Quote Originally Posted by shza

The odds will be on Hopkins, we'll see. You're seeing the boxing world through an odd lens living in the UK. Calzaghe's "boxing skills" also include being wide open up the middle almost all the time and throwing almost exclusively very wide punches. The speed is enough to carry him through against Lacy and the other second-rate opposition he's faced (100% of his opposition), and would likely carry him through against Kessler. It would not be enough against a world-class fighter like Hopkins or Wright, even with them out of their prime. Calzaghe has NEVER beaten or even faced world-class opposition, and has obvious flaws. Why would he possibly be favored?
Dude, once again it seems that you're looking through your lens the wrong way, and instead of magnifying your view of things, it is actually blurring your view. He has beaten all comers from the SMW division, with the exception of Sven Ottke, who retired to avoid losing his undefeated career, and Glen Johnson, who has missed out twice because of injuries. Anyone who has been anyone in Calzaghe's era and who has campaigned at SMW has faced him and been beaten, as will Kessler when his time comes. As for world-class opposition, he may have been 5 or 6 years ago, but he looked good against a lacklustre, dreadful Tarver last time out, and showed his fading skills in the two against Taylor. Hopkins is no longer world class. His punches can come from all angles, and any fighter needs a very adaptable defence just to keep 50% of the punches off them. As for the so-called "obvious flaws" would you care to expand? He's always come back from being knocked down, and has a strong jaw and swift recovery, as well as a boxing brain when he has to box. At the end of the day, he can deal with everything that Hopkins or Wright could throw at him, and adapt his fight to win. At his age, I don't see Hopkins having much else than a run and hide approach to the fight, looking to counter constantly.