People overlook Calzaghe's body work.

[Amsterdam]

It's top notch, he goes to the body just as much as any highlight body puncher does and Hopkins has not fought a really good body puncher in a long time, one with great speed, never.

Those body punches are going to wear Hopkins down pretty quickly if Calzaghe's landing them well enough. Plus people really overlook Calzaghe's jab, one of the best in the sport and they forget how a jab can really upset Hopkins' inside work attempts(see the two Taylor fights).

Other than that I've written my thoughts on the matter too many times, those are two additions that will greatly be a bother for Hopkins.

My prediction of Calzaghe TKO 8 stands, so all of you guys picking Hopkins better not pull the 'he was old' card out when this happens, because I've been saying he's old for a long time but you feel he's got enough left to beat Calzaghe and you know he's got the best training camp he can have at this point, so I expect full credit for a Calzaghe domination and for you all to come in here and submit that he'd lose clearly prime to prime when it happens.

As you all underrate Joe, yet again.:yep

[Streets_Of_Gold]

The problem is, when Joe goes to the body, it's with wide, looping hooks that leaves him wide open for counters. He also has a bad tendency to lean left or right while he's throwing these wide shots.
He can get away with this against B level fighters, but against Hopkins he'll eat some nasty uppercuts and hooks.
I expect Calzanghe to learn this early in the fight between rds 1-3.

[Nalian]

Agreed.

If Calzaghe wins its not because of Hopkins age , as hes an ageless great fighter. Its because he was the better man on the night.

The same if Hopkins wins, it wasnt because of new weight class to Joe and fighting in America.

There are NO excuses for tomorrow.

[Fat Joe]

He works the body very well as I am sure Kessler will testify. I agree with your prediction but maybe a round or two later.

[196osh]

It's top notch, he goes to the body just as much as any highlight body puncher does and Hopkins has not fought a really good body puncher in a long time, one with great speed, never.

Those body punches are going to wear Hopkins down pretty quickly if Calzaghe's landing them well enough. Plus people really overlook Calzaghe's jab, one of the best in the sport and they forget how a jab can really upset Hopkins' inside work attempts(see the two Taylor fights).

Other than that I've written my thoughts on the matter too many times, those are two additions that will greatly be a bother for Hopkins.

My prediction of Calzaghe TKO 8 stands, so all of you guys picking Hopkins better not pull the 'he was old' card out when this happens, because I've been saying he's old for a long time but you feel he's got enough left to beat Calzaghe and you know he's got the best training camp he can have at this point, so I expect full credit for a Calzaghe domination and for you all to come in here and submit that he'd lose clearly prime to prime when it happens.

As you all underrate Joe, yet again.:yep

:yep.

I think Hopkins will finish the fight though.

[MasterCalzaghe]

Lol. Of course the 'he was old' card will come out but fuckit, it don't matter. A win is a win in boxing.

If Joe is so 'open' though why hasn't he been put down more? He's too fast, he keeps moving, never repeats head movement and such. Nah, he's not open. Just looks that way, Ali seemed 'open' alot did he not?:deal

[Decebal]

Hopkins is old. Calzaghe said so himself. If Hopkins, old as he is, beats Calzaghe, Calzaghe was overrated.

[BigBone]

Hopkins is old. Calzaghe said so himself. If Hopkins, old as he is, beats Calzaghe, Calzaghe was overrated.
You should never trust a boxer... if you do, you probably think that Floyd Mayweather has only beat overrated fighters because he said they are all shit before they had met. :nono

[Decebal]

You should never trust a boxer... if you do, Floyd Mayweather only beat overrated fighters because he said they are all shit before they met. :nono

Nah...nothing to do with that.

Hopkins is 43 and way past his best, physically. Calzaghe is almost as fast as ever, his reflexes are still very good, and now he punches harder that for a very long time and he is stronger. Huge difference.

[Dorfmeister]

Brewer still landed 2.5 times more body punches on Calzaghe after 10 rounds ( Brewer 83 bodyshots, Calzaghe 33 bodyshots). The final punch stat after twelve was Calzaghe 289 of 783 and Brewer 179 of 638. Calzaghe started going to the body against Kessler because he found that weak spot in the last 30 seconds of the eight... Obviously, he goes to the body if he can step inside the distance and work at close range. He can't move in with his hands by his side like Eubank did against him in 97.

[Decebal]

Brewer still landed 2.5 times more body punches on Calzaghe after 10 rounds ( Brewer 83 bodyshots, Calzaghe 33 bodyshots). The final punch stat after twelve was Calzaghe 289 of 783 and Brewer 179 of 638. Calzaghe started going to the body against Kessler because he found that weak spot in the last 30 seconds of the eight... Obviously, he goes to the body if he can step inside the distance and work at close range. He can't move in with his hands by his side like Eubank did against him in 97.

I agree...he'll only go to the body in mid flow, not like a pressure fighter would, unless he's forced to by Hokins.

[Dorfmeister]

I agree...he'll only go to the body in mid flow, not like a pressure fighter would, unless he's forced to by Hokins.

He has to lead himself in and then set those combinations off. Hopkins controls the distance on the back foot and turns exceptionally well, leaving his opponents completely out of position. Once inside, Hopkins won't let Calzaghe swing and that is because they will lock their right/left arms ( they can only throw uppercuts from that position)... Once again and back to the Taylor fights, I invite people to see 3 or 6 minutes of the first two rounds and see for themselves where did Taylor's jab landed... That's right, Hopkins blocked those jabs that fast and moved from side to side to make Taylor chase and set that jab time and time again. Hopkins knows better than we and as well as Enzo that if he stays in front of Calzaghe, Joe outworks him... Bernard's game is to make both fighters connect as least as possible.

[Bslice]

Its probably true, when I think of Calzaghe I think "sir slaps a lot" and i don't necessarily think where those slaps are being aimed at.

[Decebal]

He has to lead himself in and then set those combinations off.

Hmmm...Calzaghe cannot just charge the way he did against Kessler...he has to draw Hopkins to the fight and then let those combos go. It's hard to describe; you'll see tomorrow!:D

[Akxtinguish]

Here's the counterpunch: Hopkins is also good at working the body. I recall some nice bodyshots from the Winky fight.

It comes down to who's body takes it better. They're both pretty strong. Strong bodies and strong chins.

It's going to be interesting. Purely strategic. I love these kinds of fights.

One day and a half to go.

[Dorfmeister]

Hmmm...Calzaghe cannot just charge the way he did against Kessler...he has to draw Hopkins to the fight and then let those combos go. It's hard to describe; you'll see tomorrow!

He runs into much higher risk in drawing Hopkins like fishes on unseen hooks, specially holding his arms up and exposing his midsection. Hopkins gets progressively more dangerous when allowed to counter-move and throw crisp shots. Calzaghe is a good counter-jabber but he can't let those hands fly on Hopkins face on the back foot like he did to Lacy... I think people are convincing themselves that the old guy has no reflexes and is all bully tactics - he always was very good feinting and out-slicking opponents in short spaces and I do think that he has an advantage to find Calzaghe's face if he allows him to. My absolutely final take is that Calzaghe wins if he drives Hopkins back and makes him use those legs all around the ring space ... If he tries to play smart and prove who's the classier boxer, it's going to be an upset.

[ChampionsForever]

Calzaghe on points, id love a stoppage tho, ive noticed he's body work in the Kessler fight, I think he will go for the body alot more considering how hard Hopkins is to hit flush in the face.

[Fat Joe]

My absolutely final take is that Calzaghe wins if he drives Hopkins back and makes him use those legs all around the ring space ... If he tries to play smart and prove who's the classier boxer, it's going to be an upset.

Sounds like your still undecided.

[Decebal]

Calzaghe wins if he drives Hopkins back and makes him use those legs all around the ring space ... If he tries to play smart and prove who's the classier boxer, it's going to be an upset.

Calzaghe needs to keep Bhops moving around the middle of the ring, continuosly. So, he must sometimes push him back and sometimes draw him in, but just enough. Tricky to do...

[Dorfmeister]

Sounds like your still undecided.

Absolutely, other than true supporters everybody is not really decided. I am not a great Hopkins supporter so he may lose or he may not. I don't see one analyst that puts himself on the line predicting a clear win for Calzaghe... That may be because they don't want to disrespect Hopkins and his fans but it may be because Hopkins won his last two fights where he was a 3 to 1 and a 2 to 1 underdog. I put my Vcash on Adamek-Bell and made an avatar bet for Hopkins-Calzaghe just to pretend that I am a player.