Anyone see the Calzaghe-Hopkins fight....
 

Interesting that the fight never really captured the imagination either in the US or even here.

Only 8,000 came over to support Joe-compared to the 30,000 that came for "Fatton" in December. The night after that fight Calzaghe was awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award-which should have been an indicator that he's more popular than Hatton.

A split decision. Was it the right result?

One last fight-may be 2. Roy Jones-anyone else?

got up to watch it this morning.. Calzaghe did very well to win from the start he got, Hopkins had him down within the 1st minute. Hpkins controlled the 1st 4-5 rounds before Calzaghe dug deep and got his game going. He probably deserved the win in the end..

No way that was a split decision. Calzaghe won the fight. I'm not sure what the judge that gave the fight to Hopkins was watching.

Nothing uglier than a Bernard Hopkins fight.

My 4 year old daughter kept asking me why the guy in the blue kept pushing them apart. Even she would rather see boxing than constant wrestling and clinching.

Chuck and I watched it. Too bad it couldn't go 15 like they're supposed to... Looked to me that Hopkins was getting Calzaghe to dance to his tune early, but that didn't last very long. It was a highly 'technical' fight. Calzaghe very tactfully scored with alacrity while not hurting Hopkins particularly. The lady judge must have been watching a different fight to score it the way she did.

Was the first time I had seen Calzaghe and I was impressed. Am sorry he hasn't fought in the US more and hope we see him come back for a few more deserving paydays. Seems very charismatic and genuine. Have to give credit to crazy Bernard too. He's had a great career.

I had forgot about this fight.



A Pavlik match up with this guy,should they both remain undefeated,within one year should happen..I would think.


Mighty Kelly Youngstown will destroy him.

Steve...I must not concur.



Boxing is brutal enough. Cutting back to 12 was a good thing. Frank Lee....I think 10 should be the max.

Hopkins showed that he is over the hill and
has been for a while. Joe C. U- decision.
Hopkins has been surviving through fights
with good fighters. (I dont consider Winky Wright
and A. Tarver top fighters anymore)
Joe C is not exactly young
and he just took control. Joe C is just a much
more active, more athletic, better fighter at
this point in their careers. Hopkins is just
a survivor at this time. Executioner... blah.
He knocks the guy down in the 1st round
and cant beat him. He could not execute
a good jab. Bernard please quit.

I say Kelly P. would knock them both out if
he goes up in weight, which he undoubtely will
as he matures. Hopefully Bernard will have quit
by then. I hope Joe C. hangs around a bit longer.
He still goes a full 12 rounds with gusto.

I didn't see it, I spoke to my dad this morning - he thought Hopkins should have won a 3 point decision.

I guess for more than half of the fight he thought Hopkins was sweeping, including a 10-8 round - but judges have tendenices to give boring close rounds to the guy who's behind...and that makes the final rounds much more important in the overall scoring.

The Associated Press had the fight 114-113 for Hopkins .. pops seemed to think it was a very straight forward 115-112 for Hopkins...but if you didn't bother scoring round-by-round and just watched the fight you'd think he deserved to lose.

Hopkins got beaten the last 5 rounds.
You are going to lose a fight that way.
Hopkins takes rounds off. Its the same
reason he lost to JermaineTaylor twice.
He cant go 12 full rounds anymore.

Punch stats totally Joe C.

You scored it round by round Hossy?

Perhaps he had a bet on Hopkins... who knows.

If you've won the 6 previous rounds 10-9 ... you'd be up a point.

The problem is that most judges make the mistake of scoring rounds comparatively.

If a guy dominates early rounds - and he only very slightly does better through very boring middle rounds where nothing really happens - judges tend to score those rounds comparatively and give them to the guy who's been getting his ass kicked early on.

Maybe it didn't happen to as large of an extent as the cards of my dad (who had Hopkins winning by 3) - or the AP (who had Hopkins winning by 1) would indicate ... but there was a guy who had Hopkins losing by 5 .. and that after he scored a 10-8 round right off the bat.

Hopkins always was a master of doing just enough to win close boring rounds. I find it hard to believe he lossed serveal of them as the 116-111 would indicate - but hey, I haven't even watched the fight yet.

Makes sense. And Hopkins knows this.
But in a fight that is not a blowout,
you cant lose the last five rounds.
Hopkins knows this also. He just could
not do anything about it.

THe Bolded:
And in Hopkins last 3 loses he has been the
master of losing close fights.

Kinda sad. Because in his prime (the pummeling of Tito)
he was really very able, smart and a great counter puncher.
He WAS fun to watch.

Now he is purely a business man
who is making the most of his withering ability. He is doing
a great job in this realm. Saying he would never be beaten
by any White Boy(Joe C.). Against J. Taylor he said he would never
get beaten by any hick from Arkansas. He plays the masses
perfectly. Very smart.

As usual,
I have
no idea
what
Pee Garden
is talking about.

I had the fight 115-112 for Calzaghe, but there were 4 rounds that I found very difficult to score. I gave 2 to BHop and 2 to Calzaghe, so I can see DrugS' dad and others thinking that Hopkins won.

Either way, the statement that Hopkins is over the hill and should quit is ridiculous. BHop clearly isn't what he once was, but he was very competitive against one of the best 3-4 fighters in the world, wasn't ever hurt, and is still be able to test anyone at 168 or 174. He does a lot of things very well, and I find him interesting to watch. I also have a lot of respect for a guy that has worked his way up from the very bottom to the top. But I guess if Pee Garden thinks it's time to go, he should just hang it up because he lost a close decision to an undefeated fighter.

**************************************************

TOO KIND !!

I would think if all goes well, Calzaghe will probably fight and beat Roy Jones, Pavlik will fight once or twice more at 160, and then Pavlilk and Calzaghe will meet at 168.

That will be a very fine fight.

Hee, Gossy.






Oh fucl<.




















Wait a minute.






































Gee, Hossy.....I thought you knew gold stars when you saw them.

More fine work.







Gee wilikens.

Behooved.

After seeing your scorecard, I believe Hossy, Avery Smartman and Late Fires should be the three judges at ringside for Whodey-Zito at Saratoga.

You have been reading too much of Mr. Blueski's fine work.








:)

ror!

:)

Yeah, not only do judges tend to score fights comparitively - but they also have habits of evening out the tight or close boring rounds where not much happens.

In the past - there would be rounds where Hopkins would fight well for a good 25 seconds and just frustrate his opponet the rest of the round. It would appear that his rival is busier and trying harder - but Hopkins would land a few clean effective punches while his rival wouldn't land any. If scored correctly, those are no doubt about it rounds for him.

There is temptation to score those to the guy who looks to be trying harder, especially if he had been doing poorly earlier - or if you've already scored one or more similar actionless rounds to Hopkins.

I just watched the fight on tape. I agree Joe Calzaghe won the fight, he was the more aggressive of the 2. Hopkins was constantly clinching, no freakin clue either Bigs what that lady judge was watching. It was a boring fight, which I blame on Bernard (nothing new), his comments after the fight were a joke as well. All about him, no credit to Joe, saying "I took him to school"? What was he smoken!

He stays in fights with good fighters doing
nothing to win. He clinches and tries to counter.
Did you watch the last 5 rounds? He is 43.
And is really pretty much a bore now.

Hopkins v. Hopkins:

Round 1-12 no one throws a punch and they hug.
Kinda like a threesome between Morton, Moss, and
Premature Smoldering.

Yeah, I watched all 12 rounds of this fight, where he lost a close split decision to one of the best fighters in the world, and his two previous fights, the ones where he beat a guy who was considered one of the top ten pound for pound fighters in the world, and dominated the top fighter in a new weight class for him at the time. So, considering the results, I'd say he's doing something to win.

I find it interesting to watch him use his experience, toughness and smarts to find ways to win at age 43. And I respect the fact that he's still in great shape physically and mentally, and would never tell him to hang it up, even on a horsey board.

Of course, I'm no expert, like say a teacher from Texas or something.

And
I
have
nothing
to
say
about
your
latest
awful
attempt
at
humor
except
:rolleyes:
.

Ok now.
I can accept this.
He is definitely in very good shape
and he is very smart.

But he was the best at one time.

He is a businessman now imho.
He is not willing to actually try and
win these big fights imo.

But that is my problem. I should just
refuse to watch anymore of his fights.
Which I will now attempt. Even if he
fights another guy like Joe C. who is fun
to watch.

As far as sense of humor...
Pat yourself on the back.
You guys are great. The Peegarden
never gets old.
And since apparently teaching in Texas
is apparently an affront to any sensibility
what is your profession (since you are
nothing like it)?

I know you weren't asking me this....

But it should be known that I was, at one time, one of the all-time least impressive amature boxers in Pennsylvania history.

I looked pretty good in the gym and all - but the fighting part I wasn't so great at.

OK - we'll leave it at that and agree to disagree on whether or not he is trying to win fights.

My profession really has nothing to do with this or anything else on a horse racing message board, so I don't bring it up here.

Cool.
Getting busted in the nose and face
and having to keep your eyes open
is a hell of a lot of fun... eh?

I like boxing, especially divisions other than the heavies
now, because they are really great athletes and
some of the toughest people in sports.

Takes a hell of a lot of guts and you have to be
in superior shape. I have boxed. Just at gyms (San Antonio
is a really big boxing town with all the hispanic boxers).
A really good boxer in the Army showed me a little bit.
(San Antonio also used to be full of military). Never been
so tired in my life. Not to mention that it hurts to get hit
in the face, even with protection.

Really I just like to watch good athletes. Thats how I was drawn to
the horses as well. I played every intramural sport known to man
in college. Sadly I was far superior in Tennis, the sport I probably
like the least now.

Oh my God.




The garden sake is aggitated and once again bellows:




















WHODOYOUWORKFOR!!!!!??

Translation:

He wore white tassels in the gym...





...but would not only lose in a real bout,but had his lunch money pilfered as well.

OK.

My profession stuff goes back to
the ESPN board. I really dont care
what anybody does. And I usually dont mind
that people take jabs at my profession.
But if they do, I think its only fair that
they present their lofty position.

I was DrugS' cutman.

Morton.

You are fantastic at the fine art
of manipulation. And I grudgingly admit
you are funny. Obviously bright.

imho, your pestering and need for attention
are mildy endearing. Since I am currently
enthralled with Electric Fields, you want
to start a new thread?

We can call it E-fields, and I can practice
explaining to you, and you can make fun of me.
Cant wait till tomorrow. Its gonna be a fine day
for me.