Final Prediction: Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe

I have been on the fence..

I know a guy back in DC who has called 22 fights in a row correctly.. impressive to say the least.. this guy has been SO good in his picks, often he picks them just as the go down..

he picks Joe to dominate Hopkins.. "easy fight for Joe" he says!

what bugs me about Bernard are the Taylor fights.. Taylor to me is so un-impressive but somehow he beat Bernard!

That said.. I have come to my FINAL PREDICTION

Hopkins will dominate and knock Joe out in the 7th round.

I really hope he does.. I want to see Joe whupped more than I wanted anyone whupped in a long time. He needs a whuppin and hopefully bernard will give it to him

 

I'll try to make those that are worried about their Calzaghe picks feel a little better.

You can only cheat father time for so long and Hopkins has been cheating for a solid 3-4 years now. If he continues to fight top quality fighters, eventually his age will become evident.

Hopkins win over Tarver was a brilliant example of a fighter turning back the clock, but that was almost 2 years ago. That gap between being 41 and 43 doesn't seem like much to a 25 year old, but that span is a lifetime in terms of athletic ability. Reflexes, ability to recover, and endurance decline far more quickly in a 2 year span at Bernard's age than at 25 or even 35 years old.

I am huge Hopkins fan and would love to envision him besting 3 younger, faster southpaws in a row, but the realist in me knows that Bernard has already asked too much of father time. He's 43 years old; he's been a professional fighter for 20 years; and on Saturday night he will finally start acting his age.

 

What????? Aren't you the same guy (along with others) that gave me hell in another thread for even hinting that the win against Tarver was impressive for Bernard???

Tarver was shot against Hopkins I think you said.

Amazing..

 

Stink does work against Sloppy Joe if you're durable enough. Watch his fight with Starie, or some of his other more mediocre performances. When guys stink him out and hold him on the inside, his ability to slap out a stoppage is severely compromised. Knowing Hopkins, and his willingness to do whatever it takes to win, I think he will use stink to great effect, and possibly even stop Sloppy Joe having stunk the might out of him for 10 or so rounds.

So my prediction is Hopkins by decision.

BTW:

Anyone know why Hopkins didn't stink Taylor to death the way he did say, Holmes or other tall and hard punchers he's faced?

 

I don't know that he was shot, but if Roy Jones Jr. gets a "pass" for his performance after dropping weight to fight Tarver, then Tarver should get one for dropping weight to fight Hopkins.

Tarver, solely and singularly, looked horrible in that fight. Hopkins didn't, which is why the fight wasn't even close.

 

I'm not that confident in my pick, even though Trplsec's post was comforting, but I go with Calzaghe UD.

 

Calzaghe UD..... i see it being close to about half way, then Calzaghe taking it from there on......think he may get a knock down or two on the way as well

 

Calzaghe via close UD. His hand speed and tireless punching will carry him to a W.

 

CRAPZAGA is going to get brutally raped!

 

No, people don't say that Roy had an excuse, even Tarver kept insisting that there was no excuse for Roy. That's why it was funny watching Tarver having to hold back from using the weight loss as an excuse after getting schooled by Hopkins::

 

Yeah, but there's a huge difference. Roy put on weight to fight for a HW belt.

Oh, nevermind, so did Tarver.. :: ::


In all seriousness, Tarver was the champ at 175. It's not like he faced Hopkins at 160. Hopkins was coming up 15 freakin pounds. Tarver was coming down from a movie role. Don't blame the weight, blame the fighter.

 

Didn't Tarver say he was drugged?

Just like George Foreman and Wladimir Klitschko were.

 

Yes he did.. But like Wlad, he has backed off those comments.

 

Only because he can't prove it...but he's mistaken because his performance proves it.:nono:

 

Bernard says Tarver was drugged by his left and right fist..

I agree, but I would add: shoulders, hips, head and elbows.

 

Mackie is in Beranrds corner. Mackie is undefeated so far, so there is obviously something Mackie is doing right.

 

Joe SD

 

:nono:

 

He was referring to State Property.

Hopkins fought well despite it.

 

calzaghe UD

too busy for hopkins at this point

 

I predict a lot of holding

and at least one good punch to the nuts.

 

Hops UD...I refuse to bet against the old man anymore. I actually thought Winky would beat him LOL

 

Hopkins beat Tarver when I didn't think he would. But Tarver has a tendency to be inactive and thus ineffective. It cost him against Bernard.

I thought Winky might do it too. But Wright was waaaay above his best weight,..and he fought about as bad as he ever has since his loss to Vazquez years ag.

Joe Calzag is bigger, faster, stronger and lightyears better than Jermaine Taylor....while I don't believe that Hops today at 43 is better than the versions that faced Taylor.

Unless Joe gets old overnight......I see him comfortably outpointing Hopkins badly enough that Hopkins announces his retirement soon after the fight.

 

Bernard Hopkins: 11
ILLUMINATI: Hopkins by UD
Joe King: Hopkins by UD
royyjonesjrp4pno1: Hopkins by Decision
valdosta: Hopkins by Decision
dsimon3387: Hopkins by Decision
Haymaker: Hopkins by UD
Attraction: Hopkins by UD
Mean Mr Mustard: Hopkins by SD
LOK: Hopkins by KO 7
Double L: Hopkins by Decision
Barristan: Hopkins by UD



Joe Calzaghe: 16
mexican wedding shirt: Calzaghe by UD
Xplosive: Calzaghe by SD
Neil: Calzaghe by Decision
TKO: Calzaghe by KO/TKO ??
Roll With The Punches: Calzaghe by UD
Savage: Calzaghe by UD
meetthefeebles: Calzaghe by UD
Hut*Hut: Calzaghe by UD
Ugotabe Kidding: Calzaghe by UD
Baron: Calzaghe by UD
adamiw: Calzaghe by UD
puerto rock: Calzaghe by UD
Pascals Wager: Calzaghe by SD
atomicdOGg34: Calzaghe by UD
Explosivo: Calzaghe by UD
KaukipRrr: Calzaghe by UD

 

:nono: Oiy, I said Calzaghe UD , but Hopkins will be awarded the decision, therefore I'm actually on the Calzaghe list you woodknip.

 

there you go hoe...fix...ec..d

 

I'll get all crazy here

and say Hopkins by ko in the 8th round.

 

I got Calzaghe UD in a 115-113 type of fight.

Bernard will land the harder, more accurate blows, but they will be overshadowed by Calzaghe's high output attack. Calzaghe's activity ultimately wins him the fight... though I hope I'm wrong. I'm rooting for Bhop in this one.

 

Fixed, and bitch you knew what I meant.

 

Hopkins UD.

At least I hope.