Another excellant Guardian interview(with Hopkins)

Big Ears · 12-02-2008 02:48PM #1

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/boxing/story/0,,2255853,00.html
very interesting , the guardian really do some top notch stuff . This was an absolute gem before the Calzaghe v Kessler fight http://sport.guardian.co.uk/boxing/story/0,,2201534,00.html

maradona10 · 12-02-2008 08:37PM

there good articles alright. have you saved any about heavyweights?

if your interested in articles like those the new york times have some excellent ones

i like the ones that deal with the behind the scenes stuff especially preperation

walshb · 12-02-2008 09:50PM

I heard that white boy remark a few weeks back.
I wonder if Calzaghe had said similar about
HOP, would it have been completely overlooked.
There would have been uproar had Calzaghe came out
with such a statement.

I hope Joe whups Bernard....

nacho libre · 13-02-2008 03:15PM

walshb wrote: »

I heard that white boy remark a few weeks back.
I wonder if Calzaghe had said similar about
HOP, would it have been completely overlooked.
There would have been uproar had Calzaghe came out
with such a statement.

I hope Joe whups Bernard....

Have you changed your mind then? I recall you saying Hopkins would beat Calzaghe.

walshb · 13-02-2008 04:37PM

I'm quite certain it was my good friend Cowzerp who said Hop would
beat Joe. I don't think I ever said it and the reason was, that HOP at 42, was a little too old I feel. At peak I think he may just beat Joe.

jayroyal · 13-02-2008 04:42PM

lets hope hops doesn't box negative i think calzaghe easy and maybe a late stoppage i think he'll be only fitter and stronger at the higher weight.

cowzerp · 13-02-2008 04:56PM

walshb wrote: »

I'm quite certain it was my good friend Cowzerp who said Hop would
.

True it was me-:D

and i still think he's gona whup the white boy!!!

Big Ears · 13-02-2008 05:01PM

walshb wrote: »

I'm quite certain it was my good friend Cowzerp who said Hop would
beat Joe. I don't think I ever said it and the reason was, that HOP at 42, was a little too old I feel. At peak I think he may just beat Joe.

Did the Kessler fight change your opinion of Joe at all ?

Big Ears · 13-02-2008 05:15PM

maradona10 wrote: »

there good articles alright. have you saved any about heavyweights?

Unfortunately not .

cowzerp · 13-02-2008 05:49PM

Big Ears wrote: »

Did the Kessler fight change your opinion of Joe at all ?

I've watched joe since his early days and although i've always cheered him on i've never really been a big fan of his abilities, his lack of technique annoys me at times!

he is a determined tough lad and thats about it! he did well in the kessler fight in fairness and was punching better but then again if kessler worked a little harder i think he might have had the beatings of joe, although i think his stamina would not have been up to it!

jayroyal · 13-02-2008 06:08PM

cowzerp wrote: »

I've watched joe since his early days and although i've always cheered him on i've never really been a big fan of his abilities, his lack of technique annoys me at times!

he is a determined tough lad and thats about it! he did well in the kessler fight in fairness and was punching better but then again if kessler worked a little harder i think he might have had the beatings of joe, although i think his stamina would not have been up to it!

I think more people will like and admired calzaghe when he's retired i'm glad you've changed your mind a little i hope they both slug it out if they both do it be a cracker.

cowzerp · 13-02-2008 06:42PM

im always open to changing my mind! i hated eubank for years and liked him at the end of his carreer when he showed great heart and dodged nobody!

nacho libre · 13-02-2008 10:22PM

should he beat Hopkins i hope he goes go on to face either Pavlik or Taylor. it would be fascinating to see could Calzaghe live with Pavlik's power. i suspect not but then very few can it seems.

should he beat either of those two i think the last remaining cynics will have to revise their opinion of him!

The G Child · 13-02-2008 11:54PM

How's it going folks. I'm only new to the boards and am a keen boxing fan, while not as knowledgeable as most about it.

I have to say that I think Calzaghe, while a decent fighter, will suffer from the over hype syndrome that hits a lot of British fighters. He has never gone in against the best, and certainly not in their backyard. I think he's only fought outside the UK twice. Lacy and Kessler are decent fighters, but not the very best. I wouldn't go as far as to say bums, but definitely not the big boys.

Hopkins, on the other hand, has been in with (and beaten) Trinidad, De La Hoya & Winky Wright, along with Antonio Tarver. All big names and big hitters. He's gone up against Jermaine Taylor twice. He's been in with the best and come through it. He may be 43, but against Wright he still looked like he could mix it with someone younger. I think all this will count for Hopkins when it comes down to the fight.

I think Hopkins could actually knock Calzaghe out within 9 rounds. Just my opinion.

walshb · 14-02-2008 10:38AM

Big Ears wrote: »

Unfortunately not .

Big ears,

Calzaghe has never really impressed me the way Toney/Jones/ and
even Benn and Eubank did. BTW, beating a 42/43 year old HOP
will as far as I am concerned do pretty much zero to enhance Joe's
legacy or my opinion, unless of course he destroys HOP in a few rds...

I think Joe was far too protected for far too long and who of real merit has
he beat?

He's a good champ, but not a great great fighter. Sloppy, poor technique and a slapper...

He has supreme stamna, heart and a good chin.....

Kessler was good and it was a good win, close, and another sloppy fight...

megadodge · 14-02-2008 12:15PM

Kudos for finding those articles as they are absolutely top class.
As good as I have ever read.

If you could source more of them, please do.

Big Ears · 14-02-2008 12:41PM

walshb wrote: »

Big ears,

Calzaghe has never really impressed me the way Toney/Jones/ and
even Benn and Eubank did. BTW, beating a 42/43 year old HOP
will as far as I am concerned do pretty much zero to enhance Joe's
legacy or my opinion, unless of course he destroys HOP in a few rds...

I think Joe was far too protected for far too long and who of real merit has
he beat?

He's a good champ, but not a great great fighter. Sloppy, poor technique and a slapper...

He has supreme stamna, heart and a good chin.....

Kessler was good and it was a good win, close, and another sloppy fight...

So basically no you haven't changed your opinion

, anyway do you feel there is any fighter from 160-175 that can beat him ? , Pavlik , Taylor , Dawson ?

walshb · 14-02-2008 02:25PM

It's hard to tell because Joe never fought real
quality and I don't know how he'd fare V real quality.

Like Toney or Jones for example.
I'd bet on Toney at 168lbs to KO him

Jones to win by TKO or decision..

But he never fought these guys.

His best victory according to the experts
was Lacy. And we know how I feel about Lacy.

He has proved to be a dud.....

Pavlik has the power, size and endurance to beat Joe

At 168lbs I'd bet on Pavlik by KO.

Is Joe's chin really grade A or is it a case
that it was never hit by a real banger?

.

Big Ears · 14-02-2008 03:49PM

walshb wrote: »

It's hard to tell because Joe never fought real
quality and I don't know how he'd fare V real quality.

Like Toney or Jones for example.
I'd bet on Toney at 168lbs to KO him

Jones to win by TKO or decision..

But he never fought these guys.

His best victory according to the experts
was Lacy. And we know how I feel about Lacy.

He has proved to be a dud.....

Pavlik has the power, size and endurance to beat Joe

At 168lbs I'd bet on Pavlik by KO.

Is Joe's chin really grade A or is it a case
that it was never hit by a real banger?

.

His best win is Kessler , Kessler is a vastly superior fighter to Lacy , as is prime Reid and past his prime Eubank . I don't think any real experts would claim the Lacy winas his best(opponent wise) , performance wise maybe .

Calzaghe faced big punchers in Kessler , Lacy , Eubank , Reid , Mitchell and Brewer .
Also some decent punchers such as Starie , Woodhall , Bika , Mkrtchian and Sheika .

If his chin wasn't grade A it would of been exposed by that lot .

I feel Jones would decision him , but I think Toney loses a decision to him as he just doesn't have the legs for Calzaghe . Toney although an extremely skilled classy counter puncher , he struggled with fighters that were agile and could move . Toney could really hit too , but I don't think that'd be a problem for Calzaghe who has proved his chin .

I don't believe anyone from 160-175 would beat Calzaghe , Pavlik showed last time against Taylor that when an opponent is hard to land shots on he resorts to being a 1-2 fighter(okay it eventually worked) , he didn't throw nerely as many hooks or uppercuts as he normally does . He was also hurt very bad by Taylor , who is a modest enough hitter at Middleweight . I don't think Pavlik's 1-2 fighting would be effective against Pavlik , I think Calzaghe would just be too adaptable for Pavlik .

for me it's .
Calzaghe tko Pavlik
Calzaghe UD Taylor , clearly
Calzaghe UD Dawson , close fight

I think Kessler is a better fighter than Pavlik or Taylor and would beat them both .

nacho libre · 15-02-2008 12:04AM

Big Ears wrote: »

His best win is Kessler , Kessler is a vastly superior fighter to Lacy , as is prime Reid and past his prime Eubank . I don't think any real experts would claim the Lacy winas his best(opponent wise) , performance wise maybe .

Calzaghe faced big punchers in Kessler , Lacy , Eubank , Reid , Mitchell and Brewer .
Also some decent punchers such as Starie , Woodhall , Bika , Mkrtchian and Sheika .

If his chin wasn't grade A it would of been exposed by that lot .

I feel Jones would decision him , but I think Toney loses a decision to him as he just doesn't have the legs for Calzaghe . Toney although an extremely skilled classy counter puncher , he struggled with fighters that were agile and could move . Toney could really hit too , but I don't think that'd be a problem for Calzaghe who has proved his chin .

I don't believe anyone from 160-175 would beat Calzaghe , Pavlik showed last time against Taylor that when an opponent is hard to land shots on he resorts to being a 1-2 fighter(okay it eventually worked) , he didn't throw nerely as many hooks or uppercuts as he normally does . He was also hurt very bad by Taylor , who is a modest enough hitter at Middleweight . I don't think Pavlik's 1-2 fighting would be effective against Pavlik , I think Calzaghe would just be too adaptable for Pavlik .

for me it's .
Calzaghe tko Pavlik
Calzaghe UD Taylor , clearly
Calzaghe UD Dawson , close fight

I think Kessler is a better fighter than Pavlik or Taylor and would beat them both .

Kessler is good but he's not as good as Taylor. Kessler while maybe a better boxer than Pavlik, Pavlik would still knock him out, in the later rounds, if they fought.

Joe has a good chin, as you mentioned, but i don't think it could absorb Pavlik's best shots. so, if they fought Pavlik would win by ko.

Joe would win on points against Taylor.

megadodge · 15-02-2008 10:05AM

It's hard to tell because Joe never fought real
quality and I don't know how he'd fare V real quality.

Like Toney or Jones for example.
I'd bet on Toney at 168lbs to KO him

Jones to win by TKO or decision..

But he never fought these guys.

That's a very unfair comment simply because they were at different weights !!

Fair is fair, but when Calzaghe beat Eubank (an excellent win) Jones was already light heavy champ and Toney was fighting at CRUISER and never again even fought at light heavy !!

I can't think of anyone over the years at super-middle during Calzaghe's reign who you could have said was definitely better than Joe - other than Lacey and Kessler. Strangely enough I thought before those fights that lacey stood a better chance and slightly fancied him to win. Afterwards, Kessler impressed me much more and I would take him over either Taylor or Pavlik.

For what it's worth, I think he would have outworked and outsped Toney, but have lost a clearcut decision to Jones.

buck65 · 15-02-2008 10:23AM

Kessler had Calzaghe rocked but didn't seem to have the killer instinct to finish him. Pavlek seemed more competent in defeating Taylor when he got his chance.

megadodge · 15-02-2008 10:32AM

Kessler had Calzaghe rocked but didn't seem to have the killer instinct to finish him.

If you're talking about the pair of uppercuts in the 4th, while they were excellent punches Calzaghe never looked remotely bothered by them.

The only time in that fight anyone was in trouble was when Joe's right hook to the body in the 8th had Kessler in definite discomfort but the ref then warned Calzaghe giving Kessler time to recover. Even then I think Kessler would have gotten over it.

jayroyal · 15-02-2008 04:38PM

buck65 wrote: »

Kessler had Calzaghe rocked but didn't seem to have the killer instinct to finish him. Pavlek seemed more competent in defeating Taylor when he got his chance.

WHEN:eek:

Big Ears · 15-02-2008 05:13PM

buck65 wrote: »

Kessler had Calzaghe rocked but didn't seem to have the killer instinct to finish him. Pavlek seemed more competent in defeating Taylor when he got his chance.

As megadodge pointed out , although they were excellant punches and Calzaghe certainly felt them he wasn't hurt and indeed the only one hurt in the fight was Kessler(to the body) in round 8 .

Of course Pavlik found it easier to finish Taylor , Taylor isn't as good as Kessler........

Of course there are those that will disagree but Taylor can't make 160 anymore and is now a middleweight . There is a good chance at some point he will have to fight Kessler and I know who my money will be on .

Pavlik will also eventually move to 168 and if Kessler is still there I'd fancy him to vanquish 'The Ghost' .

nacho libre · 18-02-2008 07:18PM

might as well post this here
http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=12676

joepenguin · 23-02-2008 06:36PM

cheers for the articles,
enjoyed the calzaghe and hatton ones a few months back also,

keep them coming:D...

Another excellant Guardian interview(with Hopkins)

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