Calzaghe-Hopkins: Why Bernard Should Have Won The Fight

By Eric Thomas: I still can’t get over the fact that Joe Calzaghe was given the decision the other night against Bernard Hopkins. It seems as if only one of the referees got the fight correct, scoring the fight 114-113 for Hopkins, although even that score was too generous for Calzaghe, because Hopkins had landed the much harder punches in the fight compared to Calzaghe’s slapping shots. Also, Hopkins had done an extraordinary job of slowing down Calzaghe’s high volume punch output to virtually a trickle during most of the fight.

It was only late in the last two rounds, the 11th and 12th, that Calzaghe landed any real combinations against Hopkins. Going into the fight, I didn’t think that Hopkins would be able to pull out the decision regardless of what he would do in the ring because he’s perceived as a fighter on his way out of the fight game given his age. That’s not fair to Hopkins because he’s not like any other fighter that has ever fought in the sport before. Instead of a 43 year-old, Hopkins fights more like a fighter in his early 30s at the top of their game.

I didn’t see any signs of Hopkins slowing down or showing signs of fatigue or age in his fight with Calzaghe. In fact, it was Hopkins who outworked Calzaghe in the fight, beating him at his own game of throwing flurries. Not only did Hopkins throw the harder punches, he threw the better combinations with much more style and skill than the 36 year-old Calzaghe.

Many of the comments that writers have been saying about Hopkins has been pretty much negative, as if he lost the fight and attempted to gain a measure of advantage by faking that he was hurt by two low blows that Calzaghe hurt him with in the fight. However, Hopkins would never do such a thing and it’s totally redicuslous for people to even assume that he would. Those punches that Calzaghe he hit him with were hard shots below the belt and Hopkins was perfectly right to take the time off the try and recover from the blows.

It would have been insane for him to continue fighting immeidatley after taking such punishing shots to that sensitive area. It’s a credit to Hopkins that he was smart enough to take the time rather than foolishly trying to fight while still not 100%. I think because of the controversial nature of this fight, Hopkins should be allowed a rematch with Calzaghe; that way there won’t be any doubt in the minds of fans about who really won the fight.

I already know who won this fight – Hopkins – but the fans need to be able to get a fairer outcome, one in which there is absolutely no controversery and that they can believe in. Obviously, the fans didn’t get it with last Saturday’s split decision. Though the fight outcome can’t be changed, the people know who really won the fight. Perhaps next time they fight, the judges’ will get the scoring right for a change and give Hopkins his due.

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Posted April 22nd, 2008 l 300 Views

Tags: Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe

ellis suffield:

Aaah….I see you’ve filtered the previous posts and deleted some of the negative Hopkins’ posts.

Bernard, please get over the fact that you lost the fight…and stop deleting the posts!

These are the facts - Bernard is and was a legendary fighter, who in truth is not to everyone’s taste, but still has been a superb boxer in the middleweight and light-heavy divisions.

Calzaghe is a legendary fighter who has beaten every opponent he has ever faced by using the most amazing adaptive skills to win the bout on each occasion without a controversial decision. Unfortunately, Frank Warren did not introduce him to the USA sooner, therefore has not received the respect until the end of his career - not Calzaghe’s fault…..always an issue with how much Warren wanted to pay Hopkins et al.

On the night (I was there) I thought this was going to be a draw as I could not seperate the 2. Since then I have watched the fight on 2 occasions (without commentary) and I had Calzaghe ahead by 2 rounds first time and 3 the second….with an open mind. Calzaghe was the aggressor, had more scoring punches and to be honest Hopkins was using spoiling tactics which I believe also counted (and should have) counted against him.

Calzaghe is a legendary fighter…..period!

Hopkins is a legendary fighter…..perod!

Hopkins lost….period!

posted April 28th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

Jimbo:

This article is poor. In English and in substance.

Our preconceptions about a fight should not matter one iota. You score a boxing match round by round.

We have not assumed Hopkins milked the low blows, we saw it.

posted April 25th, 2008 at 3:37 pm

dave:

I think its very generous to say Calzaghe won every round from 4 onwards. He probably won 9-12 narrowly, but he didn’t even connect with a meaningful punch till at least round 6. In my opinion Hopkins was leading by round 6, the middle portion of the fight was scrappy and can’t be given either way and as I said Calzaghe edged the last 3 or 4 rounds. So taking into consideration Hopkins knock down I would have to give it to Hopkins. Calzaghe’s corner thought he needed a stoppage to win in the last round.

posted April 23rd, 2008 at 6:47 pm

slang:

come on boys lets give credit where its due, Hopkins spoiled it like a master and Joe adapted after 4 rounds and won the fight. Nobody looks good against B Hop coz he spoils it so much, so to win in B Hops backyard in front of his fans shows Joe had the balls and determination to push through an awkward fight to a deserved win.

posted April 23rd, 2008 at 1:42 pm

minthead:

Hopkins never deserved to win, how can anybody win a fight throwing so little and taking much more, even though they were not too troubled. Calzaghe fought a poor fight and still connected with more shots than anybody else has on B Hop. Hopkins threw one good punch in the 1st round after that he did not have enough to win. Imagine what the fight would have gone like if Calzaghe fought to his normal high stabdards.

posted April 23rd, 2008 at 1:37 pm

dma:

The Judges (All American), HBO, Setanta and the fans in the arena had it for JC
So I suppose in a sense you are right when you say the fans know who really won. Joe Calzaghe!! (Check out boxing rec. if your still in denial)

posted April 23rd, 2008 at 10:14 am

Anonymous:

U kno i thought it was close fight but i had joe winning it purely for taking the fight to hopkins for every round and the fact hopkins was so negative.

Hopkins had the 1st 4 rounds but how any1 can argue from 7-12 werent joes (possibly not 10) plus then generally is silly.

The fact is americans will always doubt joe as he aint one of your fighter..FACT!! and UK fans will always love him.

Its a shame he hasnt fought ppl like jones jr earlier but my good the author of this article absolutly loves hopkins!!! is he paying u? as most ppl accpet hopkins was so negative it was unreal, oh no let me think ur american and so is hopkins so hes brilliant

posted April 23rd, 2008 at 7:48 am

Calzaghe-Hopkins: Why Bernard Should Have Won The Fight

ellis suffield:

Jimbo:

JDORNO:

jill skee:

dma:

dave:

slang:

minthead:

dma:

Anonymous: