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Joe Calzaghe vs Bernard Hopkins 4/19/08
Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe
12 rounds for Hopkins' Ring magazine light heavyweight title
Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV
11pm EST, 4/19/08
Quote:
Over the course of his 20-year career, Philadelphia's Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) has established himself as one of the premier fighters of his era and one of the greatest middleweight champions of all time. After building a reputation on stellar performances against premium competition like Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya, Hopkins cemented his legacy with a stunning victory over reigning champion Antonio Tarver in June 2006 in his first fight at light heavyweight. Following a short retirement, Hopkins returned to the ring last July, scoring a convincing victory over former 154-pound champion Ronald "Winky" Wright in his second light heavyweight bout.
Six years after unsuccessfully seeking a matchup with Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs), from Newbridge, Wales, finally gets his wish. Known as "The Pride of Wales," the 35-year-old will be fighting at light heavyweight for the first time following a record-tying 21 consecutive world title defenses at super middleweight. In his most recent bout on Nov. 4, Calzaghe unified a host of world titles by taking the belts from Mikkel Kessler in front of a raucous home crowd at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The Hopkins fight will be Calzaghe's first in the United States and only his third outside the United Kingdom.
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I agree, this has sucker bet written all over it.
Sorry, I respect all fighters, just not too sold on European fighters because they haven't shown anyone anything here to convince any of us in, oh, the last 100 years or so.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTKrav911
I agree, this has sucker bet written all over it.
Sorry, I respect all fighters, just not too sold on European fighters because they haven't shown anyone anything here to convince any of us in, oh, the last 100 years or so.
LOL! C'mon I think you are being a little unfair there mate! Lennox Lewis? Naseem Hamed?? Klitschko?? David Haye?? Hatton?? Turpin (Beat Sugar Ray Robinson), Max Schmelling? Johansonn?? Ken Bucannon?? Plus I think Calzaghe could be the best ever, Definately British fighter, but possibly European!
My points have gone on a Calzaghe win! My only doubt is if it's close and goes to the cards, Hopkins could get the home-town decision!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxerboy
LOL! C'mon I think you are being a little unfair there mate! Lennox Lewis? Naseem Hamed?? Klitschko?? David Haye?? Hatton?? Turpin (Beat Sugar Ray Robinson), Max Schmelling? Johansonn?? Ken Bucannon?? Plus I think Calzaghe could be the best ever, Definately British fighter, but possibly European!
My points have gone on a Calzaghe win! My only doubt is if it's close and goes to the cards, Hopkins could get the home-town decision!
That's why it's so tough to bet on boxing.
Calzaghe has to know that and will do what he has to so he can end the fight ...and not leave it up to the "judges".
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I dont think this will be a great fight though! I cant remember the last exciting B-Hop fight! Maybe DLH??
I dont think the judges will be too much of a worry. I think Calzaghe should be able to beat him convincingly enough, that a B-Hop decision would be daylight robbery!!
Very surprised to see the longer odds on a Calzaghe decision than a Calzaghe KO!!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxerboy
LOL! C'mon I think you are being a little unfair there mate! Lennox Lewis? Naseem Hamed?? Klitschko?? David Haye?? Hatton?? Turpin (Beat Sugar Ray Robinson), Max Schmelling? Johansonn?? Ken Bucannon?? Plus I think Calzaghe could be the best ever, Definately British fighter, but possibly European!
My points have gone on a Calzaghe win! My only doubt is if it's close and goes to the cards, Hopkins could get the home-town decision!
Hamed got exposed by Barrerra and then basically quit. He shouldn't be on your list. I agree with you though.
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I was just thinking off the top of my head. I defend my inclusion of Hamed though on the basis that he had supreme natural gifts, he just never trained!! He also put away good guys like Belcastro, Wayne McCullough and Kevin Kelly. I agree though! Him quitting after losing tarnished his legacy
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I watched the HBO Countdown to this fight last night and have to admit they both look very impressive. I still think I'll take the odds on Hop.
I like that he has that crazy fitness trainer who looks like the dude from Rocky IV for Ivan Drago.
Did you all catch Hopkins Fitness stuff? They treated him like Ivan Drago in Rocky. All scientific about it, measure his blood, muscles, joints, freakin the air he breathes, etc.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTKrav911
Did you all catch Hopkins Fitness stuff? They treated him like Ivan Drago in Rocky. All scientific about it, measure his blood, muscles, joints, freakin the air he breathes, etc.
Should be an interesting fight.
The HBO special is posted in the boxing section. It's Great! They build up the fight really well
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I think Calzaghe will take this, but I might lay a few points on Hopkins just cause of the odds.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxerboy
I dont think this will be a great fight though! I cant remember the last exciting B-Hop fight! Maybe DLH??
I dont think the judges will be too much of a worry. I think Calzaghe should be able to beat him convincingly enough, that a B-Hop decision would be daylight robbery!!
Very surprised to see the longer odds on a Calzaghe decision than a Calzaghe KO!!
Yeah me too; I wanna take the decision bet just b/c the odds are so good but I really believe that Joe will win the fight due to a stoppage from a flurry of punches.....
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You have "Will this fight go to a decision? - Yes" twice, with differing odds.
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Joe Calzaghe vs Bernard Hopkins 4/19/08
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