Calzaghe v Hopkins

[scotty2hatty]

I'm no expert but i'd have been scoring the rounds for Joe simply cos he was coming forward - the rounds were so hard to call.

[scotty2hatty]

calzaghe never hurt him even a bit.

true, but u don't need to hurt someone to win a boxing match

[Nem]

On boxrec they all have Calzaghe a winner...

[Bazzaboy]

On boxrec they all have Calzaghe a winner...

Yeah HBO had it 116-111 to Calzaghe as well.  Had he not got caught cold in the first it'd have been a comfortable points win.

[Longy]

I didn't score the fight round for round in game (which is pretty stupid given it was always likely to go the distance) and thought Hopkins had won it by 1 or 2 rounds, as a general overview of the fight.

Not a great performance by Joe by any means, but Hopkins is a sod to fight against.

Couldn't be happier with the result.

[Bazzaboy]

Punches landed

Calzaghe 232 (most ever landed on Hopkins in a fight)
Hopkins 127

[mondatoo]

Roy Jones Junior at Wembley plz

[DaveShoelace]

Looking at it from a different point of view, what did Hopkins do to win it? Not much after the 4th round. He clearly had the stronger punch but that means nothing when you are throwing a fraction of punches your opponent is. The rounds Calzaghe didnt win from then on were arguably level anyway.

From a sheer pugilistic point of view, from a sheer points scoring point of view, Calzaghe cruised to victory. Obviously we all saw that it wasnt as easy as that, Willie Pep famously once won a round without landing a punch because he threw loads and forced the action, same thing, Joe forced the pace throughout.

It actually mirrored Joes fights with Robin Reid and Kessler, they both landed the meatier counter shots but nowhere near at a volume that was enough to win the fight.

Hopefully no rematch, ugly fight, but I reckon a calmer easier win from Joe if they did.

[kinboshi]

When i watched it first time, I though it was very close.

Just watched it again, and to be honest, Calzaghe won every round in the second half of the fight (and at least a few before then). The first round was obviously a 10-8 round for Hopkins, and you can give him a few other rounds at most.  The commentator annoyed me with the comment "he has to win the last two rounds big" - eh?  You win a round, you win a round.  Unless you get a knockdown or truly batter your opponent, it's 10-9, no matter how "big" you win it. 

So even with the 10-8 round, and if you give Hopkins all of the first four rounds (which I didn't by the way), then it would be 115-112 to Calzaghe.   Give Calzaghe the 4th as well and it's 116-111.

The 10th round was a case in point.  The commentary seemed to think that after the 'low blow' it was Hopkins' round.  Simply on scoring punches landed it was clearly Calzaghe's.

If there was a rematch, it would have to be in Cardiff, and have a British ref.  I thought Cortez was disgusting (again), and completely biased.   I can't see what Calzaghe would get from a rematch though (there is the money of course). 

As for Hopkins, he certainly doesn't look 43.  Still very much a handful, and you've got to wonder how a younger Hopkins would have done against Calzaghe.  I didn't like some of his 'tactics', but it's expected from Hopkins.  As for is belief that he'd won the fight, it's not surprising as his corner were telling him he was ahead after every round - and he believes what they say.  I think when he watches it again, he'll realise that he simply didn't do enough to win it.

On a side note, Audrey Harrison was more than disappointing again.  Never ends.

[DaveShoelace]

When i watched it first time, I though it was very close.

Just watched it again, and to be honest, Calzaghe won every round in the second half of the fight (and at least a few before then). The first round was obviously a 10-8 round for Hopkins, and you can give him a few other rounds at most.  The commentator annoyed me with the comment "he has to win the last two rounds big" - eh?  You win a round, you win a round.  Unless you get a knockdown or truly batter your opponent, it's 10-9, no matter how "big" you win it. 

So even with the 10-8 round, and if you give Hopkins all of the first four rounds (which I didn't by the way), then it would be 115-112 to Calzaghe.   Give Calzaghe the 4th as well and it's 116-111.

The 10th round was a case in point.  The commentary seemed to think that after the 'low blow' it was Hopkins' round.  Simply on scoring punches landed it was clearly Calzaghe's.

If there was a rematch, it would have to be in Cardiff, and have a British ref.  I thought Cortez was disgusting (again), and completely biased.   I can't see what Calzaghe would get from a rematch though (there is the money of course). 

As for Hopkins, he certainly doesn't look 43.  Still very much a handful, and you've got to wonder how a younger Hopkins would have done against Calzaghe.  I didn't like some of his 'tactics', but it's expected from Hopkins.  As for is belief that he'd won the fight, it's not surprising as his corner were telling him he was ahead after every round - and he believes what they say.  I think when he watches it again, he'll realise that he simply didn't do enough to win it.

On a side note, Audrey Harrison was more than disappointing again.  Never ends.

What Richie Woodhall meant, and was mirrored by Joes Dad, was that he had to win the last rounds convincingly, because so many of the ones before it could easily have been scored even if not for Calzaghe. I dont think he expected 10-8 rounds, just clear cut.

Cortez was awful, he took a point off Joe, yet Hopkins was grabbing from start to finish, going head first into everything and then pretending to have been whacked in the bollocks. Makes me wonder how things would have faired for Hatton if he had been as leniant. I think the sanctioning bodies need to review him as a referee after two less than adequete performances in two of the biggest fights of recent time.

Audley Harrison is a joke, for 8 years now he has been coming out with these 'I need a few more fights, you havent seen the best of me' crap and the fact of the matter is he is overrated, gunshy and lazy. In any other era of Heavyweight boxing he would be a journeyman and little more. I think the Amir Khan camp looked at the Audley Harrison model when they turned professional and decided to do the complete opposite.

[kinboshi]

When i watched it first time, I though it was very close.

Just watched it again, and to be honest, Calzaghe won every round in the second half of the fight (and at least a few before then). The first round was obviously a 10-8 round for Hopkins, and you can give him a few other rounds at most.  The commentator annoyed me with the comment "he has to win the last two rounds big" - eh?  You win a round, you win a round.  Unless you get a knockdown or truly batter your opponent, it's 10-9, no matter how "big" you win it. 

So even with the 10-8 round, and if you give Hopkins all of the first four rounds (which I didn't by the way), then it would be 115-112 to Calzaghe.   Give Calzaghe the 4th as well and it's 116-111.

The 10th round was a case in point.  The commentary seemed to think that after the 'low blow' it was Hopkins' round.  Simply on scoring punches landed it was clearly Calzaghe's.

If there was a rematch, it would have to be in Cardiff, and have a British ref.  I thought Cortez was disgusting (again), and completely biased.   I can't see what Calzaghe would get from a rematch though (there is the money of course). 

As for Hopkins, he certainly doesn't look 43.  Still very much a handful, and you've got to wonder how a younger Hopkins would have done against Calzaghe.  I didn't like some of his 'tactics', but it's expected from Hopkins.  As for is belief that he'd won the fight, it's not surprising as his corner were telling him he was ahead after every round - and he believes what they say.  I think when he watches it again, he'll realise that he simply didn't do enough to win it.

On a side note, Audrey Harrison was more than disappointing again.  Never ends.

What Richie Woodhall meant, and was mirrored by Joes Dad, was that he had to win the last rounds convincingly, because so many of the ones before it could easily have been scored even if not for Calzaghe. I dont think he expected 10-8 rounds, just clear cut.

I'd go with what Woodhall was saying, he certainly knows the game.  But it was Rawlings who was going on about needing to win the last two big.  They were both guilty of under-appreciating Calzaghe's work though in some rounds, and I guess this is because they were rooting for the British fighter and were worried that the judges might be leaning towards the home fighter.

Enzo was spot on with what he was saying to Joe.  You don't tell a fighter that he's winning it when the scoring could be very close.  You tell him he needs the rounds, otherwise he could lose it. In Hopkins corner, they kept on telling him he was in front, and he obviously believed this.

Cortez was awful, he took a point off Joe, yet Hopkins was grabbing from start to finish, going head first into everything and then pretending to have been whacked in the bollocks. Makes me wonder how things would have faired for Hatton if he had been as leniant. I think the sanctioning bodies need to review him as a referee after two less than adequete performances in two of the biggest fights of recent time.

I don't think he did actually take a point off Joe (that would have made the scores a lot closer if he had though), but he let Hopkins hold, punch on the break, use his head, and then there were the 'low blows'.  Even Cortez lost his patience with Hopkins with the later one - and after giving Hopkins a few seconds, told him to fight on.

Audley Harrison is a joke, for 8 years now he has been coming out with these 'I need a few more fights, you havent seen the best of me' crap and the fact of the matter is he is overrated, gunshy and lazy. In any other era of Heavyweight boxing he would be a journeyman and little more.

The most frustrating thing is that if he had an ounce of 'fight' in him, he has the speed, the power and the technical ability to be a good fighter in a very poor heavyweight division.  But he doesn't have it.

I think the Amir Khan camp looked at the Audley Harrison model when they turned professional and decided to do the complete opposite.

Just hope he doesn't follow the Naseem Hamed path...

[DaveShoelace]

When i watched it first time, I though it was very close.

Just watched it again, and to be honest, Calzaghe won every round in the second half of the fight (and at least a few before then). The first round was obviously a 10-8 round for Hopkins, and you can give him a few other rounds at most.  The commentator annoyed me with the comment "he has to win the last two rounds big" - eh?  You win a round, you win a round.  Unless you get a knockdown or truly batter your opponent, it's 10-9, no matter how "big" you win it. 

So even with the 10-8 round, and if you give Hopkins all of the first four rounds (which I didn't by the way), then it would be 115-112 to Calzaghe.   Give Calzaghe the 4th as well and it's 116-111.

The 10th round was a case in point.  The commentary seemed to think that after the 'low blow' it was Hopkins' round.  Simply on scoring punches landed it was clearly Calzaghe's.

If there was a rematch, it would have to be in Cardiff, and have a British ref.  I thought Cortez was disgusting (again), and completely biased.   I can't see what Calzaghe would get from a rematch though (there is the money of course). 

As for Hopkins, he certainly doesn't look 43.  Still very much a handful, and you've got to wonder how a younger Hopkins would have done against Calzaghe.  I didn't like some of his 'tactics', but it's expected from Hopkins.  As for is belief that he'd won the fight, it's not surprising as his corner were telling him he was ahead after every round - and he believes what they say.  I think when he watches it again, he'll realise that he simply didn't do enough to win it.

On a side note, Audrey Harrison was more than disappointing again.  Never ends.

What Richie Woodhall meant, and was mirrored by Joes Dad, was that he had to win the last rounds convincingly, because so many of the ones before it could easily have been scored even if not for Calzaghe. I dont think he expected 10-8 rounds, just clear cut.

I'd go with what Woodhall was saying, he certainly knows the game.  But it was Rawlings who was going on about needing to win the last two big.  They were both guilty of under-appreciating Calzaghe's work though in some rounds, and I guess this is because they were rooting for the British fighter and were worried that the judges might be leaning towards the home fighter.

Enzo was spot on with what he was saying to Joe.  You don't tell a fighter that he's winning it when the scoring could be very close.  You tell him he needs the rounds, otherwise he could lose it. In Hopkins corner, they kept on telling him he was in front, and he obviously believed this.

Cortez was awful, he took a point off Joe, yet Hopkins was grabbing from start to finish, going head first into everything and then pretending to have been whacked in the bollocks. Makes me wonder how things would have faired for Hatton if he had been as leniant. I think the sanctioning bodies need to review him as a referee after two less than adequete performances in two of the biggest fights of recent time.

I don't think he did actually take a point off Joe (that would have made the scores a lot closer if he had though), but he let Hopkins hold, punch on the break, use his head, and then there were the 'low blows'.  Even Cortez lost his patience with Hopkins with the later one - and after giving Hopkins a few seconds, told him to fight on.

Audley Harrison is a joke, for 8 years now he has been coming out with these 'I need a few more fights, you havent seen the best of me' crap and the fact of the matter is he is overrated, gunshy and lazy. In any other era of Heavyweight boxing he would be a journeyman and little more.

The most frustrating thing is that if he had an ounce of 'fight' in him, he has the speed, the power and the technical ability to be a good fighter in a very poor heavyweight division.  But he doesn't have it.

I think the Amir Khan camp looked at the Audley Harrison model when they turned professional and decided to do the complete opposite.

Just hope he doesn't follow the Naseem Hamed path...

Sorry, you are right, Rawlings was awful. In round four he said they were in round three and in round eleven he said three rounds left.

On a lighter (or not so light) note, anyone watch Ryan Rhodes win the Lonsdale belt on friday? He fought brilliantly, but they showed him next to Naz and it was tragic. They were once the golden boys of boxing and now Rhodes looked like old father time and Naz looked like a blimp.

[kinboshi]

Rhodes looked frighteningly old when they were talking to him before the fight.  But once in the ring, he looked very good.  Thought he fought really well, and if he continues to fight like that he can boss the British fighters and who knows?  Naz and Rhodes are about my age, and when they were up and coming it was when I was living in Sheffield and the Ingle gym was shining light of British boxing.  Shame it all went so wrong for those two.

Naz was so gifted, and effectively threw it all away.  Like I said, I hope Khan doesn't do the same - but you can see the warning signs already.  I'd like to think that Khan is more down to earth, but he needs to have the right people around him to keep his feet on the ground.

[DaveShoelace]

Rhodes looked frighteningly old when they were talking to him before the fight.  But once in the ring, he looked very good.  Thought he fought really well, and if he continues to fight like that he can boss the British fighters and who knows?  Naz and Rhodes are about my age, and when they were up and coming it was when I was living in Sheffield and the Ingle gym was shining light of British boxing.  Shame it all went so wrong for those two.

Naz was so gifted, and effectively threw it all away.  Like I said, I hope Khan doesn't do the same - but you can see the warning signs already.  I'd like to think that Khan is more down to earth, but he needs to have the right people around him to keep his feet on the ground.

Leaving the Ingle gym was what ruined it for Naz. People forget what an amazingly good defensive boxer he could be at times, I remember when he fought Steve Robinson and literally was getting his chin within an inch of him, but still never getting hit. He believed his own hype and stopped training to win the rounds, his punch got him out of trouble to begin with, but he got found out. The Naz that beat Robinson would have beat anyone, including Barrera, of his generation.

And by strange contrast, I think Rhodes downfall was possibly the Ingle Gym. He is a very good, powerful, slick operator. The problem was that they tried to make him Naz 2, with the hands down style. Had they worked on a slightly more traditional defense I think he would have won a world title. That said, he'll keep the british title for a few fights at least if he fights the way he did on Friday.

Khan is a nice lad, but recently shown a few, tiny, hints he could be getting sloppy and believing his own hype. I hope not, as he is a real shot in the arm for the game.

[The Baron]

Rhodes looked frighteningly old when they were talking to him before the fight.  But once in the ring, he looked very good.  Thought he fought really well, and if he continues to fight like that he can boss the British fighters and who knows?  Naz and Rhodes are about my age, and when they were up and coming it was when I was living in Sheffield and the Ingle gym was shining light of British boxing.  Shame it all went so wrong for those two.

Naz was so gifted, and effectively threw it all away.  Like I said, I hope Khan doesn't do the same - but you can see the warning signs already.  I'd like to think that Khan is more down to earth, but he needs to have the right people around him to keep his feet on the ground.

Leaving the Ingle gym was what ruined it for Naz. People forget what an amazingly good defensive boxer he could be at times, I remember when he fought Steve Robinson and literally was getting his chin within an inch of him, but still never getting hit. He believed his own hype and stopped training to win the rounds, his punch got him out of trouble to begin with, but he got found out. The Naz that beat Robinson would have beat anyone, including Barrera, of his generation.

Robinson, Johnson, Kelly - none of Naz's performances vs these guys could prepare him for Barrera. Barerra was a different league and I struggle to think of any version of Naz would have beaten a fighter of that calibre.