to take away his opponents best weapon and use it against them. With Pavlik he took away his jab and wouldn't allow him to set up. With Calzaghe he stated his best weapon was his output, which he did successfully take away - calzaghe threw about 50% less then he normally does. Problem was hopkins didn't throw enough himself, mainly I believe cuz he fatigued (possibly becaues of his thyroid problem but that's another story) late.

If a rematch ever happens I would imagine hopkins being much more aggressive.

Calzaghe did not throw 50% less punches than he usually does, Calzaghe usually averages 1000 punches a fight, he threw 700 odd against Hopkins.

[S.G.]

i pray to god every night that Calzaghe gives B-Hop the rematch.....no lie

[Dynamite Kid]

Reason Calzagge got close to Hopkins was, because Joe realized he had to close the gap slowly, because previously he he had been rushing in and Hopkins was taking him down the alley and nailing him with the counter right hand, but Hopkins tiredness/age is basically why he lost the fight.

[RichCCFC]

I downloaded and rewatched the fight again just a few nights ago. I still scored it 114-113 for Hopkins. Hopkins clearly took the first 5 rounds IMO, and then he picked up another one, the 7th or 8th I think.

He landed the cleaner, more effective blows consistently. Joe adapted and was able to get his game going around the 6th, but he still was barely landing.

Hopkins held too much for my liking, but I could see why he was doing it. It was taking away from Joe's workrate.

To think what the outcome would've been had Hopkins not been suffering from his thyroid condition, and had dumbass Freddie Roach not been in Hopkins corner is something I do from time to time.

First 5 rounds.. In a row?

C'mon man, no way.

[Dynamite Kid]

Its about balance when you come foward. Calzaghe was taking bigger steps to get closer to Hopkins which was putting his weight more on his front foot and leaving him no option to rock out of the way of Hopkins counters to come back with his own.

When Calzaghe centralized his weight when coming foward and started edging his way foward slowly and leaving himself the option to lean/step back and counter he had more success.

[Kris Silver]

Hopkins did to be fair to him have a fairly good game plan and style to counter Joes aggressive style. It did work, better than any other fighter Joe's faced for the most part. But it wasn't enough, Joe got wise to his tactics, movements, defensive ness, countering - and was forced to go on a rampage to chase and score with anything he could. What would have been interesting is if Calzaghe knew how to chase less and let Hopkins come to him at least a bit more, because at times it was suiting Hopkins countering, others it was obviously tiring Hopkins out whilst Nard's left not landing or scoring.

Whilst I do think Hopkins is the toughest fight out there for Joe still especially style wise, I do find it telling people talk of what if's for a rematch only post Pavlik. Few thought he'd win a re match post the fight, and Hopkins faced a completely different opponent in Pavlik, thus utilised a different style, was able to look better and look impressive. Opposite with Joe, they both looked ****, and both knew it but were forced to try an out hustle each other.

I've always admired Hopkins skills but it's only from the Pavlik fight, his actions in and out the ring I became more of a fan. I can truthfully say he could win a rematch, but that's true of any fight or rematch. He's chances of winning are even slimmer in all realism.

Calzaghe doesn't study opponents pre fight hence giving away 2 point leads in round one, getting tagged hard in most of his competitive fights, being behind at the half way mark often. He got wise to Hopkins style around round 4 when Hopkins was still fairly energetic really, and was winning rounds. Hopkins is a tactical master and still did what was his best shot imo. Yes ok more aggression and shots might be good, but he knew Calzaghe likes guys coming to him so in many ways that would suite Joe more. I just don't see any way Joe would allow himself to be even more out hustled in a re match when he was naive to it for a few rounds and still won. It's a clearer UD if it happens again, but still the most competitive fight for both guys.