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Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe, two pugilistic superpowers collide this Saturday April 19, 2008 to determine who reigns supreme as the pound for pound champion. The winner solidifies their place as one of the greatest to ever lace up the gloves. To find out our picks watch P4P Boxing and let us know what you think.
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I like B-Hop more, but unless he can walk on water I can't see him beating Joe. He just can't keep up anymore.
That being said if he does he's my pick for best middleweight EVER.
IMO doing this will put him above Monson, above Hagler, even above Greb.
Hopkins is winning this one...It's been written from the mount :D.Honestly i have mad respect for both Hopkins and Calzaghe but Hopkins is my boy.This is literally one of those instances where You or I have "lived" his career as a fan.From his annihilation of Dennis Milton and some earlier stuff on tape, up to this exact day which could be his last go in the ring...win or loose....I will always back Hopkins!!Yeh...Hopkins has been his own worst enemy at times with bad career decisions and priding himself on being the outcast,loud ,brash ,and antagonistic at times but a ring general if ever there was one.
This will be one of those fights that I as a fan will get very affected physically by,(Not as much as Calzaghe though);D,but some fights make you "feel" them.You sweat,I actually get cotton mouth,my feet get hot and the blood pressure gos up.I find my hands in a Sub-fist and act like I have turrets syndrome with sudden burst of yelling and Shouts,Man too much Info.Makes me wish I had a heavybag hanging in the Livingroom right now
Hopkins was a great MW, but how can he be considered the best ever based on what he has done in a different weight class? I don't see how beating Calzaghe at LHW makes him the best MW ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taeth
I would never bet money against Bernard, but I can't see him winning a decision, unless he makes it extremely rough, and somehow gets Joe out of his game, while slowing the pace, preferably with some bone-crushing body shots. Rather unlikely, considering Joe is also smart fighter. And Joe is relentless, unlike Taylor, Tarver and Wright. I also can't see a ko for either. After watching countdown to Hopkins-Calzaghe, BHOP is definately taking the right approach to the fight (especially with the conditioning), but that is the question, does the old man have one left? His last couple of fights, IMO, he was only able to fight 2 mins of each round. Although he won, he was fighting two guys that were passive in their style, and didn't force the issue like Joe does. Joe brings alot of energy, and we will see if the wiley old man can pull one out of his hat, or if Joe's energy is too much.
Joe by decision. But like I said, I wouldn't at all be suprised, if BHOP finds a way.
Calzaghe by UD
I just thought it was funny how when Calzaghe was trying to trash talk Hopkins defending himself to Hopkins comment "who have you beaten?".. Calzaghe said something like.. "who've you beaten? all little guys!!"Quote:
Originally Posted by CFHHopkins was a great MW, but how can he be considered the best ever based on what he has done in a different weight class? I don't see how beating Calzaghe at LHW makes him the best MW ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taeth
"De la hoya, little guy, Trinidad, little guy".. and i know that those guys ARE smaller than Hop, but it was just funny that he was telling the guy who defended the MIDDLEWEIGHT championship 20 times, that he fought all "little guys" WELL NO SHIT HE WAS IN A LOWER WEIGHT CLASS
but just about everyone that he fought is comparable to his size.. Hopkins wasn't a small middleweight but it wasn't like he was known as a KO artist.. Taylor is a big middleweight, and i'd say he's bigger than Hop..
He fought Roy Jones who is prob about the same size as him.. he fought Tarver who is def bigger..
Not that i have to justify Hopkin's career, i just thought it was a funny remark..
PS
Me and Spicoli are heading the "party committee" if B-Hop wins..
There will be rejoicing..
of course, no rubbing it into the face of any Joe fans.. cause Joe is a great fighter, i could careless about that.. I just dislike his persona, and want B-Hop to drop him..
I am going with Calzaghe in this one...I have gone against Joe before and have always picked wrong so I am a true believer in is ability now...Especially after the Kessler bout...
Joe is hungry still..something rare for a fighter who has been in the business for so long...Joe is still hingry for the respect he feels is missing...Hopkins has always been one of those proposed bouts that never came off now it is here and Joe is not going to let the opp slip away...
Joe will be too busy in this fight...Hopkins is a great counter puncher we all know...one of the best in the last 20+ years but Calzaghe will not allow him to counter at the pace he is comfortable...
Hopkins is a smart fighter...that is why he became the great MW he was but if you are not given that time to think it is nullified....
I have Joe by UD
Thing is, B-hop doesn't really need to "think" to counter him.. he's just instinctively a counter puncher so it just comes naturally.. with that said, he will need at LEAST 2-3 rounds to get Joe's speed down.. I mean, how the hell is Hopkins going to win the first round.. I don't see it happening..Quote:
Originally Posted by DaxxKahn
It's easy to pick Joe in this simply because we know that he can work at a fast pace for 12 rounds, and has lightning fast hands.. It's tough to pick Hopkins because you're basing on the fact that he's going to use his experience and rough house tactics.. So it's easy to pick Joe because we KNOW he will perform.. it's just up to Hop adjusts..
When people talk about how Joe had a hard time with Bika, we have to remember that Bika is still relatively a young fighter, who is reckless and just wants to brawl.. He just comes at you, doesn't care about defense and throws wide shots at you.. Hopkins waits on you, and picks his spots, even though he's a brawler.. I just don't see Hopkins being able to keep up Bika's pace even.. So it will definitely be a tough first 1/4th of the fight for Hopkins unless he starts REALLY early..
..i still obviously pick Hopkins, just wanted to throw those points out there..
I think it definitely counts for something towards his legacy at MW if he can move up to LH, capture a title, and then come down to SM and beat the undefeated, unified, long reining Champ. All after dominating at MW for so long with 20 defenses, and after turning 40!Quote:
Originally Posted by CFHHopkins was a great MW, but how can he be considered the best ever based on what he has done in a different weight class? I don't see how beating Calzaghe at LHW makes him the best MW ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taeth
You can't really say that Winky is passive especially of late, and look at how BHOP took him out of his game and dictated the fight. BHOP is definitely the master at getting the fight to be on his terms.Quote:
Originally Posted by Unknowndonor
I think this was just Joe attempting to use his own psychology on BHOP; trying to put the idea in his mind that he's the smaller man.Quote:
Originally Posted by RP33
BHOP is so crafty that you can never count him out, but I still have to go with Calzaghe UD. One thing that makes me less sure of BHOP is the way his legs are looking lately. Is it just me or are they looking old in those workout vids?
I really don't think anyone knows including the fighters and camps themselves what will happen on sat. There are just too many good arguments for both guys, joe seems to be the better boxer here but not neccessarily the better fighter. First time in the us, first time at this weight, they are taking a sheltered zoo animal and just throwing him out in the wild for the first time, and who knows when hopkins age will show, and if he has enough tricks in the bag to derail joe, man it's gonna be good either way...
Carlos Monzon is the greatest Middleweight ever.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RP33Thing is, B-hop doesn't really need to "think" to counter him.. he's just instinctively a counter puncher so it just comes naturally.. with that said, he will need at LEAST 2-3 rounds to get Joe's speed down.. I mean, how the hell is Hopkins going to win the first round.. I don't see it happening..Quote:
Originally Posted by DaxxKahn
It's easy to pick Joe in this simply because we know that he can work at a fast pace for 12 rounds, and has lightning fast hands.. It's tough to pick Hopkins because you're basing on the fact that he's going to use his experience and rough house tactics.. So it's easy to pick Joe because we KNOW he will perform.. it's just up to Hop adjusts..
When people talk about how Joe had a hard time with Bika, we have to remember that Bika is still relatively a young fighter, who is reckless and just wants to brawl.. He just comes at you, doesn't care about defense and throws wide shots at you.. Hopkins waits on you, and picks his spots, even though he's a brawler.. I just don't see Hopkins being able to keep up Bika's pace even.. So it will definitely be a tough first 1/4th of the fight for Hopkins unless he starts REALLY early..
..i still obviously pick Hopkins, just wanted to throw those points out there..
Well you contradicted yourself in the post but no matter...Every fighter needs to think about counters...it does not matter who they are...Not like they have to take a minute and mull things over but it takes some figuring on how to counter a guy...If he does not give you time to figure him out and he is throwing constantly non stop it does not really allow you time to get into your game....even counter punchers need to find a rhythm
I am sorry Bernard I'm from around Philly,but I just can't see you winning this one.To me it is very simple punches wins fights and that's exactly what Calzaghe does out punches his opponents.I am also going to go as far as saying a cruising desicion for Joe.
It definately adds to his legacy, the fight with Calzaghe is at LHW by the way, not SMW. However, just because it adds to his overall legacy doesn't mean does anything for his MW legacy. This fight is 2 weight classes above MW, therefore how can it make him the best middleweight ever?Quote:
Originally Posted by Myk_MykI think it definitely counts for something towards his legacy at MW if he can move up to LH, capture a title, and then come down to SM and beat the undefeated, unified, long reining Champ. All after dominating at MW for so long with 20 defenses, and after turning 40!Quote:
Originally Posted by CFHHopkins was a great MW, but how can he be considered the best ever based on what he has done in a different weight class? I don't see how beating Calzaghe at LHW makes him the best MW ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taeth
I am not a big fan of Calzaghe's and i think Hopkins is a much more accomplished fighter. That being said...Joe throws a lot of punches and Bernard is less busy in recent fights. Hopkins has to use his strategy and tricks to pull Calzaghe out of his comfort zone...and also be more active. Bernard is such a smart fighter and i NEVER doubt his conditioning. Will be an interesting fight...hope Hopkins wins.