B-Hop: The Mask Is Back

[Gandalf]

Sorry Miles but your way off here and to say Hopkins has little to no chance is way off the mark IMO. He can beat Calzaghe many ways by clinching and slowing Calzaghe's work rate down. Make it a rough tough fight which lesser fighters like Reid, Bika, had great success by frustrating Calzaghe making him lose his concentration and not allowing him to set the pace. And he can also use his best punch to good use aka the right hand which is Calzaghe's biggest weakness and that is one of Hopkins strong points. Im not saying Hopkins will win but he has a much better than than what your giving him.

Of course, Hopkins has a chance but I do think its a minimal chance and reliant upon a freak right hand. Just isnt going to happen. I really dont think im way off the mark whatsover here. Hopkins will slow Calzaghe down. No doubts about that. But Calzaghe will throw so many more punches than Hopkins and he can punch a bit himself. Its not like against Wright where Hopkins was able to walk through what Winky was able to throw. Tarver didnt actually throw anything! Calzaghe will make Hopkins work like he hasnt done ever before. Not even when he was at his best. Hopkins isnt even all that big a puncher thse days. The right might land but Calzaghe will keep on coming back and throw a lot of punches in bunches.

Calzaghe has always risen for the big ones and Hopkins at 43 is there for the taking. Hopkins is so old and he hasnt actually fought in a bloody long time since Winky. Calzaghe has just beaten Kessler and looked as good as ever doing it. I watched that again last night for the first time in a while and it was a great display. If Calzaghe brings that then it really will not be close.

Im with you Miles . The win over Kessler is one of my favourites even though I like Kess and the win over Lacy has to rank up there too .

But for some reason fighting in the States is so much harder for whatever reason . Joes never done it B4 so we dont know how he'll react if as ICB says , Hop drags him into a dirty fight like weve seen with Starie and Thornberry . If Joe brings it though and is at his best I cant see how Hop wins .

If Joe is anything near his best then Hopkins will be lucky to see it through until the end of the 12th. As it is, I expect Calzaghe to go easy and pound out a decision probably on the same scale as the Kessler one. This stage in the career will make Calzaghe all the more determined not to let anything slip.