Soft punchers that were successful

[ryanman]

Calzaghe in the later stages of his career.

I disagree with this....I think Joe hit harder than most people think.

He had roy jones face a mess, Hopkins turned to acting and running like a girl, and Joe hurt Mikkel with a body shot. Joe would brawl and come right at you, he was no defensive master like most light punchers, and if he couldnt punch people would have walked through and KO'd his ass.

Agree with both of you to some extent. For sure Calzaghe hit WAY harder earlier in his career, obviously his hands still put paid to that. But I think in the latter stages of his career he COULD still pop a bit if he wanted to/when he choose to, but a combination of a mental block (due to hands) and thought out decision to not throw bombs (also due to hands) meant he usually didn't. He pretty much said so - after the Hopkins fight he said he probably had gone too far with just throwing pitter pats and would have to put more into the shots against Roy Jones, and I think this was reflected in the fights.

Also, although he always had a tendancy to slap a bit this became a lot worse following hand problems. I'm sure that any of you that have had a painful hand injury can identify with the problem - however much you want to throw a proper punch with full power (and are willing to take the associated pain) you brain just stops you from doing it - and of course over time this becomes ingrained.

[jon09]

Willie Pep
The current version of Bernard Hopkins