The Case For Hopkins

[Greig]

Yes, Hopkins is 43.

Yes his output isn't what it once was.

But isn't it also fair to say that he is a street better than anybody Calzaghe has beat. He knows every trick in the book and will be more suited to the weight than Joe. He is also fighting at home against Joe, who is fighting for the first time in America.

Ladbrokes have B-Hop at $2.83 and I am starting to like the look of those odds.

[Fenster]

2/1 for Hopkins looks a bit stingy to me.

If he had a decent KO chance I could see a better case for backing him.. But he hasn't KO'd anyone since the Titanic went down. I guess he'll be able to spoil and bore his way to a few rounds and seeing as he's got the HOME advantage it could play a big factor but can someone with such a low output beat Calzaghe? Strongly doubt it.. Plus I think Calzaghe is the better fighter anyway

(Now that ive said that, rest assured, you can almost gaurantee a Hopkins win.. most likely by KO)

[Gandalf]

I see Hopkins only real chance being a big right that might just temper Calzaghe's output. Having said that look what happened when Kessler landed those uppercuts on Calzaghe. Calzaghe started to throw over 100 punches in some rounds and upped the tempo somehing rotten.

I cannot see Hopkins doing enough to win.

[Greig]

Points taken.

Hopkins just always looks so in control that it's hard to see him not win. I just can't remember the last time he looked in trouble - that's how good he is.

[Gandalf]

Points taken.

Hopkins just always looks so in control that it's hard to see him not win. I just can't remember the last time he looked in trouble - that's how good he is.

Ive picked Hopkins to win all of his recent fights. This one is stylistically all wrong for a Hopkins at 43 though. Calzaghes workrate is just so relentless. Hopkins can be outworked as even the limited Taylor showed and that will be the difference. Calzaghe is just too busy. Hopkins will land some peaches but if he doesnt stop Calzaghe I cant see him winning. He just wont land as many as Joe will.

[Memphis]

Calzaghe is going to stop Hopkins

[njackets]

Points taken.

Hopkins just always looks so in control that it's hard to see him not win. I just can't remember the last time he looked in trouble - that's how good he is.

Ive picked Hopkins to win all of his recent fights. This one is stylistically all wrong for a Hopkins at 43 though. Calzaghes workrate is just so relentless. Hopkins can be outworked as even the limited Taylor showed and that will be the difference. Calzaghe is just too busy. Hopkins will land some peaches but if he doesnt stop Calzaghe I cant see him winning. He just wont land as many as Joe will.

Thats prety much my take on it,allthough if anybody can come up with a blueprint of how 2 beat Cazaghe its B Hop,Taylor beat Hopkins on his workrate and Joes is higher than Taylors so it sort of makes sense.

[bambamdaddio]

Points taken.

Hopkins just always looks so in control that it's hard to see him not win. I just can't remember the last time he looked in trouble - that's how good he is.

Ok ...but has B.Hop always delivered the goods when the questions have been asked....No, he hasn't, for whatever the reasons or excuses...he has not always delivered,

And though he may well have fought the Taylors, Joneses or De La Hoya's (Please, Oscar at Middle weight) While the other two managed to beat him...

So why does that put a stamp of quality re level of opponents fought....Had he beaten them we would have had all questions answered by B.Hop, but he didn't...

Whenever Joe has had to deliver simply put ...he's delivered, sometimes with broke or damaged hands, and at times not looking too tidy even, but he has always come through...So what if it's been in the U.K lets be honest here with some reality...

He's the Champion...so if they want his Title they should go take it off him...why should he be pushed into the "Go to the U.S.A and prove yourself to the Americans to gain true greatness myth"..

Funny thing is B.Hop is hardly a Globe trotter himself now is he, not the most traveled of fighters when it comes to fighting over sea's...He would never have come to England to take on Joe....

Frank Warren tried to get him over a while back (Whatever the politics) but to no avail, so lets not pretend that this is just a Joe symptom, because it ain't...It's hilighted more with Joe because he's been a Champion for so long now..

When Joe wins on 19th April, that one single fight won't turn him into a great, it's everything that he has done throughout his career that will be the decider of that as time passes...and NOT that one fight..

Also there is, and has been far too much emphasis on Joe not dealing with the away from home factor, but why, he will rellish it, and he for certain will not be overawed, you will see him rise to the challenge....

He will not collapse from it, or crumble, because his mental strength and make up will not allow that, And they are big big insights into why he has always given the correct answers when he has been asked the questions through out his career...

Yes there can be a first time for anything, eg nerves, the occasion, wilting under pressure...but has Joe ever looked like he's about to crack ...no he ain't, and B.Hop in the U.S.A is not the opponent or place that is going to change that....

[ICB]

2/1 for Hopkins looks a bit stingy to me.

If he had a decent KO chance I could see a better case for backing him.. But he hasn't KO'd anyone since the Titanic went down. I guess he'll be able to spoil and bore his way to a few rounds and seeing as he's got the HOME advantage it could play a big factor but can someone with such a low output beat Calzaghe? Strongly doubt it.. Plus I think Calzaghe is the better fighter anyway

(Now that ive said that, rest assured, you can almost gaurantee a Hopkins win.. most likely by KO)

Reid only threw round about just over 400 punches against Calzaghe which isn't a high work rate. And he still badly troubled Calzaghe.

[Fenster]

2/1 for Hopkins looks a bit stingy to me.

If he had a decent KO chance I could see a better case for backing him.. But he hasn't KO'd anyone since the Titanic went down. I guess he'll be able to spoil and bore his way to a few rounds and seeing as he's got the HOME advantage it could play a big factor but can someone with such a low output beat Calzaghe? Strongly doubt it.. Plus I think Calzaghe is the better fighter anyway

(Now that ive said that, rest assured, you can almost gaurantee a Hopkins win.. most likely by KO)

Reid only threw round about just over 400 punches against Calzaghe which isn't a high work rate. And he still badly troubled Calzaghe.

Yes Calzaghe had a very bad night but still pulled off the win. The sign of a "great" champion.

[Puya]

How many times have you seen either of them almost getting KO.

This guys are good I expect a great fight I'm pulling for JC but B-Hop as much I despise that piece of shit, he still has talent at 43.