Comments on: Expect Joe Calzaghe to Outwork Bernard Hopkins

By: Ja Dawson

Ja Dawson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:33:03 +0000

Calzaghe is a what you would call a “young” 36-year old. I like how you added three years onto his age. lol Nonetheless, I think he has actually faced decent comp, i.e. as of late. You don’t think that Jeff Lacy and Mikkel Kessler were good fighters? I will concede that Bernard has faced better comp over the balance of his career (Jones, Glen Johnson, Trinidad, Tarver, Winky Wright, and Jermain Taylor). However, Calzaghe fought EVERYONE at 168, for better or for worse, and remained undefeated. I think he has more advantages than just speed. He has the fresher/younger legs and throws more punches - that means a lot. We’ll see though. Great point about the home States advantage (although, I’m confident that the refs won’t be playing around with their cards).

By: Sniferneal

Sniferneal — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:08:47 +0000

Well Ja Dawson, I will follow my feelings and predict a decision win for Hopkins. I think Joe is a great fighter but is over hyped. He has not, in the mind of many, faced tough competition, unlike Hopkins.Joe himself is not a young fighter…..he is 39. Yet, his weak competition makes him look like a young fighter at his prime. Joe has a good chance at beating Hopkins, but what I see in Hopkins is an experienced fighter who will unmask Calzaghe’s flaws. The only edge Joe has is his speed, other than that, Hopkins is at a better advantage with his home field advantage and experience.

By: Ja Dawson

Ja Dawson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:06:32 +0000

Very well written, you should write more often! I have to admit that I agree with your words for the most part, EXCEPT, that it will not be close. When was the last time that a Hopkins fight has not been close (in his defeats)? Even his loss to a young Roy Jones, Jr. at 160 pounds was not a total blowout.

By: KentuckyCelt

KentuckyCelt — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:53:39 +0000

If I were working on my “Great American” script, instead of trudging away at work, I would have the crusty old ex-con, and citizen of the City of Brotherly Love, provide a brilliant storyline of one man’s struggle from poverty to prison, past the gates of advancing age, and on to the glory of victory over the younger, crisper, undefeated fighter.

Unfortunately, I’m not that creative, and reality tends to prevail in such contests outside of Hollywood. Joe Calzaghe has not lost a fight in over ten years, and frankly, other than a few shaky moments, has never really been in any “trouble” in the ring in 44 fights (32 of which he ended by KO). With over 20 title defenses, he is just a few fights shy of Joe Louis’s 25 total successful defenses, or, if you want a better idea in terms more akin to the “European standard” (like the metric system or “Euro”), he is on the cusp of overcoming Dariusz Michalczewski’s 23 total defenses at Light Heavyweight.

Any way you cut it, add it, or dissect it, as it were, Calzaghe’s hand-speed, foot-speed, punch diversity, and overall ring skills have shown to be brilliant, particularly of late. At 168, it can be argued, effectively, he was and is, without peer. At 175, against a 43 year old former middleweight, I still like his chances, and so does the house.

Calzaghe will beat Hopkins around the ring in a shocking, if not disturbing, display of dominance that will leave even the most ardent Hopkins fans jaw-droppingly stunned at how easy The “Pride of Wales” outworks and outpoints Hopkins.

Gentle readers, this fight will not even be close.