Quote Originally Posted by CFH
Just finished watching the fight. I still think Pavlik - Taylor is the best fight I've seen this year, but this one's a close second. I had Calzaghe slightly ahead through 8 rounds, but it was still up in the air until Calzaghe showed the mark of a true champion and won the championship rounds.
I gained a huge amount of respect for both fighters. They both gave it their all, and Calzaghe just out-thought Kessler. Great fight, I'm a fan of both fighters from this day forward.
In regards to Calzaghe - Hopkins, I think JC's work-rate will just be too much for B-Hop and I don't think B-Hop can take that away. I know he appeared to do that against Winky, but I'm not convinced it wasn't a case of all the extra weight making Winky sluggish (Winky's not exactly a young fighter either, and has showed some signs of aging in his last few fights). The one thing working in Hopkins' favor is that Kessler was able to hit Calzaghe with some clean counter-punches and Hopkins is a masterful counter-puncher.

Calzaghe Hopkins would be a huge clash of styles, and a messy fight, still would love to see it.

I see it quite close, and like you said, Hopkins will land the counters, But Joe showed last night how he can take those poerful one shot counters and rally straight back. I'd pick Joe to win a UD after a grueling contest due to his work rate, though he could just as well stay on the outside peppering him with that jab waiting for B-hop to make a mistake. Would be a fight against to of the best thinkers in the sport.