Hopkins Calzaghe: Not Many Fans Interested In This Fight

Having now beaten Mikkel Kessler in the unification bout, super middleweight Joe Calzaghe has set his sights on Bernard Hopkins as his choice for the next defense of his super middleweight title. However, there are few fans or sportswriters that have been impressed with the choice, seeing the 43 year-old Hopkins as well past his prime and not a particular fighter that Calzaghe will get much notiriety for beating. Indeed, beating a fighter as old as Hopkins is almost a no-win situation for Calzaghe, as if he does beat him handily, he won’t get much credit because of Hopkins advanced age.

More than that, however, is that Hopkins may make it a tougher than expected bout, the type that is fought at close range involving a lot of wrestling, holding and a fair share of elbows and headbutts. A bout like that won’t make Calzaghe shine in the eyes of the pubic, especially for Americans that aren’t too familiar with Calzaghe. Hopkins has a way of slowing down a fight, mostly by throwing a brief flurry and then immediately clincing his opponent. During the clinch, Hopkins often continues throwing punches and making it difficult for his opposition that are less skilled with these kinds of roughouse tactics.

Now, if Calzaghe thinks that he’s going to get added respect for beating Hopkins, he’s dead wrong. There isn’t much respect that Calzaghe will get from the fans, because Hopkin’s prime has long past years ago. This will fight will be all about my for Calzaghe, nothing more. Certainly, if Hopkins was in his 30s, perhaps, and hadn’t been beaten twice by Jermain Taylor, maybe then a fight between him and Calzaghe would be appealing. Not now, though.

The fans won’t care less if Calzaghe beats Hopkins, and why should they? It’s all so predictable that it’s not even remotely interesting. Calzaghe, no doubt, will win the fight, likely by unanimous decision. Following that, Hopkins will protest loudly, making a lot of noise in the boxing world, suggesting that he won the fight and should be given a rematch. Calzaghe, then would want to clear his name and perhaps feel inclined to give Hopkins the rematch, and thus waste time with him - time that would be better spent facing more appealing opponents like Lucian Bute, Jermain Taylor or kelly Pavlik. Believe me, should Calzaghe choose to fight Hopkins, this is exactly what will happen.