Hopkins-Calzaghe - A definitive debate. Fact.

[Fenster]

It's an undeniable fact that in the year 2002 Hopkins turned down a huge career high payday of $3million to face Joe Calzaghe. He initially accepted the challenge before shamefully demanding $6 million to face Joe, knowing full well that $6 million ended the negotiations.

The question is - why did Hopkins duck Calzaghe?

Discuss

[Fenster]

A Hop-Cal thread 30 mins and no reply. Shocking.

[Kirkland Laing]

He couldn't face getting beat by a white boy.

[Mattyhitman]

It's an undeniable fact that in the year 2002 Hopkins turned down a huge career high payday of $3million to face Joe Calzaghe. He initially accepted the challenge before shamefully demanding $6 million to face Joe, knowing full well that $6 million ended the negotiations.

The question is - why did Hopkins duck Calzaghe?

Discuss

For me it's quite simple - He Knew He would lose - why else make such demands

He certainly would of stood a better chance than he did when he finally faced him at LHW. Im not saying he would of won, but maybe he would not of resorted to dirty filthy tactics which he did in the fight they did have

[Fenster]

Utterly great replies.

1. Bothered by the pressure of losing to a whitey.

2. Obviously scared of losing.

3. It's highly doubtful Hopkins would have lasted long enough against a 2002 Calzaghe to use dirty filthy cheating shameful tactics.

[Master]

I think he was waiting for ODH and a huge pay day against an easier opponent.

[HattonTheHammer]

the same reason most fighters at that level of their career duck opponents

he simply divided the pay day and the risk and decided it just wasnt worth it

I dont blame RJJ/hopkins/toney for ducking JC, far better paydays for an easier nights work back then

[JonesJrMayweather]

the same reason most fighters at that level of their career duck opponents

he simply divided the pay day and the risk and decided it just wasnt worth it

I dont blame RJJ/hopkins/toney for ducking JC, far better paydays for an easier nights work back then

Did you mean? I dont blame JC for ducking ,RJJ/hopkins/toney far better paydays for an easier nights work back then...

Roy's the only one that fought all of them, two in his younger/prime days....

[Phil]

Could have been he knew there was an easier fight against a smaller ODLH for more money like Master said,
that would make alot of sense,
it would have been good to see them fight with Hopkins not John Ruizing his ass, I think Joe still takes him though...

[Phil]

the same reason most fighters at that level of their career duck opponents

he simply divided the pay day and the risk and decided it just wasnt worth it

I dont blame RJJ/hopkins/toney for ducking JC, far better paydays for an easier nights work back then

Did you mean? I dont blame JC for ducking ,RJJ/hopkins/toney far better paydays for an easier nights work back then...

Roy's the only one that fought all of them, two in his younger/prime days....

In fairness they are all to blame, RJJ,Hopkins and Toney wouldn't go to the UK and Joe wouldn't go to the States, can't blame one more than the other, none of them were keen to take the risk. Roy may have fought Hop and Toney but he was having none of DM and vice versa... just a shame we missed out on a few great prime fights

[porkypara]

In short the answer is Hopkins in a greedy money grabing cnut who does not like it when he does not get his way!!!!

[JonesJrMayweather]

the same reason most fighters at that level of their career duck opponents

he simply divided the pay day and the risk and decided it just wasnt worth it

I dont blame RJJ/hopkins/toney for ducking JC, far better paydays for an easier nights work back then

Did you mean? I dont blame JC for ducking ,RJJ/hopkins/toney far better paydays for an easier nights work back then...

Roy's the only one that fought all of them, two in his younger/prime days....

In fairness they are all to blame, RJJ,Hopkins and Toney wouldn't go to the UK and Joe wouldn't go to the States, can't blame one more than the other, none of them were keen to take the risk. Roy may have fought Hop and Toney but he was having none of DM and vice versa... just a shame we missed out on a few great prime fights

No no, DM sat ringside and watched Roy stop virgil hill with the body shot. So he was willing to travel but after he saw RJJ up close in action he hauled ass and never returned...

P.S. no one even comes close to thinking that DM stood a chance against RJJ so what does it matter that he didnt fight him....

[Phil]

the same reason most fighters at that level of their career duck opponents

he simply divided the pay day and the risk and decided it just wasnt worth it

I dont blame RJJ/hopkins/toney for ducking JC, far better paydays for an easier nights work back then

Did you mean? I dont blame JC for ducking ,RJJ/hopkins/toney far better paydays for an easier nights work back then...

Roy's the only one that fought all of them, two in his younger/prime days....

In fairness they are all to blame, RJJ,Hopkins and Toney wouldn't go to the UK and Joe wouldn't go to the States, can't blame one more than the other, none of them were keen to take the risk. Roy may have fought Hop and Toney but he was having none of DM and vice versa... just a shame we missed out on a few great prime fights

No no, DM sat ringside and watched Roy stop virgil hill with the body shot. So he was willing to travel but after he saw RJJ up close in action he hauled ass and never returned...

P.S. no one even comes close to thinking that DM stood a chance against RJJ so what does it matter that he didnt fight him....

When DM was undefeated there was alot of people who thought he had the best chance to beat Roy... He didn't want to fight in the States and Roy wouldn't go to Germany, just because he travelled to watch doesn't mean he was willing to travel to fight.

[ICB]

the same reason most fighters at that level of their career duck opponents

he simply divided the pay day and the risk and decided it just wasnt worth it

I dont blame RJJ/hopkins/toney for ducking JC, far better paydays for an easier nights work back then

Did you mean? I dont blame JC for ducking ,RJJ/hopkins/toney far better paydays for an easier nights work back then...

Roy's the only one that fought all of them, two in his younger/prime days....

In fairness they are all to blame, RJJ,Hopkins and Toney wouldn't go to the UK and Joe wouldn't go to the States, can't blame one more than the other, none of them were keen to take the risk. Roy may have fought Hop and Toney but he was having none of DM and vice versa... just a shame we missed out on a few great prime fights

No no, DM sat ringside and watched Roy stop virgil hill with the body shot. So he was willing to travel but after he saw RJJ up close in action he hauled ass and never returned...

P.S. no one even comes close to thinking that DM stood a chance against RJJ so what does it matter that he didnt fight him....

When DM was undefeated there was alot of people who thought he had the best chance to beat Roy... He didn't want to fight in the States and Roy wouldn't go to Germany, just because he travelled to watch doesn't mean he was willing to travel to fight.

Put it this way.

DM struggled twice with Richard Hall, infact the 1st fight was a real battle. RJJ toyed with Richard Hall in one of the most one sided fights ever, DM also lost to Julio Cesar Gonzalez quite handily, yet again another RJJ victim who was embarrassed.

DM was a good fighter with a good jab and good power, and he was exciting. But his style was quite basic, and he wasn't very fast.

I just don't see his style being very effective at all vs a prime RJJ.

[Phil]

the same reason most fighters at that level of their career duck opponents

he simply divided the pay day and the risk and decided it just wasnt worth it

I dont blame RJJ/hopkins/toney for ducking JC, far better paydays for an easier nights work back then

Did you mean? I dont blame JC for ducking ,RJJ/hopkins/toney far better paydays for an easier nights work back then...

Roy's the only one that fought all of them, two in his younger/prime days....

In fairness they are all to blame, RJJ,Hopkins and Toney wouldn't go to the UK and Joe wouldn't go to the States, can't blame one more than the other, none of them were keen to take the risk. Roy may have fought Hop and Toney but he was having none of DM and vice versa... just a shame we missed out on a few great prime fights

No no, DM sat ringside and watched Roy stop virgil hill with the body shot. So he was willing to travel but after he saw RJJ up close in action he hauled ass and never returned...

P.S. no one even comes close to thinking that DM stood a chance against RJJ so what does it matter that he didnt fight him....

When DM was undefeated there was alot of people who thought he had the best chance to beat Roy... He didn't want to fight in the States and Roy wouldn't go to Germany, just because he travelled to watch doesn't mean he was willing to travel to fight.

Put it this way.

DM struggled twice with Richard Hall, infact the 1st fight was a real battle. RJJ toyed with Richard Hall in one of the most one sided fights ever, DM also lost to Julio Cesar Gonzalez quite handily, yet again another RJJ victim who was embarrassed.

DM was a good fighter with a good jab and good power, and he was exciting. But his style was quite basic, and he wasn't very fast.

I just don't see his style being very effective at all vs a prime RJJ.

Im not saying DM would have beaten Roy, infact I think Roy would have won easily enough, but at the time it was alot bigger fight than some of the fights Roy took. All my point is Roy, Joe, Toney, Hop, DM, Eubank ect.. all could have challenged themselves more by going overseas for fights but took the easier options...