FightHype staff predictions are in for this weekend's highly anticipated clash between light heavyweight king Bernard Hopkins and undisputed super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe. Can Joe Calzaghe cross the ocean and pull off the biggest victory in his career? Can Bernard Hopkins prevent Father Time from catching up to him one more time? Who will win? Who will lose? Get the answers to these questions and more in FightHype's staff predictions. Plus, fighters and trainers in boxing as well as mixed martial arts share their thoughts on the fight as former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and world-class trainers Matt Pena and Ron Frazier give their picks. Check it out!
Ben "The Hype" Thompson - Hopkins TKO9
WOOOOOOOOOO! That's right...I'm calling it...ol' Snaggletooth gets a rare stoppage in this one. Hopkins is no Kessler, Lacy or Manfredo Jr...he's an entirely different beast. I have no idea why Calzaghe is favored in this one, but hey, I'm cool with that...I'll gladly lay my money on the old man. I think people are forgetting that no matter who Hopkins fights, they usually end up fighting out of character as Winky Wright, Antonio Tarver, Jermain Taylor and Oscar De La Hoya all found out. As good as his untarnished record may look, I just don't think Calzaghe is that much better of a fighter than any of those guys. Outside of his workrate, I'm not exactly sure what he's going to bring to the table that they couldn't bring...and workrate alone does not win fights, as Paul Williams recently discovered against Carlos Quintana. Given the success that Byron Mitchell had at landing right hands, short hooks and uppercuts in his two short rounds with Calzaghe, I think a much, much more skilled Hopkins will pick Joe Cool apart and do much more damage with his accurate, but low output. If Calzaghe is smart, he'll shut it down like Tarver did and be content to go the distance. If, however, he's as bold as all the talking he's been doing, which I think he is, expect an impressive stoppage and old man Hopkins can ride off into the sunset...well...at least until another nice payday comes along.
Percy "Talent" Crawford - Hopkins TKO11
Once again the old soldier's back is against the wall. Whether you love him or hate him, you can't count him out. Let's look at resumes...who has Joe Calzaghe really beaten? Lacy, Kessler, Manfredo? The better question is who did Lacy, Kessler and Manfredo defeat before fighting Calzaghe? Hopkins loves to take fights like this where he can defy all odds. I see this fight a lot like the Trinidad fight...a guy younger, faster and undefeated and Hopkins picked him apart. I look for much of the same from the old grasshopper in this fight except he'll stop Calzaghe a round earlier than he stopped Tito (maybe Calzaghe's dad will bail him out as well).
Lennox Lewis - Bernard Hopkins
If BHop comes out boxing the way he fought Tarver, then he wins. Not sure which BHop will show up. "Father Time" is knocking at his door.
Angel Colon - Hopkins by Unanimous Decision
Matt Pena (H.I.T. Squad Boxing Coach) - Calzaghe by Decision
The only way I see hopkins winning is to make it an ugly fight and land effective, staight right hands. As much as I hate to count Hopkins out, Calzaghe by decision.
Ron Frazier (Xtreme Couture Boxing Coach) - Hopkins by Decision
Sean Malone - Calzaghe by Unanimous Decision
As much as I am a fan of Hopkins, the fact remains that I feel that Calzaghe is closer to his prime than Hopkins is. Expect a tactical snoozefest with brief spurts of action, but in the end, I think Calzaghe will simply outhustle Hopkins.
James Almonte - Hopkins by Split Decision
I have to give this one to Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins. He's already started the cerebral attacks and the fact that this will be the first fight that Calzaghe is involved in outside of his native Wales will play a huge role in the outcome of this fight. I see B-Hop countering Zaghe's punches, which can be a bit wide at times, and roughing him up on the inside. Zaghe will make it interesting with his high workrate, but I think B-Hop's mental approach and countering ability will be too much for him. B-Hop by split decision.
Nick Sanchez - Calzaghe by Unanimous Decision
Although Hopkins is 12-0 (8 KOs) lifetime versus southpaws, I think Joe is a different kind of southpaw...probably the most awkward southpaw Bernard has ever seen. I think both fighters will have their moments, however Joe will pull out a close, but unanimous decision.
Steve Coleman - Hopkins by Decision
I'm going with Hopkins for this one. Bernard always finds a way to win and if anyone gets stopped, I gotta think it will be Calzaghe. Joe is very fast and busy, but I don't think his shots have that much on them. I think that Bernard will draw him into a wrestling match, wear Joe down with some inside tactics and then it will be straight right city. I think that Joe will be pretty banged up by the end of the fight and may even be stopped late.
Charles Presnell - Calzaghe by Decision
Wow, this fight should have happened about four or five years ago. Anyway, this is a fight that is better late than never (unlike a third Holyfield-Tyson fight) and should be an entertaining one. As much as I like Hopkins, if Calzaghe controls the fight the way he did with a young Kessler, than he can do it to Hopkins. I'm going with Joe for a decision...probably 117-111.
Josh Jordon - Calzaghe by Unanimous Decision
Joe's workrate is gonna be the difference in this fight. I can appreciate everything that BHop has done in the ring, but Joe C is simply going to outwork him in this one. I hope that Bernard realizes that he may need to step on the gas in this fight and really brings it, otherwise Joe C will win a boring "boxing contest".
Simon Ruvalcaba - Calzaghe by Decision
So this is the fight of two guys that I've doubted in past picks. I'm taking youth in this one, but won't be surprises if BHop proves me wrong again.
Karl Hegman - Hopkins by Decision
I'll take Hopkins to go to the well one last time and pull it out by decision.
Jack Plato - Calzaghe by Split Decision
This is a very interesting match-up. Hopkins loves a great brawl and this has the potential to be that. I view Calzaghe as a solid pressure fighter and, as the Kessler fight showed, his time is here. But never, never, never underestimate what Bernard Hopkins, even at his advanced age, can do in the ring. He still knows every trick in the book. Let's not lose sight of the fact that 5 years ago, most believed Hopkins would have easily beaten Calzaghe. Bernard had too much of everything in experience and adaptability while Calzaghe still had a lot of tunnel vision, finidng it difficult to adapt to an opponents' style. However, the downside for Bernard is his age. The question is, can Hopkins keep up with the intensity of a younger fighter and still do enough to win? Both fighters are equally determined. Just about every Hopkins fight is close and often times controversial due to the closeness of the rounds. This will be a very hard fight to score. This older Hopkins will rely more on effective counter-punching off the ropes and will look to time Joe coming in. However, because of Bernard's age, I think Joe's hands will be a little quicker in key exchanges by about a 2-1 margin. Calzaghe's workrate will give the slight edge to Joe and earn points from the judges to take a close and 50/50 debated split decision. This fight will not be boring like the Jermain Taylor matches, but I can't see either fighter dominating this one.
John Bell - Hopkins by Unanimous Decision
I see Hopkins in a close, competitive unanimous decision or late stoppage. I wouldn't be surprised if Joe hits the canvas in a flash knockdown because he got caught in a square stance. He may even get cut from a clash heads. In fact, it wouldn't suprise me if he got stopped late due to eating counters, left hooks and lead overhand rights all night. If, however, Bernard gets too cute defensively, a la the Taylor fights, or if he let's Joe get too much of a lead early, Calzahge will have too much down the stretch for Hopkins to pull off his typical charge in the championship rounds. Also, don't discount Joe Cortez as being an adverse affect on Hopkins either. That said, I'll take Hopkins in a close one.
Joey "Titlebelt" Karash - Calzaghe by Unanimous Decision
Joseph "falvoa" Falvo - Calzaghe by Unanimous Decision
Joe Calzaghe is the younger man (although not by much), probably the faster of the two, has been more active and he's a southpaw. Yet, the ol' wiley Hopkins can never be counted out. He just always seems to find a way to win and after all of these years, it's hard for me to go against him. Hopkins used every trick in the book to defeat Winky Wright, another southpaw, but I thought he looked faded in that fight: slower and not as conditioned. I'm hoping for the Philly Executioner to pull the "upset", however, just like the fights with Jermain Taylor, I think the athletic prowess of Calzaghe, notably his speed and combinations, will win him the day against his resilient foe.
John Tandy (Editor, www.ultimateboxingresults.com) - Calzaghe by Decision
The biggest fight of the year to date and also the fight Joe Calzaghe has waited his whole career for; the chance to seal his legendary status. Hopkins is already a legend. He has fought every big name of the era down at middleweight, he then moved up to light heavyweight and defeated Antonio Tarver for the world title. This is possibly the toughest test of Joe Calzaghe's career to date, not only from the status of the guy standing opposite him, but also it'll be the first time he has boxed on US soil. The recent lack of success of English fighters hasn't been great, with Ricky Hatton falling to Mayweather and Clinton Woods recently losing out to Antonio Tarver. Also, after winning coach of the year, Enzo Calzaghe has seen a number of his fighters lose out, including Enzo Maccarinelli and Gavin Rees, both losing their world titles. So the omens aren't good, howeverm Calzaghe is a different class and when necessary, he has always managed to turn up the level of his performance when the pressure is on, notably against Jeff Lacy and Mikkel Kessler recently. Hopkins is a slippery customer and usually finds a way to win so for Calzaghe to win, he will need to keep his workrate high and not allow Hopkins to control the fight, which will be difficult. But he is the younger, fitter guy and his workrate should give him the edge.