calzaghe v hopkins

[Dean Duke]

I dont normally get involved in threads like these but after reading some of the posts I must have my say on this and ask a few questions too, firstly the fight its self, I had it very close with Calzaghe just edging it on work rate and willingness to engage in action.

1. why didnt Hopkins press the Action after he had Joe on the deck
2. If joes shots didnt carry any pop why did Bernard cover up, tie up and not try to overwhelm joe.
3. Why did Bernard roll about on the floor looking for the ref to take points off Joe if the punches had no power.
4. Why is it ok for Hopkins to use dirty boxing and then when its done back he wants points taken off the other fighter.

At the end of the day Hopkins could of put it on the line and put more effort in but for whatever reason he didnt and lost a very close fight. I used to be a proper fan of Bernard untill he didnt try enough against Jones in the 1st fight. The thing with Hopkins is if the fights not quite going his way he will not risk getting stopped or hurt to turn the fight around he just does not have it in him to dig deep and take risks, look at the fights he has lost he just will not put in that extra bit of effort needed, he just doesnt like to take shots to land his own and when you fight at elite level somtimes all the difference needed to win is a fighter who can hang it out when needed and that unfortunatly aint Bernard.
On a side note I still do admire the way he lives the life, the mans the same age as me and looks incredible, is still dedicated and old skool but mentally is slightly up him self.

[ross]

I dont normally get involved in threads like these but after reading some of the posts I must have my say on this and ask a few questions too, firstly the fight its self, I had it very close with Calzaghe just edging it on work rate and willingness to engage in action.

1. why didnt Hopkins press the Action after he had Joe on the deck
2. If joes shots didnt carry any pop why did Bernard cover up, tie up and not try to overwhelm joe.
3. Why did Bernard roll about on the floor looking for the ref to take points off Joe if the punches had no power.
4. Why is it ok for Hopkins to use dirty boxing and then when its done back he wants points taken off the other fighter.

At the end of the day Hopkins could of put it on the line and put more effort in but for whatever reason he didnt and lost a very close fight. I used to be a proper fan of Bernard untill he didnt try enough against Jones in the 1st fight. The thing with Hopkins is if the fights not quite going his way he will not risk getting stopped or hurt to turn the fight around he just does not have it in him to dig deep and take risks, look at the fights he has lost he just will not put in that extra bit of effort needed, he just doesnt like to take shots to land his own and when you fight at elite level somtimes all the difference needed to win is a fighter who can hang it out when needed and that unfortunatly aint Bernard.
On a side note I still do admire the way he lives the life, the mans the same age as me and looks incredible, is still dedicated and old skool but mentally is slightly up him self.

Exactly right, if Joe wasnt landing anything clean, why was Bernard so hesitant to actually fight?

Joe was crude and had an ugly technique but he could keep fighting and do more than his opponent. To see how Hopkins has done since and Kessler beating Froch, id Take Joe over anyone at super middle and light heavy now. Dawson cant deal with fast hands, he was ok fighting all those plodders and old men. Ward would struggle with Joes work rate and ability to make a fight rough, like Bika did to him.

Bernard would have done worse in his prime against a younger Calzaghe that had that work rate but could punch as well.