Interesting video. Love him or hate him, Benard is a technical genius when it comes to the game. Here's a vid of him sharing some tips and tricks. http://youtube.com/watch?v=JXzjj7f5Yno Check the poster of the video if you haven't seen Cung le vs. Shamrock yet. he has that entire fight as well.
Awesome videos. Hopkins and Mayweather are tacticians in that ring moreso than any other fighters in the sport right now.
a true tech-even old school trainers say this man is one of the best fighters, an one of the best boxers all time. people who know, say hopkins is a true tech and craftsman... great stuff him and floyd best tech hands down of this genearation; an ricardo lopez
I agree Hopkins is one of the best boxers of all-time. His defensive work is much more impressive than his offensive work though and I just don't see at this stage of his career that he can beat Joe.
As Hopkins aged, he became VERY defensive as MANY older fighters do, but in his prime circa 1995 to 2000, Hopkins was far more aggressive coming forward with VERY impressive offensive work. Look for some of Hopkins' old fights circa 1995-2000 like the Lipsey fight, and the great battles with Antwun Echols. Hopkins fought like Trinidad at times in that era. Hopkins could box, he could slug, he could counter-punch, fight coming ahead or going back, he didn't resort to as much dirty tactics then either. Multi-dimensional fighter then as well as now, but he's lost much of his speed now. I've long been a fan of both Hopkins and Calzaghe, and the Hopkins/Calzaghe fight should have been made in 1999 or 2000 when both guys were at their best. Hopkins won the middleweight title in 1995; Calzaghe won the super-middleweight title in 1997. Calzaghe's now-brittle hands were still pretty good, and he knocked people out then, no "Cal-Slappy" then. Joe was more aggressive then too, not a light-handed boxing volume-puncher like he is now. Many reasons why the fight never happened among then Calzaghe's promoter Warren wouldn't risk it; Hopkins had court battles with boxing suits. At that time in 1999 or 2000, I'd go with Hopkins all the way; now with Hopkins well past-his-prime and 43 years old to Calzaghe's 36 years, it may be a different story. It'll still be a good fight, but it's really too bad that they didn't meet in their respective primes 'cause it could've happened when they were both younger with young mens' styles, full of piss-and-vinegar!
age is the only thing that beats hopkins to me calzaghe hasn't beaten any really good boxers; great fighters, an offensive boxers.. but he hasn't beaten anyone w/all round good boxing skills or even great fighters. To me calzaghe is alot like jones jr in that his ability is what makes him eff, not his tech; to me his boxing is very average, but mix it w/that exceptional handspeed/exp/fluidity and power and u have a great boxer. hopkins has been in w/better faster more exp tech and fundamental guys, joe is bringing nothin hopkins hasn't seen, bernard his bringing everything joe hasn't seen. I.e. poise exp def acumen, off patience and discipline, mental toughness, excellent clinch/infighting, positioning, footwork. if hops is right, he beats joe in an exciting; but somewhat onesided fight, hopkins is a master boxer...joe is just a pretty good one.
good argument. I think Calzaghe's technique is shit compared to other guys at that level. But technique is only one variable in a fight. There's things like athleticism, speed, footwork, workrate, and aggression, which Joe has to make up for his lack of technique. I think his workrate makes him hard to fight and I think he changes angles pretty well and doesn't give his opponents much of a target. I'm also impressed with his ability to come right back after eating a hard shot like he did many times against Kessler. That being said, I'm pulling for Bernard.
Unfortunately, Hopkins is an OLD, great boxer and one who's motor has been slipping for the past decade. Every fighter has that one last, great showing. I think Hopkins had his with Tarver. Hopkins will make Calzaghe look bad in patches, but with will be too few and far between. Calzaghe wins a UD.
IMO what makes Hopkins great is ability to make any fighter fight the way he wants to fight. No matter who he fights, the fights all look the same. Slow, methodical, boring beatdowns. Calzaghe will be no different. An old Hopkins>any fighter Calzaghe's been in the ring with.
