HOPKINS V CALZAGHE (this could get interesting)

[the-anton-bomb]

THIS IS GUNNA GET INTERESTING!!!!
I dont no what everyones views are on Calzaghe and Hopkins but its one of those fights were you can have an opinion and your opinion can be turned completely on its head..
The way I see Calzaghe beating Hopkins is the same way that Jermain Taylor did, this was by being fast at foot in and out not letting Hopkins get anywere near him..
However I thought Hopkins put a great show on against Antonio Tarver, I thought it was a top top fight..
I was talking to the bloke from ( www.geezerspalace.co.uk ) geezers palace the other day and he thought that Hopkins mastered then man that is Antonio Tarver..
So its an interesting, two masters of the ring who arent quite in there prime but could go either way, more so than prehaps the brittish public think..

[donnydarkoIRL]

Hopkins sounds confident.
Calzaghe sounds confident.
I felt this fight could potentially be an ugly mess, but it's also a possibility that it becomes a thriller, with the final rounds being critical.

Calzaghe needs distance, Hopkins needs to be within inches of his opponent.
Both counter well. Both have excellent chins and know precisely how to pace themselves. It will be tactical, but I feel that Joe may just prevail on workrate.

[GAME]

Hopkins sounds confident.
Calzaghe sounds confident.
I felt this fight could potentially be an ugly mess, but it's also a possibility that it becomes a thriller, with the final rounds being critical.

Calzaghe needs distance, Hopkins needs to be within inches of his opponent.
Both counter well. Both have excellent chins and know precisely how to pace themselves. It will be tactical, but I feel that Joe may just prevail on workrate.

Anything Jermaine Taylor can do , Joe can do better . Taylor beat Hopkins twice . Calzaghe only needs to do it once .

[donnydarkoIRL]

There are mnany that would dispute Taylors victories, but I wont go there.
If the judges award a fight to fighter A then Fighter A hits the records and goes down in history as the winner.

Many fighters have certain styles that they like to fight against. Some like straight ahead aggresive fighters, others like defensive guys. Bernard Hopkins likes and is strong against Southpaws.
This will allow him some successes against Calzaghe. He will look to negate Joe's advantage with tactical movement.
It's up to Joe to make the fight and takle care of himself so he doesn't get countered.

As I said, activity should do it, but activity with intelligence is the key.

[GAME]

There are mnany that would dispute Taylors victories, but I wont go there.
If the judges award a fight to fighter A then Fighter A hits the records and goes down in history as the winner.

Many fighters have certain styles that they like to fight against. Some like straight ahead aggresive fighters, others like defensive guys. Bernard Hopkins likes and is strong against Southpaws.
This will allow him some successes against Calzaghe. He will look to negate Joe's advantage with tactical movement.
It's up to Joe to make the fight and takle care of himself so he doesn't get countered.

As I said, activity should do it, but activity with intelligence is the key.

If I remember there was nothing in those fights but the fact is Taylor gave Hopkins all he could handle . We saw Jermaine vs Spinks and the guy doesnt throw any punches compared to Joe. Hopkins is going to have to spoil Joes work and theres going to come a point where he has to stand his ground and fight and I just cant see him coming out on top

Joe Cortez didnt stand for any dirty work from Hatton vs Floyd so I dont see why he should stand for any dirty work from Hopkins in this one.

[Gandalf]

I dont think Hopkins has a chance in hell this late in his career. Many years ago it would have been competitive, but not now.

[ICB]

There are mnany that would dispute Taylors victories, but I wont go there.
If the judges award a fight to fighter A then Fighter A hits the records and goes down in history as the winner.

Many fighters have certain styles that they like to fight against. Some like straight ahead aggresive fighters, others like defensive guys. Bernard Hopkins likes and is strong against Southpaws.
This will allow him some successes against Calzaghe. He will look to negate Joe's advantage with tactical movement.
It's up to Joe to make the fight and takle care of himself so he doesn't get countered.

As I said, activity should do it, but activity with intelligence is the key.

If I remember there was nothing in those fights but the fact is Taylor gave Hopkins all he could handle . We saw Jermaine vs Spinks and the guy doesnt throw any punches compared to Joe. Hopkins is going to have to spoil Joes work and theres going to come a point where he has to stand his ground and fight and I just cant see him coming out on top

Joe Cortez didnt stand for any dirty work from Hatton vs Floyd so I dont see why he should stand for any dirty work from Hopkins in this one.

Sorry Game but just because Taylor struggled against Spinks doesn't mean anything, Spinks was very defensive and is a hard fight for near enough any fighter out there, he would make anyone look bad. Taylor was also very cautious against Hopkins and relied mostly on his great jab plus Taylor is a very good athlete. Calzaghe will not be cautious and just rely on his jab because that isn't Calzaghe's style. He is an aggressive unorthodox southpaw. Who overwhelms his opponents with punching angles and his almost unreal work rate.

[NUCLEAR BULL]

this could be a real chess context or a rough tough brawl etc etc etc, whatever patern it takes im goner enjoy it as its a big fight, i never thought i'd see calzaghe fight in america and i thought b-hop may really retire after the tarver win so wouldn't see him ever fight calzaghe.

i hope it makes the short list for fight of the year but dont see it going that way, still its a interesting fights and i'm looking forward to it

[Master]

Yes it will be an interesting fight, it will only be close because it is a light heavy, in US, the experience of Hopkins but Galzaghe will prevail.

[Galaxy]

Hopkins wins! A world of experience! Even at 43 I feel he's the best opponent Calzaghe has faced!