Why isn't Hopkins fighting Calzaghe?

[raleights]

If this is Hopkins' last outting, why not make it against the best available? I understand Tarver ko'd Roy Jones and may have a little bit more American recognition than Calzaghe, but he's still not a superstar in this country, nor is Calzaghe. So on the last fight of your career, why would you avoid the biggest challenge out there possible? It certainly changes the way I look at Bernard's legacy, and all those years of having the suspicion Nard was ducking Joe.... Well it doesn't look to be suspicion anymore if this truely is the last fight for him. I know some will stick up for Bernard which I understand, but don't say a damn thing about the money, he already has more than he's earned like most elite athletes. Cash in, or fight the best? It's clear what option Bernard took - this is totally different than PBF trying to make mega bucks fighting DLH, and still planning to tackle Hatton/Margarito after. Joe has been avoided by the best and will continue to be avoided, which probably played a role in him giving Lacy such a horrible beating (also the fact he's 1 dimensional).. years and years and years and years of frustration being taken out on one man

Bernard doesn't wanna be that man.....One thing you have to give Tarver, even tho he's certainly not in Hopkins' or Calzaghe's league he atleast addressed Calzaghe and the possibility of them fighting, instead of avoiding him alltogether.

[Wadeb_21]

If this is Hopkins' last outting, why not make it against the best available? I understand Tarver ko'd Roy Jones and may have a little bit more American recognition than Calzaghe, but he's still not a superstar in this country, nor is Calzaghe. So on the last fight of your career, why would you avoid the biggest challenge out there possible? It certainly changes the way I look at Bernard's legacy, and all those years of having the suspicion Nard was ducking Joe.... Well it doesn't look to be suspicion anymore if this truely is the last fight for him. I know some will stick up for Bernard which I understand, but don't say a damn thing about the money, he already has more than he's earned like most elite athletes. Cash in, or fight the best? It's clear what option Bernard took - this is totally different than PBF trying to make mega bucks fighting DLH, and still planning to tackle Hatton/Margarito after. Joe has been avoided by the best and will continue to be avoided, which probably played a role in him giving Lacy such a horrible beating (also the fact he's 1 dimensional).. years and years and years and years of frustration being taken out on one man

Bernard doesn't wanna be that man.....One thing you have to give Tarver, even tho he's certainly not in Hopkins' or Calzaghe's league he atleast addressed Calzaghe and the possibility of them fighting, instead of avoiding him alltogether.

I think the reaso he chose not to fight JC and fight Tarver is because Tarver beat Roy not once but twice and some people even think 3 times, and Hopkins wants to beat the man that beat the man 2 twice. Plus hopkins was beat by Roy and maybe in his mind this will clean that slate as far as that goes.

[WWatt]

He knows he can't (and couldn't) beat Calzaghe

[raleights]

Not trying to be an ass Wadeb but beating an old Roy is irrelevant, if a journeyman like Glen Johnson can get to you, your time has come and gone

[Preme]

So i don't look like im a b-hop fan trying to stick up for him ill just say this first, im welsh, a big calzaghe fan followed him since i can remember, not a major b-hop fan but have respect for him..

First off, im not 100% certain, but fairly sure hopkins vs Traver was more or less agreed before calzaghe put on that super show against lacy. So back then, even if hopkins thought he could beat calzaghe, the win wouldn't do much for him. IF he got the fight and won people would just say calzaghe was overrated, an old hopkins beat him bla bla you see where i am going with that.

Second off, i think hopkins wants to go out on a fight he has a chance in. At 41, i think both hopkins and his team would know the way calzaghe fights, he wouldn't be like Taylor, easterman and the others hopkins fought; he wouldn't stand off him, imo he would be in his face for every second of every round. I know hop is in amazing shape not just for his age but period, but i don't think he could go 12 rounds with Joe at this point in his career.

Lastly, hopkins being 41, being a middle weight all his life, jumping up to fight in light heavy, well the excuses are already there when he losses. ops sorry i meant 'if' he losses

[raleights]

Didn't know about the fight being agreed upon, before the Lacy slaughter that is. But it would make even more sense for him to make a trip to 168 and fight Joe before taking on Tarver, putting the weight on gradually. Maybe I'm just being a little bitch about it I dunno - it's a fight I've been wanting to see for a long long time though.

[Preme]

tbh tho, unless there was big money in it for joe i highly doubt he would take it on. hopkins has lost the last 2 on a trot, god knows when he last beat a world class beater (no disrespect to ODLH, love the guy but middle w8 was to much for him)

Joe would have very little to gain, same reason he doesn't wanna waste time on RJJ; he wins he beat a guy who last his last 2 fights and is getting worse every fight.

[raleights]

I have no doubts Joe would jump at the opportunity, not the other way around though.

[Hulk]

If this is Hopkins' last outting, why not make it against the best available? I understand Tarver ko'd Roy Jones and may have a little bit more American recognition than Calzaghe, but he's still not a superstar in this country, nor is Calzaghe. So on the last fight of your career, why would you avoid the biggest challenge out there possible? It certainly changes the way I look at Bernard's legacy, and all those years of having the suspicion Nard was ducking Joe.... Well it doesn't look to be suspicion anymore if this truely is the last fight for him. I know some will stick up for Bernard which I understand, but don't say a damn thing about the money, he already has more than he's earned like most elite athletes. Cash in, or fight the best? It's clear what option Bernard took - this is totally different than PBF trying to make mega bucks fighting DLH, and still planning to tackle Hatton/Margarito after. Joe has been avoided by the best and will continue to be avoided, which probably played a role in him giving Lacy such a horrible beating (also the fact he's 1 dimensional).. years and years and years and years of frustration being taken out on one man

Bernard doesn't wanna be that man.....One thing you have to give Tarver, even tho he's certainly not in Hopkins' or Calzaghe's league he atleast addressed Calzaghe and the possibility of them fighting, instead of avoiding him alltogether.

I think the reaso he chose not to fight JC and fight Tarver is because Tarver beat Roy not once but twice and some people even think 3 times, and Hopkins wants to beat the man that beat the man 2 twice. Plus hopkins was beat by Roy and maybe in his mind this will clean that slate as far as that goes.

Cool click. That is EXACTLY RIGHT! But Tarver beat him twice not three times, he lost the first fight clearly. And B-hop never dodged Calzaghe thats a fukin laugh, Calzaghe finally got a big win against Jeff Lacy, b4 then he was no superstar. And last time I checked 175 was farther from 160 than 168, and Tarver was a more dangerous and recognized opponent than Joe calzaghe.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

I had heard rumors that that fight between Joe and BHop was in the making but thats all it was... I read it somewhere but I figured that it was just people talking... That would have been nice to see... The flurrying Calzaghe against the (now)tentative counterpuncher

[MRMANICK]

First off why are you guys even putting Joes name with bhops.I hope you people don't think joe is great cause he beat lacy. Lacy wasn't anything special. Hop didn't fight joe cause at the end of the day Joe is still a guy who hasn't really beat anyone. To be in the game as long as joe and your best win is Jeff Lacy that is pathetic.Joe has to beat a really good fighter before i can put him in bhops class because the truth is he wasn't before and beating a young limited fighter won't get you there. Sorry

[barbaro]

joe calzaghe beats a overated lacy and all of a sudden hes good enuff to fight bernard hopkins?



gimme a break hopkins would annilate joe calzaghe.

[sexydarin]

Joe has got the goods to beat any top ten boxer, any time. He will be a legend by the time he gets it done.

[azumir]

If this is Hopkins' last outting, why not make it against the best available? I understand Tarver ko'd Roy Jones and may have a little bit more American recognition than Calzaghe, but he's still not a superstar in this country, nor is Calzaghe. So on the last fight of your career, why would you avoid the biggest challenge out there possible? It certainly changes the way I look at Bernard's legacy, and all those years of having the suspicion Nard was ducking Joe.... Well it doesn't look to be suspicion anymore if this truely is the last fight for him. I know some will stick up for Bernard which I understand, but don't say a damn thing about the money, he already has more than he's earned like most elite athletes. Cash in, or fight the best? It's clear what option Bernard took - this is totally different than PBF trying to make mega bucks fighting DLH, and still planning to tackle Hatton/Margarito after. Joe has been avoided by the best and will continue to be avoided, which probably played a role in him giving Lacy such a horrible beating (also the fact he's 1 dimensional).. years and years and years and years of frustration being taken out on one man

Bernard doesn't wanna be that man.....One thing you have to give Tarver, even tho he's certainly not in Hopkins' or Calzaghe's league he atleast addressed Calzaghe and the possibility of them fighting, instead of avoiding him alltogether.

Hopkins has always awoided bigger men and especially Calzaghe. B-Hop is the purest hype of the century.

[p4pking]

If this is Hopkins' last outting, why not make it against the best available? I understand Tarver ko'd Roy Jones and may have a little bit more American recognition than Calzaghe, but he's still not a superstar in this country, nor is Calzaghe. So on the last fight of your career, why would you avoid the biggest challenge out there possible? It certainly changes the way I look at Bernard's legacy, and all those years of having the suspicion Nard was ducking Joe.... Well it doesn't look to be suspicion anymore if this truely is the last fight for him. I know some will stick up for Bernard which I understand, but don't say a damn thing about the money, he already has more than he's earned like most elite athletes. Cash in, or fight the best? It's clear what option Bernard took - this is totally different than PBF trying to make mega bucks fighting DLH, and still planning to tackle Hatton/Margarito after. Joe has been avoided by the best and will continue to be avoided, which probably played a role in him giving Lacy such a horrible beating (also the fact he's 1 dimensional).. years and years and years and years of frustration being taken out on one man

Bernard doesn't wanna be that man.....One thing you have to give Tarver, even tho he's certainly not in Hopkins' or Calzaghe's league he atleast addressed Calzaghe and the possibility of them fighting, instead of avoiding him alltogether.

Hopkins has always awoided bigger men and especially Calzaghe. B-Hop is the purest hype of the century.

THat's just fucking weak, the fact that he's fighting Tarver makes it even worse... IT was practically a done deal before Calzaghe LAcy ever happened, and Hopkins will get more money and recognition if he is able to beat Tarver, much more. The original post sort of brushes off that fact, oh it might get him more recognition in the US.... umm.... the USA is ten times as large as the UK, is that really a hard concept to grasp to you?? Of course it will earn him ALOT more recognition and money if he can SOMEHOW pull this one off, but to question Bhop's desire to fight the best at this time is ridiculous, this is such a hard fight for him to have taken.