Calzaghe has fought better opposition than hopkins?

Question

"If you compare our records you will see that I have faced better opposition than Hopkins" a recent quote from joe. i mean is he serious? i guess peter manfredo is a great fighter.lmao

Answer 1

He's a joke! B-Hop faught Oscar, Tito, Wright, Tarver, Taylor, & Roy Jones.

Answer 2

I would also probably disagree with that, Calzaghe best opposition was most likely Kessler, Eubanks, and Lacy, which do not make up a better list than Hopkins (Taylor, Wright, RJJ,) However I wouldn't agree that Calzaghe is where he is today, with the record that he has, because he fought nobodies.  Any fighter at his level with an undefeated record deserves praise and I think Hopkins fans might be a little surprised Saturday Night.  However I really could see the fight goin either way.

Answer 3

LOL funny u know what if b hop beats joe many of the boxing press said they would consider bhop an all time great and I agree

Answer 4

Calzaghe is the only Person who keeps saying Kessler is great but i think Kessler running like Marion Jones on The Clear from Miranda really says alot about his legitimacy as a great fighter ..... and when ever Lacy makes the list as your top five, much less top three fighters one wonders if strength of schedule is helping his record a wee bit.... Joe is Good no doubt, and is a worthy champion but Hopkins said it best that Calzaghe is fighting a legend come this weekend.... Any of Hopkins last Three Opponents is tougher and more skilled than any of Joes period.... throw in Roy Jones , Glen Johnson and Antwun Echols and you have a list of other Great fighters Hopkins has taken on ,plus in most of these fights he was not an overwhelming favorite to win like Joe.....And Joes toughest fight was Kessler, come on.... is almost a joke when you condsider most people dont even know one of Kesslers opponents except maybe Calzaghe... but go figure ...I hope i am wrong so i can see a great fight but i see Hopkins making the Welchman Run for the latter part of the fight and winning a very easy decision

Answer 5

Well, now Calzaghe is right. He beat Hopkins, so he can beat anyone Hopkins has beat, sorry.

Answer 6

Even if Joe Calzaghe beats Bernard Hopkins, B-Hop will still be seen as the better legend because 1) if this fight happened years ago, there would be no question as to who would win, and 2) Hopkins has fought the MUCH better opposition throughout his career.  Lets take a look at both fighters' most notable opponents and you'll see that Hopkins, no matter what happens in their fight, will always be seen as the better legend.  After beating Chris Eubank for the title,  the majority of Calzaghe's victories have come against fighters that most fans have never heard of.  Only recently has Calzaghe started to step up and fight the best out there (Kessler, Lacy).

Bernard Hopkins on the other hand has a MUCH more credible title run than Calzaghe does and he has faced the much better opposition throughout his career.  Hopkins has a few losses, but thats because he didn't fight a whole bunch of bums for the majority of his career like Calzaghe did.  I'll tell you this much: if Calzaghe had crossed the pond when he first won his title, he would not still have it today and if he faced Bernard a few years back, he would have lost easily.  Here are some of the names on Hopkins list: John David Jackson, Glen Johnson (the only fighter to ever stop Glen), Antwun Echols twice (back then, Echols was a force), William Joppy (in his prime), Howard Eastman (in his prime), Keith Holmes, Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Tarver, and Winky Wright.  He also lost to a prime Roy Jones, Jr. and Jermain Taylor.  Any way you slice it, Hopkins' credetials outdo Calzaghe's credentials any day of the week.

Edit: Paulie- The only notable guys that Calzaghe has beaten except for Eubank that are worth mentioning, he has fought recently.  Hopkins beat way more name guys than him and he beat guys that actually deserved a shot at the title.  Yes, Hopkins has fought some nobodies (what great champion hasn't?) but it is nothing compared to the bums of Calzaghe's record.

Answer 7

No, no, no!! Calzaghe's opposition is not better than Hopkins. At best I can only find four names.... maybe five worth mentioning for Calzaghe's opposition. Hopkins has at least that many going  or potentially going into the hall of fame, Roy Jones, Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Jermain Taylor and Winky Wright. And outside of those names, I still count six or seven more names with good credentials.

Answer 8

I wouldn't have thought so. But that doesn't mean Joe Won't win.

Just to kick things off...Hopkins has not KO'd anyone since he fought Oscar (who started his pro career at 130) in 2004. He couldn't even take out Winky (a natural Light Middle), so what chance has he got of knocking out a natural Super Middle/ Light Heavy who has a very solid chin? I take it you did watch Joe's fight with Mikkel Kessler, whereby he took all of Kessler's best shots...

There is a very good chance that by all rights, Calzaghe should give Hopkins a thrashing that should end his career. But Hopkins will probably retire, then un-retire, and seek "one last payday" against an equally faded Roy Jones.

People go on about how great Hopkins is, because he defended the Middleweight title (or portions of it) so many times. Who did he beat? Morrade Hakkar and William Joppy? And then at Light Heavy, he beat a guy (Tarver) who had to lose 40 Ibs after beefing up to Heavyweight to act in Rocky VI, and then at 170 Ibs, beat a blown-up Light Middle. He'll get into the Hall Of Fame, no question (lets face it, they let Barry McGuigan in), but they are hardly accomplishments worthy of making him 'legendary'.

He was unwilling to gamble when Roy Jones outclassed him, and he avoided a fight with James Toney. People tout Hopkins as a legend, but he is no more than a very good boxer and title holder - call a Spade a Spade. Lots of Americans agree with this view. When someone asked Russel Peltz, the legendary promoter of the Blue Horizon club in Philadelphia, whether Hopkins could have beaten Hagler, Peltz LAUGHED, and just said: "Hopkins? Beat Hagler? Hey, Hopkins couldn't have even beaten [Bennie] Briscoe."

But to give Hopkins his due - he is a defensive master, and as brilliant at taking away the opponent's chief weapon. But he cannot take away Calzaghe's hand speed, agility and workrate. Hopkins is too old to live with the workrate of Calzaghe - maybe ten years ago, but not now. When he fights, Hopkins has absolutely no urgency. He seeks a pace befitting a drunken snail, and I feel Calzaghe's workrate - 1000 punches thrown in a 12 round fight - speed, agility and concrete chin will see him beat Hopkins by Unanimous Decision (I have a sneaky feeling that the judges may get desperate, and try and score the fight closer than it actually is, in an attempt to save Hopkins from defeat), or maybe even overwhelm B-Hop for a late - 11th or 12th round - stoppage victory, completely ensuring his place in Cannastota. After that, Calzaghe should retire. He will have nothing left to prove to himself, or to anyone.

That's all, folks.

Answer 9

wow! no i definetly think hopkins faced better people fo sure just look at there records

Hopkins

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hum...

Calzaghe

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hum...

Answer 10

ha ha ha ha ha, wait.... was he serious?