Bernard Hopkins vs Joe Calzaghe I and result of a hypothetical rematch

[Prosinecki]

I had Calzaghe winning by at least a couple of points. He outworked Hopkins, this despite the more eye-catching punches coming from Hopkins (in the early rounds, at least), because Hopkins simply didn't throw enough and was swamped by Calzaghe's output. Joe pressed the action and although he landed very few hurtful shots himself, there was so little coming back in comparison that you had to give him the rounds.

Calzaghe landed 105 (83%) more punches than Hopkins. This isn't like Pacquiao/Marquez III where the punch output was similar and the quality of work SHOULD be absolutely PARAMOUNT. Punch output is a major thing on its own, certainly when one fighter is nearly landing twice as many punches as his opponent. Calzaghe was coming forward trying to fight and Hopkins being his usual anti-boxing self, smothering and holding, faking low blows to get a breather, throwing little and landing less and less as the fight went on.

A dismal fight caused by Hopkins' negativity and Calzaghe's inability to work him out (he's not alone there), but I can't see how anyone could score more than three or four rounds to Hopkins given his total lack of output in most of them.

With that said, this fight does lead you to believe that a younger, fresher Hopkins with more stamina most likely wins a UD.