Joe Calzaghe vs. Bernard Hopkins

[Liverlips]

This fight is at 175 (light heavyweight). Joe will need to drop back down to 168 after this fight if he wants to keep his super middleweight belts.

 

[Angelcynn]

I remember Joe was just about faveourite over here at the bookies for the Lacy fight. I also remember that boxing fans in the UK were very wary of Lacy because of the fact that the American bookies made him clear faveourite to win and had labelled him the new Tyson!?!?! I think thats why it was such a nice victory, not just because of of the Lacy over hype but also because everyone thought by looking at Lacy's physique that he'd kill Joe but in actual fact Joe just toyed with Lacy for 12 rounds. The best part was seeing Lacys coach getting more and more pissed off (o and Lacys face getting really messy!

Anyways that is history now. I think Hopkins will come out all guns blazing although I'm not sure if Joe will try and match him early on or just take his time and tire the old man out so Joe can work on a tired Hopkins later on. Joe's stamina is his strength. He can go for 12 rounds easily and he knows it. Hopkins may stuggle to do so, so it will probably be Joes plan to last 12 rounds and win unanimously on points by out boxing Hopkins with those beautiful combinations of his. Having said that, Joe keeps saying he will KO Hopkins so it's anyones guess as to what will happen???

All I know is I'm extremely excited/confident!!!

 

[Trooper Thorn]

I remember Joe was just about faveourite over here at the bookies for the Lacy fight. I also remember that boxing fans in the UK were very wary of Lacy because of the fact that the American bookies made him clear faveourite to win and had labelled him the new Tyson!?!?! I think thats why it was such a nice victory, not just because of of the Lacy over hype but also because everyone thought by looking at Lacy's physique that he'd kill Joe but in actual fact Joe just toyed with Lacy for 12 rounds. The best part was seeing Lacys coach getting more and more pissed off (o and Lacys face getting really messy!

Anyways that is history now. I think Hopkins will come out all guns blazing although I'm not sure if Joe will try and match him early on or just take his time and tire the old man out so Joe can work on a tired Hopkins later on. Joe's stamina is his strength. He can go for 12 rounds easily and he knows it. Hopkins may stuggle to do so, so it will probably be Joes plan to last 12 rounds and win unanimously on points by out boxing Hopkins with those beautiful combinations of his. Having said that, Joe keeps saying he will KO Hopkins so it's anyones guess as to what will happen???

All I know is I'm extremely excited/confident!!!

12 out of 15 American boxing writers picked Lacy over Calzaghe. The majority of them thought Lacy would stop Joe.

Hopkins is effective when he can lure his opponent into his slow and deliberate style,but with Joe's handsped and workrate that simply won't be possible.

Hopkins's got visibly flustered when Jermaine Taylor put his foot on the pedal and upped his workrate in both their fights and Bernard can be caught and dropped as he showed in his fights with Anthwun Echols and Sergundo Mercado.

Calzaghe by TKO in round 7 I say.

 

[Sean]

Joe has such an extreme workrate and such hands, I am really looking forward to this fight! As Joe himself stated, I would also like to see him stop Hopkins. I agree with Trooper Thorn. About 7 rounds should be enough for Joe!

 

[pt.guard2]

Hopkins is craftier and more skilled than Lacy, but I do think that Joe's superior hand speed and work rate will carry the fight. I am thinking a unanimous decision for Calzaghe, if the fight is judged fairly.

 

[Don Wassall]

Joe looks to have a clear edge in the staredown ritual:

Here's some quotes from Hopkins during Wednesday's news conference:


"It's always a race issue when it's black vs. white. Everyone is waiting for the next Great White Hope. . . It's a cultural fight for me. Unless you've been through what I've been through, you wouldn't understand."


Apparently Hopkins is still unaware of the white domination of boxing these days. BTW there's plenty of overpriced tickets left ranging in price from $250 to $1500.

 

[Sean]

Joe looks to have a clear edge in the staredown ritual: 

Here's some quotes from Hopkins during Wednesday's news conference:


"It's always a race issue when it's black vs. white.  Everyone is waiting for the next Great White Hope. . . It's a cultural fight for me.  Unless you've been through what I've been through, you wouldn't understand."


Apparently Hopkins is still unaware of the white domination of boxing these days. BTW there's plenty of overpriced tickets left ranging in price from $250 to $1500. 

I always like it when white fighter doesn't back down in the staredowns. Joe is definately dominating this one. Let's hope he dominates the fight too!

Edited by: Sean

 

[whiteathlete33]

If Calzaghe wins this one he should be considered the greatest boxer of all time. Hes that good and hes a class act all the way! GO Joe. With Hopkins losing twice to Taylor I just cant see him winning this fight. Going back to the Lacy issue I can remember someone saying it would be the end of Joes career because Lacy would destroy him. He spit it right back in their faces.Edited by: whiteathlete33

 

[Charles Martel]

My prediction is a wide decision win for Joe Calzaghe. Hopkins is durable, he's never been stopped and he's only ever been down in two fights. Joe doesn't seem to punch as hard since he broke his hand in the Ashira fight.

But Calzaghe is by far the better boxer, and he will likely outwork Hopkins in every round and land far more clean punches as he cruises to a UD.

 

[White Shogun]

I know we get tired of pointing this out, but one wonders what would happen if Joe said it was a cultural fight for him, too? Can you imagine him saying that this fight is for his people and their reputation as fighters? That he won't see them demeaned and disrespected any longer?

 

[whiteathlete33]

My prediction is a wide decision win for Joe Calzaghe. Hopkins is durable, he's never been stopped and he's only ever been down in two fights. Joe doesn't seem to punch as hard since he broke his hand in the Ashira fight.

But Calzaghe is by far the better boxer, and he will likely outwork Hopkins in every round and land far more clean punches as he cruises to a UD.

I hope u are right JD1986. I can't bear anymorde loses after Enzo, Woods, and Maskaev.

 

[white is right]

I can't see Joe losing as he has clear advantage in speed and volume of punches. He can only lose if he is counter punched to death with long power shots. Also it looks like the racial angle was a level by Bernard as he stated today, that without that angle the fight wouldn't have happened, due to both fighters demanding too much money for a vanilla fight.

 

[Guest]

The exicitement is building already. As stated before, if Joe uses his speed and intelligence to just win, it will be a great weekend for me. I will be pissed if Joe goes out like Rick Fatton.

Saw the weigh in, and both looked in top shape.berNARD attempted to intimadate Joe, but Joe looked confident and rammed his nose into Nard's mug when as always a blk tried to scare a "white boy"....GO Joe and re-estblish some order.

 

[GiovaniMarcon]

Remember when Billy Conn was beating the holy sh-- out of Joe Louis then got silly at the end and got knock-the-F-out?

Yeah well I hope Joe's smarter than that.

He probably is, though, since he's held his title for so long against hard competition.

He's pretty much the face for his weight class, unfortunately his skin color works against him being a well-known name outside of his sport.

Everyone has heard of Hearns or Leonard or Mosley. When will the average schlub on the street know Calzaghe?

 

[Liverlips]

I've been calling sports radio to promote Calzaghe. Most hosts are open to the fact that he is a great, if not well known, fighter. This fight means a lot though I don't know where Joe goes from here if he wins.

Maybe a Pavlik-Calzaghe clash at 168.

 

[mrjohnnynofear]

Joe should win a UD tonight. The only thing he will have to watch out for is the in fighting. Hopkins can be sneaky and hit to the body. But if Joe stays out of range and sticks and moves, he will get the victory.

 

[whiteathlete33]

What is everyones opinion on Hopkins? Do you think hes the most dangerous fighter Joe has faced so far? I think Kessler was more dangerous.

 

[whiteathlete33]

Just watched the Lacy and Calzaghe fight on youtube. Calzaghe absolutely made Lacy look ridiculous. Hand speed is incredible. If he is at 75 percent tonight hes good.

 

[Sean]

What is everyones opinion on Hopkins? Do you think hes the most dangerous fighter Joe has faced so far? I think Kessler was more dangerous.

In terms of Joe losing a fight, yes I believe Kessler was his most dangerous opponent.

That being said, Hopkins is by far the most dangerous opponent that Joe will probably ever face, due to the out of ring aspects, not only from our point of view (castefootball's) but also from his legacy. If joe were to lose, we all know how the media will play up Hopkins and black athletes. Also, Joe's legacy will suffer in that he will become just another Euro who didn't fight over here because he was not at that level.

I'm for Joe all the way. He's my favorite fighter, and in my opinion this is one of the most important caste fights on the horizon. I'm still picking Joe by stoppage, anywhere from the 7th onward. I feel like he'll be able to get it done late. Let's Go Joe!

 

[whiteathlete33]

Sean just watch his fight vs lacy.

 

[Sean]

Sean just watch his fight vs lacy.

I've seen it, but I just rewatched it in anticipation for tonights fight

Lacy was really abandoned by the boxing media after losing to Joe, whereas Hopkins has been their hero for quite some time. Hopkins will be the "real" test of Calzaghe in their eyes, which I why I hope Joe will win this fight tonight handily, as he did against Lacy!

 

[Poacher]

Against all odds Calzaghe takes the split decision in Las Vegas! I didn't watch the fight.

Looks like you lost to a "white boy" after all Bernard.

Scores were 113-114, 115-112, 116-111. Looks like one of the judges was really off the mark.

I believe the win moves Joe to 45-0. Awesome.Edited by: Poacher

 

[Sean]

YES!!! Joe gets the win!

115-112
116-111
for Joe

114-113 Hopkins.

 

[Liverlips]

The judge that had it for Hopkins is black (Adelaide Byrd). Surpised?

HBO had it 116-111 Calzaghe. Hopkins kept bending down saying he was hit low. Really, he was just gassed and looking for a break from Joe's beating.

Bernard Hopkins was schooled by a "white boy."

 

[Charles Martel]

It wasn't pretty, but nice win for Joe.

I scored it 115-112 for Joe. The black lady judge, Adelaide Byrd, predictably scored it 114-113 for Hopkins.

B-Hop has lost to a white boy.