[Tom]

I don't have Setanta but apparently I think Five Live are covering it so if I'm up I'll watch if not I'll find clips tomorrow

[Dan_]

Yeah, there is full commentary on 5 live from 3am.I'd imagine it will be repeated on BBC one next weekend.I've seen links to where you can watch it online, might be a bit dodgy though.

The undercard is really poor, probably the poorest one I've seen for an event of this magnitude.The only two I've heard of are Nathan Cleverly who's a young prospect in the super middleweight division and Audley Harrison who's fighting some journeyman.

[Dan_]

Well Calzaghe won but I'm sure he will be the first admit that it wasn't his best performance.He had the most terrible start,being knocked down in the first round after he walked straight onto the right hand from Hopkins which hit him on the bridge of the nose and clearly dazed him.I was shaking my head in disbelief that he fell into that trap so early on.

It took him to around the 4th round to really recover from that knockdown and it was a change of tactics by Joe that allowed for him to finally start having some success in the fight.He started boxing at range using his jab and working more side onto Hopkins, just trying to get in and out but he was still taking clean shots with the right hand and was staggered a couple times in the mid rounds.

The 9th and 10th rounds were the messiest of an incredibly scrappy fight.Hopkins got away with a clear headbutt infront of the rather hesistant Joe Cortez.Hopkins seemed to just want to be on the back burner and was tying up with every chance.In the 10th round Calzaghe hit Hopkins below the belt but the way Hopkins reacted you would've thought he got blasted right down below, it was actually a fairly light punch and too high to really do the damage Hopkins would've fooled you into believing.Hopkins took full advantage of the 5 mins allowed for a low blow to try and get a second wind and ended up winning the round.

As the last 3 rounds approached it was so clear that Hopkins was tired, his mouth was open and he was just more content on spoiling for most of the round, he threw the occassional flurry but that wasn't enough for me to win the rounds.Calzaghe was the clear aggressor just trying to throw the combinations to win the fight.The 11th round was probably the most action packed of the fight but it wasn't without another bit of acting from Hopkins, another low blow he claimed but the ref wasn't buying it and both fighters ended up ended good shots.Into the last round and Calzaghe did just enough to win the fight by taking that round on my card.

It was to the scorecards and everyone knew it was close with the speculation of a split decision proved correct.Judge Ted Gimza scored the fight 115-112 in favour of Calzaghe, judge Adalaide Byrd scored it 114-113 Hopkins and Judge Chuck Giampa scored it 116-111 Calzaghe.The arguments with rage on as to whether the cleaner but lower volume of punches by Hopkins should've won him the fight,or the agression and higher but less effective punches from Calzaghe were valid enough to win him the fight.Hopkins will most likely carry on saying he was robbed.

Overall it was the toughest fight that Calzaghe's ever had.Hopkins took away the confidence with the early knockdown and proved to be a bit of a stylist nightmare for Joe.For me Joe was able to just do just enough with Hopkins fighthing not having the legs to work effectively for the full 12 rounds and Joe took advantage and showed the greater urgency.

[Tom]

Thanks for that as always

Its very interesting the coverage that he is being given. From that description its a whole different fight to the one I've seen built up of package highlights on the news. They are all claiming he is unbeatable and he won by a large margin but by the sound sof your description (less biased) it appears that he wasn't actually as good as the media are making him out to be.

Again, thanks for the detailed summary

[Dan_]

Your welcome.

It's always interesting how some of the media try and spin things.In this case it sounds like they have overstated Calzaghe's performance and when Hatton lost last time, all they seemed concerned with was making a big deal out of the way the ref handled things.It's as if they were suggesting Hatton would have won with a different ref despite him being outclassed.

I'm a big fan of Calzaghe but I just call it as I see it.I'm unsure how anyone that's knowledgeable about boxing can have seen it too differently to me.Sure there was a lot of close rounds but it was obvious how much trouble Calzaghe had with Hopkins to start with and he had a bit of a mountain to climb but managed to pull away towards the end.

I've rewatched the fight this evening and made a point of doing a full scorecard.I was emotionally involved when it was live so only kept a rough scorecard but I ended up with the same score both times.My scorecard:

--------------01--02--03--04--05--06--07--08--09--10--11--12----TOT
Calzaghe--08--09--09--10--10--10--10--09--10--09--10--10----114
Hopkins---10--10--10--09--09--09--09--10--09--10--09--09----113

[GiRTh]

The ref in the Hatton fight definitely stopped Ricky from fighting the fight he wanted to fight. Mayweather would have probably won any way but the ref helped Mayweather get on top.

I haven't seen the fight but can't help make the comment that this fight would have been extremely interesting if it had happened a few years ago. A younger Hopkins against a less settled Calzaghe would have been interesting. I'm a fan of Joes but cannot respect any fighter who is so reluctant to go to America. America is where the big fights and the toughest oppenoets are. Congratulation to Joe but I feel he still has some work to do to prove he's an all time great. I hear Calzaghe wants to fight Roy Jones. Thats not the fight to prove hmself.

[Dan_]

Originally posted by GiRTh
The ref in the Hatton fight definitely stopped Ricky from fighting the fight he wanted to fight. Mayweather would have probably won any way but the ref helped Mayweather get on top.

I haven't seen the fight but can't help make the comment that this fight would have been extremely interesting if it had happened a few years ago. A younger Hopkins against a less settled Calzaghe would have been interesting. I'm a fan of Joes but cannot respect any fighter who is so reluctant to go to America. America is where the big fights and the toughest oppenoets are. Congratulation to Joe but I feel he still has some work to do to prove he's an all time great. I hear Calzaghe wants to fight Roy Jones. Thats not the fight to prove hmself.

Hatton was trying to do too much holding as far as I'm concerned but Cortez was probably a bit too eager to split things up.There's talk of a rematch next year but I'd always back Floyd.

I think Hopkins has been more or less at the same level for about 5 years now, style wise he's become very defensive due to not being able to sustain workrate over 12 rounds anymore, that's what pretty much cost him this fight.

I wonder if the fight had happened say 8 years back when it was originally meant to be staged, whether or not Hopkins would've been a bit more attack minded which actually might have favoured Joe.Hopkins did show how to negate Calzaghe's speed in the first half of the fight and was able to counter him a fair bit, even right at the end of the fight when he was clearly shattered.

Calzaghe was going to fight Bernard in America years back but Bernard backed out seeking more money, which just threw a spanner in the works.Calzaghe seems to have peaked later in his career and has taken on some very big challenges over the last few years in Lacy,Kessler and now Hopkins but found a way to win in them all.

I'm not sure I really go along with America being where the tougest opponents are.Whilst Joe was still a super-middleweight he took on a fair few Americans and beat them handily and there were never really any others in that division he could have taken on.Most were either at middlweight or at light heavy and it's only now he's struggled to make super-middle that he's moved up to take on Hopkins.Who do you think he should face instead of Jones to prove himself?

[GiRTh]

The Jones fight is a cash cow. Nothing more. Jones has looked awful for a few years. If Calzaghe wants to fight Jones he should have done it when Jones was at his peak. It may have meant a jump up in weight for Calzaghes but thats what he should have done.

The way the weight divisions are so fragmented I can understand your point that America may not be the centre of boxing that it used to be. But the fact is Joe has had some reasonably easy fights in this country. You admitted this was the toughest fight of his career. I think if he'd made his way across the atlantic five years ago he'd had had many fights as tough as the fight Hopkins gave him.

[Dan_]

I think it's all about the big name money fights for Joe now and that obviously means Jones Jnr is the main attraction.The trouble with Roy Jones is that dream heavyweight title win against John Ruiz turned the rest of his career into a bit of a nightmare.He went from being 12 1/2 stone and put on about 2 stone and that wasn't just him eating a load of junk that was 2 stone of muscle.He still wasn't really a heavyweight, he came in at about the same weight as David Haye does at cruiserweight.After beating Ruiz he'd accomplished all he wanted to as a heavyweight and I suppose he didn't fancy sticking around with the big guys so he came back down to 12 1/2 stone, he had to take that 2 stone of muscle off and doing that just cannot be healthy for the body.No wonder why he lost those 3 fights afterwards.

Jones has looked quite good since his comeback, the quick hands are still there and so is the power but he's 39 now and he just hasn't got what it takes to put in the real hardwork to beat the top guys anymore.I suppose whilst Calzaghe was making super-middle easy he didn't want to move up and probably put himself at a disadvantage.

Calzaghe's had some very questionable opponents over here, funnily enough a couple other American's who frankly shouldn't have been in the same ring as him.He went through a bit of a messy divorce and that coincided with some of the crap opponents.The thing that made Hopkins his toughest opponent was the cagey style in which Hopkins fights.It was pretty much a stylistic headache for Joe, whilst younger guys like Lacy and Kessler might have looked tougher assignments they were both come forward fights,that's the ones that suit Calzaghe.I'm just not so sure even if he had of gone to America he'd have found too many similar to Hopkins.

Who do you think Calzaghe should face next?

[GiRTh]

Not sure who he will face next. I think it'll have to be Jones.

I think not going to America was not a mistake but some, like me, will always state that Calzaghe could have been an undisputed legend wif he'd made the trip in his early thirties. Joe will go out undefeated and TBH he's earnt it but I dont think he'll be judges as one of the best of all time. Which is a shame.

[GiRTh]

I saw the fight yeaterday on BBC. I'm glad that Dan scored it so close because it was close. Calzaghe edged it on sheer work rate. I dont know why Hopkins thought he'd won, nw ay should he have gotteh decision.

I was a bit disappointed by Calzaghe's attitude after the fight. I think he should have given Hopkins more respect.

[Dan_]

Hopkins was pretty daft going on as if he was totally robbed,he only lost on a close split decision.It's hardly like he was dominant.I'm a bit sick of his attitude to be honest, saying it was an classic old school performance.

There was a great bit of hostility on the part of both guys and neither wanted to give any credit.

I'm hearing news that Amir Khan has split with his trainer.He's meant to be going to America to team up with Roger Mayweather.Khan's getting a bit too big for his boots and this will only expand the air of arrogance.I wouldn't be surprised if he ditched Frank Warren soon, he seems to want to rush this world title shot.

[GiRTh]

You're right Dan. Both fighters seemed to dislike each other.

[Dan_]

Doubt we will ever get a rematch lol.

David Haye's been calling out Wladimir Klitscho but Wlad doesn't seem to want the fight yet.

[GiRTh]

That would be an interesting fight.

[Dan_]

Certainly would, neither guy has the strongest chin but Wlad's pretty robotic these days and not really wanting to engage into too much of a fight.Haye would go out all guns blazing I'd imagine.

[GiRTh]

Wouldn't Vlad be a bit big for Haye?

[Dan_]

Originally posted by GiRTh
Wouldn't Vlad be a bit big for Haye?

Vlad seems to think that.They both attended some press event the other day and got into a bit of an argument with Vlad asking how much Haye weighed, he said 220lbs but he'd beat him even if he was 200lbs.Haye's about 6'3, so he's tall enough for the heavyweights but Vlad's a big guy.

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Dan_

Vlad seems to think that.They both attended some press event the other day and got into a bit of an argument with Vlad asking how much Haye weighed, he said 220lbs but he'd beat him even if he was 200lbs.Haye's about 6'3, so he's tall enough for the heavyweights but Vlad's a big guy.

Vlad is about 6'7" isnt he?

[Dan_]

Originally posted by GiRTh

Vlad is about 6'7" isnt he?

I'm fairly sure he is, certainly one of the tallest boxers around.

[GiRTh]

I hope the fight goes ahead. I reckon Haye'll murder him.

[Dan_]

Wlad seems content fighting mandatory challengers, bunch of pretenders instead of bonafide contenders.

Denis Inkin has pulled out of the fight against Carl Froch for the second time, looks like he is running scared.Colombia's Alejandro Berrio looks set to take his place in this eliminator fight for the world title.

[GiRTh]

Running scared of Froch? He must be rubbish.

[Dan_]

Inkin's got a bit of a glass jaw and with Froch's power he didn't fancy his chances.Inkin will most likely go after another one of the titles vacated by Calzaghe.

[GiRTh]

I still cant' get over that a fighter is running scared of Froch.