Calzaghe won because he was more versatile than many of B-hop's opponents

In the B-hop style of fighting almost all the opponents fight the fight that hopkins wants to fight and cannot adapt & get frustrated and fold (if hopkins would have fought from round1 against Taylor he would have won that one too). After the first round of action, it occurred to me that Hopkins might have an easier time slowing Calzaghe down than I previously suspected. with hopkins dropping joe, I thought okay bernard has gained joe's respect and now Joe is going to be more tentative with his punches and with the next 3 close rounds it seemed that bernard was doing wat he does best frustrate his opponent and take them out of their gameplan and I thought maybe we are going to get another tarver like performance. However, like a true champion, Calzaghe quickly regained his composure and started climbing the mountain ahead of him. Despite being down several points in the early going, Joe was already in the midst of shifting strategies, if he wouldn't have it would have been another crowning moment for bernard. Joe started to time the lead right hands and landed some clean crisp shots, he even started to frustrate hopkins something I have never seen any of hopkins' opponents do before. I thought bernard being the master of the art of pugilism would also make some adjustments to calzaghe's adjustment but by the end of the night it was hopkins who was looking to the ref for support something which hopkins' opponents usually do. It was not work rate, but Joe's ability to adjust and neutralize Hopkins’ strengths that enabled Calzaghe to reign victorious. Hopkins' didn't get old overnight, he is a marvel of boxing and at 43 years old is still a world class fighter, you cannot compare him to the standards of boxing of an average 43 years old boxer. going into the fight I had the fight 50-50 possibly with an edge to bernard due to Joe's fighting in america and lack of home-town support, I am now sold on joe for being one of the best fighters of this era and my respect for him has tripled after this fight. even though I am guilty of liking hopkins' persona of a badass, ex-convict/thugg, who will throw the rulebook out to win a fight, I can respect Joe's professionalism. Joe I believe is good for the sport of boxing, a humble, respectful fighter who is a thorogh professional. at the racist comment joe maintained his dignity. when hopkins tried to bait joe with the nationalistic insolense claiming that american fighters are better than british fighters, joe didn't respond by any making any disparaging comments of his own about americans, even though americans can be very ethnocentric (I am a canadian not british). with hopkins' barrage at the post-fight conference discrediting joe's win, joe was respectful and acted as a professional while on the other hand it was hopkins who was acting like a bad sport (he should learn how to be humble in defeat even if he thinks he was robbed just like oscar has in the past)

gREAT POST. LETS HAVE MORE OF THESE.

Or just because BHOP is old.

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Originally Posted by kelseym

Or just because BHOP is old.

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That, I'm afraid, is too simple and careless a way of analyzing the fight.

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Originally Posted by JLAQ

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Originally Posted by kelseym

Or just because BHOP is old.

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That, I'm afraid, is too simple and careless a way of analyzing the fight.

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So who was better. Babe Ruth at 36 or 43. Age has to do with it. I had a uncle that died in his sleep from natural causes at that age.

I just think it kinda sucks that Calzaghe has waited this long to fight big names instead of ten years ago with RJJ and Hopkins.

JLAQ. I didn't know you were banned. :lolhaha:

YES !!!

JLAQ GOT BANNED !!!!

:club:

Great post this B-hop is old argument is starting to rile me up a bit.

Credit needs to be given where credit is due. B-hop showed when it comes to gameplans.they guy is a general.

Despite a sub-par performance by Joe,and everything going against him biased ref,consistant fouls, and a pretty sweet right hand to open up a lead for the nard from the 1st round. He clawed his way back in and won on American soil.

It just took an adjustment from Joe.

Most posters dis-crediting Joe looks like..and is sour grapes

And also dis-credits your own fighter for putting up an ageles performance against a quility operater in Joe calzaghe.