Calzaghe vs. hopkins predictions?

Question

Calzaghe vs. Hopkins

the fight isn't until april 19th but i would like to hear peoples opinions.

I believe Calzaghe will win. I don't think hopkins is truely a light heavey weight. He beat a out of shape anotonio tarver. Tarver had to gain lots of weight to be in the movie Rocky Balboa. THen he had to lose more than 30 pounds to fight hopkins and the weight effected tarver and Hopkins murdered him. THen he defended his title against a guy who is no light heavey weight little winky wright. Wright was a great jr. middle weight a good middleweight (he should have beaten Taylor) and then he went from 160 to 172 to fight hopkins and hopkins only one by one round 7 rounds to 5. Wright probabley would have won if he did not get head butted which gave him a huge cut.

Calzaghe is a great fighter undefeated. Defended his super middle weight belt 20 times he moves well and throw real fast strong straight punch combos he has great style and i just think its gonna go 12 rounds

116-112 calzagh

Answer 1

hopkins all the way but this will be a tough challenge for him a very tough challenge but hopefully he can pull it off  my predication is calzagh by UD cuz he is a very good fighter

Answer 2

this question has been asked too many times and is getting a little boring so dont expect too many replies...calzage should win though

Answer 3

Hopkins will try to control the pace of the fight, but if Calzaghe keeps his high work rate up and boxes like in second half of fight vs Kessler i think Joe Calzaghe outworks Hopkins, but if he tries to brawl with Hopkins it could be his undoing, Calzaghe holds his chin in the air and Hopkins will come over with a head butt or elbow to take Joe out his game plan..Calzaghe gives a lot of footwork and hand speed he wins comfortably on points

Answer 4

I hope Hopkins wins because I've been a huge fan, but he's too old now I believe. I think Calzaghe wins by a much closer margin than people expect. Calzaghe punches well and has underrated power but if he landed all those bombs on Lacy and couldn't stop him, then Hopkins will go 12 hard rounds easily. A lot of people are underestimating Hopkins but I can see Hopkins beating Calzaghe. If I were a betting man I'd put money on Calzaghe. 115-113.

Answer 5

I have to hold on a month till I make my prediction...I usually wait to see how things turn out....who makes weight...who has problems...personal problems...etc. But I will tell you a couple of things I am thinking of while I am making my call.

Calzaghe: Dont think "a fight is a fight is a fight"...thats not true. Each fight brings horrible pressure...but Calzaghe feels the pressure more than most. He throws up alot before fights, has problems at home....and thats when he isnt fighting abroad. Hopkins is posing the biggest threat that Calzaghe has ever faced. The fact that he will be fighting this fight in the largest capacity, PPV and everything else...will be on his shoulders as well. Despite what they tell you, it does matter when you know how many people are watching you.

Regarding his work rate...expect that to drop considerably during this fight. He wont be fighting a straight up opponent...he will be fighting a fighter that is Philly trained...meaning...they fight off of awkward angles...causing you to reset your feet all the time. Also, all southpaws are suspect not to the jab, but to the overhand right....which is Nard's money punch.  Bernards style, by his nature, is to take you OUT of yours....and Calzaghe will have to deal with that. The question will be can he compensate?? Its not a matter of IF its going to happen...it will....he will be taken out of his game. What will he do about it?

HOPKINS: The obvious question...time. Even though, when he shows up at other Golden Boy Promo weigh ins, looking like HES the one ready to fight...because he trains year round....will this be the last?

Bernards game is to stay outside and pick opportunities....but will that work with someone that throws a hundred punches a round? Is he underestimating Calzaghes ability to close distance and create a fight? Is he overestimating his OWN ability to keep that distance??

Will Nard be able to cheat....which is a staple of his game. Calzaghe is VERY mobile...VERY VERY mobile. Will he be able to be tied up, head butted...elbowed, and hit on the hip...which is the staple of Nards game.

If Calzaghe adapts and changes styles in mid fight, as Calzaghe likes to do, will Bernard be able to compensate mid fight? Hes done it before, he can change tempos...and angles, and speeds...but not against someone with Calzaghes speed, footing and strength.

So Im still working out the details...and honestly I somewhat lean towards Calzaghe, but thats purely on work rate. If ring saavy dictates this fight in any way...and that basically wont show till you see the fighters at the weigh in...whether Nard got into Calzaghes head, and the size of the event starts to intimidate Calzaghe. If those things dont happen...Calzaghe will have a field day with Nard.

Answer 6

Calzaghe should win almost every round. His agressiveness will overwhelm B hop.

Answer 7

Hopkins,because he's been in big fights before and he has more experience,if this happened years ago,calzaghe would've been destroyed.People think Calzaghe's speed will trouble hopkins,but Hopkins is a smart fighter.if Calzaghe does win i'll say by UD or SD.

Answer 8

Hopkins decision.....if Kessler was Calzaghes toughest opponent he is in for a h**l of a night ....Hopkins is too old to KO Calzaghe but 5 years ago i would of had it by Knockout... Calzaghe has never been in a major fight against a major opponent and Hopkins is the Legend Calzaghe is trying to become.... i do like Kessler and his victory againt Andrade was ok but hardly enough to think if Joe beats him he can beat anyone.....Hopkins has fought almost every big name out there and i think he will be just too good for Calzaghe ... i just hope it doesnt turn into a track meet

Answer 9

I am certain that Calzaghe will win and win well.

Hopkins is a legend, but if he can't beat Jermaine Taylor, then I can't see him beating Calzaghe.

On another site, 14 American experts made their predictions before the Calzaghe - Lacey fight; only 2 thought that Joe would win.  "The 'American boxing skills' and superior strength of Lacey would lead him to knockout Calzaghe by R5" etc, etc.  However, the (painful - for Lacey) reality was different.

Joe's speed & skills will seem him through comfortably.  Kessler was a young, very strong and skillful opponent, but by R8 was shaking his head at the hopelessness of his situation.  To suggest that Hopkins will win is just wishful thinking.

Calzaghe may not have fought in America, but that doesn't make him a bad fighter.  He has ONLY experienced victory and will make the supporters of Hopkins most unhappy.

But please, after Joe's victory, let there be none of the frequent excuses such as "Hopkins was too old, too slow" etc.etc; whenever Joe beats someone, the beaten fighter is always considered to be a 2nd rate fighter.  Jeff (Mini-Tyson) Lacey was considered (after his sound beating) to be no more than 2nd rate, Kessler had "never fought a 1st class fighter" etc.  

Make no mistake, Calzaghe IS a class act and will send Hopkins into a well deserved retirement !!!