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.