By Jim Dower: With Joe Calzaghe’s recent retirement it leaves 44-year-old Bernard Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) pretty much out in the cold without a lot of options for important fights. When I say important, I mean big money fights, which is what he’s probably interested in getting at this point in his career. Like many fighters like Hopkins, Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton, they’re after big money fights but the problem is, most of the talent is now younger fighters that still haven’t built up a big name for themselves yet.
Bernard Hopkins
Bernard Hopkins
Toney Predicts Knockout Of Hopkins
By Jim Dower: According to an article from Fightnews, heavyweight James Toney (71-6-3, 43 KOs) said that he’d be willing to move down to 185 pounds to fight Bernard Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) and that he would knock Bernard out. In light of the 40-year-old Toney’s recent poor showing against Fres Oquendo, a 12-round split decision victory in December, as well as Toney’s equally dismal performances against Hasim Rahman and Danny Batchelder in 2007 and 2008, I find it hard to imagine that Toney could beat a fighter as good as Hopkins at this point.
Who’s Next For Dawson After He Beats Tarver?
By Chris Williams: Unfortunately for International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (27-0, 17 KOs), he has to face Antonio Tarver again, this time on March 14th in a rematch that few people want to see. However, once Dawson, 26, destroys Tarver for the second time, it’s time to look forward into the future for other potential fights for Dawson, who is considered to be the best fighter in the light heavyweight division at this time.
If Calzaghe’s Girl Friend Wants Him To Quit, Maybe He Should
By Nate Anderson: Apparently Joe Calzaghe’s girl friend wants him to get out of boxing and retire from the sport. According to Walesonline.co.uk, Calzaghe’s girl friend wanted him to retire after his fight with Roy Jones Jr. November. However, Calzaghe seems frozen at this point, unable to make a decision whether to stay or go into retirement. The latest word is that he wants to fight one more time possibly against Bernard Hopkins, Winky Wright or Chad Dawson, but it’s still unknown whether he’ll actually fight any of them. If Calzaghe is serious about retiring soon, these fights would be a tough bout to go out on because Calzaghe would need to be there mentally 100% to win.
Calzaghe May Fight Once More Against Dawson, Hopkins or Wright
By Dave Lahr: Joe Calzaghe could possibly be looking at fighting one more time against either Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson or Winky Wright at the Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. According to The Telegraph, Calzaghe has “dreams” of fighting at the Millennium Stadium, presumably because he wants to fight in front of a huge audience which would likely be as large as 60,000.
What Does Calzaghe Have To Do To Surpass Jones & Hopkins?
By Scott Gilfoid: Okay, Joe Calzaghe (46-0, 32 KOs) has somehow stayed unbeaten his entire career up until now, that’s something we all can agree on right off the bat. But what Calzaghe do to surpass boxing greats like Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr., if at all possible at this late stage in Calzaghe’s career. For me, I don’t that it’s possible now. The biggest problem for Calzaghe is that he has a large gap between 1993 and 1997 where he fought exclusively mediocre opponents.
Hopkins Wants Bouts With Calzaghe and Taylor
By Chris Williams: In yesterday’s ESPN Friday Night Fights, Bernard Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) said that he’d like to fight rematches with either Joe Calzaghe or Jermain Taylor, preferring to fight Calzaghe. “I prefer a rematch with Joe Calzaghe. If not, you have Jermain Taylor and that’s business I have to take care of,” Hopkins said. However, the chances of Hopkins fighting them would seem remote at this point and in the case of Calzaghe, probably next to zero. Hopkins will be turning 44 on January 15th, which means he doesn’t have whole lot of time to sit around and wait for fights against those two fighters.
Why Isn’t Hopkins As Popular As De La Hoya?
By Matt Stein: For as long as I follow boxing, there’s something’s I’ll just never understand. Case in point, all the love an adoration given to a fighter like Oscar De La Hoya, who is good fighter, but also one that has failed over and over again in the biggest fights of his career. In the biggest PPV fights of his career, against Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., De La Hoya has lost every time, yet he still remains a much more popular fighter than someone like Hopkins.
Hopkins Has A lot Of Options To Choose From In 2009
By Dave Lahr: With his 44th birthday about to take place on January 15th, Bernard Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) has almost unlimited opportunities in front of him for 2009, beginning with a great opportunity, should he be interested, in a fight against WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler some time in 2009. That’s a fight for Hopkins if he wants it, as Kessler has already stated his interest in wanting a fight with Hopkins in 2009, so it’s up to Bernard whether he sees any financial rewards in a fight with the Danish warrior
Hopkins Hoping For Rematches With Jones and Calzaghe
By Sean McDaniel: Light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins’ chances for a rematch between both Roy Jones Jr. and Joe Calzaghe seem remote at best at this point. Hopkins, 43, is counting on the winner of Saturday’s super bout between Jones and Calzaghe to give him a rematch. However, neither Jones nor Calzaghe, win or lose, appear to have any interest in giving Hopkins another shot at a fight. Jones defeated Hopkins by a close unanimous decision in May 1993 for the vacant IBF middleweight title, while Calzaghe defeated Hopkins by a 12-round split decision in April.
Both fights were extremely close and left a bad taste of needed revenge in Hopkins’ mouth. However, in the case of Calzaghe, Hopkins has had no luck in getting him to show any interest in giving him a rematch. Calzaghe appears fed up with boxing, tired of fighting after a long 15 year professional career that has saw him hold onto his WBO super middleweight crown for 10 years without a defeat.