Calzaghe vs. Hopkins - Post fight analysis

[TFFP]

My thoughts:

- Hopkins fought as I expected. As far as boxing goes his tactics were to lure Joe in and counter almost exclusively with the right hand. This seemed to comprise about 30% of his gameplan, the other 70 being fighting off the ropes, boaring in with the head, hugging, hitting on the break and even gamesmanship to try and fool the ref into taking points

- Joe started off very poorly, which I did not anticipate, culminating in an embarrassing knockdown, which dan-b called. It certainly took a period of adjustment for Joe to get into this fight, which I would put down the the natural stylistic advantage Hopkins has as a counterpuncher

- Once Joe had adjusted, he seemed to take control and the fight became fairly repetetive. Joe would back Hopkins up, where he would unleash a flurry of arm punches, sometimes effective, sometimes not so much, and Hopkins would hold. Inbetween these exchanges, Hopkins would catch Joe with sporadic right hands - probably the cleanest punches of the fight

- Hopkins kept it more competetive than I anticipated, and I must hold my hands up and say I got that very wrong. Not so much on the scorecard, but the nature of the fight was simply that Joe landed few meaningful shots and one could even argue Hopkins landed the best shots of the night

- Joe is most definitely deteriorating, which I have noticed in his last couple of fights, and it continued tonight. One more fight and call it a day please Joe...

- Hopkins would make mincemeat of Pavlik, whos cock is getting quite the work-out by the hordes of bitter gimps in the general

- A note on Cortez, since there is much whining in the general. I was happy enough with his performance. He broke the clinches as quick as he could. It must be said Joe more than held his own in those exchanges, it was never going to be a classic, and in a perverse way I enjoyed it as it showed the other side of Joe's game

Final scorecard: 117-111 Joe Calzaghe.

[dan-b]

Fair post. I agree with everything except the score. I guess it comes down to how you score rounds.

[El Matador]

My thoughts:

- Hopkins fought as I expected. As far as boxing goes his tactics were to lure Joe in and counter almost exclusively with the right hand. This seemed to comprise about 30% of his gameplan, the other 70 being fighting off the ropes, boaring in with the head, hugging, hitting on the break and even gamesmanship to try and fool the ref into taking points

- Joe started off very poorly, which I did not anticipate, culminating in an embarrassing knockdown, which dan-b called. It certainly took a period of adjustment for Joe to get into this fight, which I would put down the the natural stylistic advantage Hopkins has as a counterpuncher

- Once Joe had adjusted, he seemed to take control and the fight became fairly repetetive. Joe would back Hopkins up, where he would unleash a flurry of arm punches, sometimes effective, sometimes not so much, and Hopkins would hold. Inbetween these exchanges, Hopkins would catch Joe with sporadic right hands - probably the cleanest punches of the fight

- Hopkins kept it more competetive than I anticipated, and I must hold my hands up and say I got that very wrong. Not so much on the scorecard, but the nature of the fight was simply that Joe landed few meaningful shots and one could even argue Hopkins landed the best shots of the night

- Joe is most definitely deteriorating, which I have noticed in his last couple of fights, and it continued tonight. One more fight and call it a day please Joe...

- Hopkins would make mincemeat of Pavlik, whos cock is getting quite the work-out by the hordes of bitter gimps in the general

- A note on Cortez, since there is much whining in the general. I was happy enough with his performance. He broke the clinches as quick as he could. It must be said Joe more than held his own in those exchanges, it was never going to be a classic, and in a perverse way I enjoyed it as it showed the other side of Joe's game

Final scorecard: 117-111 Joe Calzaghe. My final tally was closer, but no more victorious for Hopkins.

I think Joe definitely deserved it, based on withstanding Hopkins early sucess and landing more with better timing in the later half of the fight.
:thumbsup

[LiamE]

Piss poor start by Joe. The first was the worst I've ever seen him look and I could see all of Dan's prediction coming true right there.

Joe looked noticeably less sharp than he did against Kessler.

Hopkins, despite his age is still world class, no question.

After the first 3 or 4 Joe got into his stride and though he didn't look great or romp away with it or anything he was winning rounds from then.

Hopkins landed the better, cleaner shots. Calzaghe landed more but nothing of great substance though enough to win enough rounds to take a close fight. No one has ever looked good vs nard and Joe didn't. But he certainly won.

115- 113

[JonOli]

Joe was clearly unsure if he had won at the final bell. That says enough about the closeness of the fight.

[TFFP]

Joe was clearly unsure if he had won at the final bell. That says enough about the closeness of the fight.
He was probably more apprehensive about whether the judges would pull one of their famous Las Vegas tricks rather than worried in his own mind. Then that dumb bitch Byrd scores it for Hopkins as if to prove his point

It was not really close.

[JonOli]

He was probably more apprehensive about whether the judges would pull one of their famous Las Vegas tricks rather than worried in his own mind. Then that dumb bitch Byrd scores it for Hopkins as if to prove his point

It was not really close.

I disagree I think it could have easily gone to Hopkins and there would have been no huge grounds for complaint.

Joe showed endeavour tonight but little else boxing wise, imo.

Most of the rounds could easily have been given either way.

Hopkins wasn't even remotely hurt, Joe was knocked down and stunned several times by Hopkins (I realise thats not how they score it). At times it was a little embarrassing, joe was all over the shop; out on his feat.


Remove the blinkers.

Joe won and I'm really pleased for him but don't pretend it to be a clear convincing victory, it really wasn't.

[Akxtinguish]

Quite disappointing over all (No, I wasn't expecting a slug-out).

I was supporting Hopkins but the decision doesn't bother me (I had it 115-112 to JC). But none of them looked like champions in there. This is the right time for both to retire, because they're very beatable.

Hopkins started strong with his KO but he just wasn't punching. If he kept punching then the points win was in his pocket. Disappointing from someone who is known to be a master strategist.

Calzaghe was smart enough to get himself points in every round, and didn't get too intimidated by Hopkins, which is good. But he was mediocre, at best,a and his lack of punching power is going to cost him if he chooses to continue fighting.

[dwilson]

Quite disappointing over all (No, I wasn't expecting a slug-out).

I was supporting Hopkins but the decision doesn't bother me (I had it 115-112 to JC). But none of them looked like champions in there. This is the right time for both to retire, because they're very beatable.

Hopkins started strong with his KO but he just wasn't punching. If he kept punching then the points win was in his pocket. Disappointing from someone who is known to be a master strategist.

Calzaghe was smart enough to get himself points in every round, and didn't get too intimidated by Hopkins, which is good. But he was mediocre, at best,a and his lack of punching power is going to cost him if he chooses to continue fighting.



Yep.

But Hopkins has not had punching power for a very long time and you have to go back a few years to find his last credible KO. I thought he fought to his tactics well and he believed with his corner that he had cruised the fight.


Joe was good at times and poor at times but no one ever looks good against Hopkins. He adapted and came through the fight well nicking consecutive rounds.


About them retiring, maybe Hopkins but not Joe. Joe could fight RJJ, Tarver and Dawson. No one in the Light Heavy division or Super Middle are able to beat Joe, he could clean up this division with ease, he has now fought and beaten the best guy in it who would have offered him the hardest fight so now he may as well pick up some more big money fights. Hopkins would be my pick to beat any other Light Heavy and Super Middle.


I had it 114-113 Hopkins but most of my Hopkins rounds are the ones everybody else gave JC.

[madpup]

I had Calzaghe winning by a couple of rounds. I think Hopkin's age ended up being the deciding factor, he simply did not have the stamina to go with Joe in the later rounds.

[Akxtinguish]

But Hopkins has not had punching power for a very long time and you have to go back a few years to find his last credible KO. I thought he fought to his tactics well and he believed with his corner that he had cruised the fight.

This is what frustrates me (as a Hopkins suppoter). He didn't even HAVE to punch with power, (Calzaghe wasn't hitting hard at all), he just had to touch him (even on the gloves would have been fine).

His corner has been through this before in Vegas and should have known that they give points for most kinds of punches, regardless of power and where they land.

[dwilson]

This is what frustrates me (as a Hopkins suppoter). He didn't even HAVE to punch with power, (Calzaghe wasn't hitting hard at all), he just had to touch him (even on the gloves would have been fine).

His corner has been through this before in Vegas and should have known that they give points for most kinds of punches, regardless of power and where they land.



Yep. That is why I had my close rounds to Hopkins for that very reason. Hopkins caught JC as hard as he could while JC just made sure he got them landed, he did not care of quality. Over all apart from the flash knock down Hopkins failed to hurt Calzaghe or come close to causing any danger.

Both came out of the fight looking they had just been for a jog. JC had a cut onhis nose but nothing more. I think if Hopkins had put some damage on JC then the close rounds would have gone to him instead of the other way round.


The big shame is that the gulf in class between thses two and the rest means we have no more hard to pick winners from future match ups. I picked Hopkins before the fight.

[Akxtinguish]

The big shame is that the gulf in class between thses two and the rest means we have no more hard to pick winners from future match ups. I picked Hopkins before the fight.

I also picked Hopkins. I'm not sure about future match ups. I don't know what Hopkins is doing (I don't think he'd like to retire like this, but he might have to), but I want to see Calzaghe in another one or two LHW fights against an opponent who throws more punches.

[kurt2006]

Good win for JC and showed Bhops to be a boring spoiler.

Bhops was negative for most the fight, using his head and the low blow b/s was utter shit.

The post fight interview with Bhops showed he is heading the same way as Holyfield. He was talking utter crap about how he schooled JC and how the crowd knew who the real victor was. Just a shame as the crowd came to see a boxing match not a wrestling match, JC was the only one willing to fight whilst Phops was happy to clinch and hug JC every chance he got.

[dwilson]

I also picked Hopkins. I'm not sure about future match ups. I don't know what Hopkins is doing (I don't think he'd like to retire like this, but he might have to), but I want to see Calzaghe in another one or two LHW fights against an opponent who throws more punches.



Yep.

The main other picks offer nothing that gets the pulse racing. I found it hard to pick a winner before last nights fight but if JC fights Dawson, RJJ, Pavlik, Taylor or Tarver then I could only ever see Joe winning.


RJJ would be great just to say that it happened, financially very good too.

Dawson is maybe the best other Light Heavy but he is far far from being real top class.

Pavlik is dangerous but just a simple fight for Joe.

Taylor could be interesting but Joe has the size and everything alse to beat him.

Tarver could be cool but why face the man who lost bad to the man you just beat?



I think RJJ will happen but I would not be surprised if someone chucked in a re match of lasts nights fight. I would not want to see it but we could get it depending on the money.



I think Hopkins could have another fight and I am sure he will want to go on at least untill next year. He may believe he can get two good fights before the year is done. A re match with RJJ or a cunning jump to cruiser to fight Cunningham. The man is not interested in money so that fight would help his legacy.

[dwilson]

Good win for JC and showed Bhops to be a boring spoiler.

Bhops was negative for most the fight, using his head and the low blow b/s was utter shit.

The post fight interview with Bhops showed he is heading the same way as Holyfield. He was talking utter crap about how he schooled JC and how the crowd knew who the real victor was. Just a shame as the crowd came to see a boxing match not a wrestling match, JC was the only one willing to fight whilst Phops was happy to clinch and hug JC every chance he got.


Hopkins always spouts out that rubbish after he loses. According to him he is undefeated. His first fight does not count and the other losses were robberies.

[kurt2006]

Hopkins always spouts out that rubbish after he loses. According to him he is undefeated. His first fight does not count and the other losses were robberies.


He has always been boring to watch, I began to warm to after the bbc bunce interview but he can talk some shit.

Good to see JC thank the crowd, would have been nice if he had given a special big shout out to the lads who paid him double the face value for the crappy seats at the back.

[Max Molyneux]

Not a close fight at all, Hopkins holding, using the head and little amounts of single shots do not make a fight close.

Cortez needs suspending, that was awful refereeing.

[dwilson]

He has always been boring to watch, I began to warm to after the bbc bunce interview but he can talk some shit.

Good to see JC thank the crowd, would have been nice if he had given a special big shout out to the lads who paid him double the face value for the crappy seats at the back.





Yep. That story will go down in legend more than anything he accomplishes in the ring. Someone should add it on Wikkipedia. :hey



Hopkins fought his fight but came up against a better opponent.



Cortez is a nob.

[Claypole]

At times it was a little embarrassing, joe was all over the shop; out on his feat.
Are you sure you were watching the right fight?

[RichDam]

It was a very difficult fight to score. I can understand why both fighters thought they won the fight. I had Hopkins just edging it, but will have to watch it again.

[Naidah]

Can't argue with the decision, it could have gone either way, I scored it 115-113 in favour of Hopkins. Just felt B-Hop looked the more accomplished fighter in there, he was catching JC with genuine scoring shots throughout the fight and showed excellent footwork and defensive skills. I thought Hopkins won the first 4 rounds and was well in control. Fair play to Calzaghe for coming back into the fight and simply outworking Hopkins, even though most of the quality shots were coming from the executioner.

I think Hopkins slowed down after the first 4 and that's when Calzaghe started to come into the fight, the 43 year old simply didn't have it in him. I'm disappointed in a sense that Calzaghe won the fight not by showing greater skill, but really because he was the younger, fresher man with more left in the tank. I wanted Calzaghe to win really convicingly and thought he would in fairness. Hopkins suprised me, his quick hands also surprised me and I suggest probably JC himself.

I think both these guys will go down as great fighters and credit has to be given to Calzaghe for getting off the floor and turning the fight around.

[somerset]

I thought 115-113 Calz.

But Joe was exposed somewhat by Hops. To the extent that prime-for-prime I reckon Bernard wins.

Fortunately there's no-one else tougher to fight nowadays that Hops.

If the next fight is the last for Joe, I'd like to see it somewhere closer. Like Britain or New York. Maybe Las Vegas distance and altitude did have an effect too.

[Dan MT]

115 - 113 to Joe for me.

Wasn't the best of fights but Hopkins game plan worked a treat and if he got another knock down which he could have it would have been his fight. One of my friends scored it a draw which I thought it could have been too.

Hopefully Joe has a homecoming fight and goes out at the top where he belongs.