The Case For Hopkins

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Originally Posted by ICB

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Originally Posted by 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)

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

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

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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....

:badass::badass::badass:

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.