Hopkins vs. Calzaghe
"I would never let a white boy bet me." The hallowed words of Bernard Hopkins loom and the cloud cover that will ignite the emotions and play on the one true trait of America. Racism.
It would be perceived that Bernard Hopkins wants to get into Joe Calzaghe's head. If there's one thing I've learned about boxing is that things are not as they seem. There's a simple plan and it’s usually the one that most acknowledge yet fail to believe. Media stunts rule in sports and the market wants a soap opera, however without ever seeing a Joe Calzaghe fight I'm hoping that speed is what gets him the win. Otherwise, I'm not sure that he can outfox the prospecting Hopkins.
Round 1: The Feeling out Period
The fight dance begins with both fighters measuring each other until a short left right combination plants Calzaghe on the matter.
Round: 2 Adjusting
Calzaghe had a bit more of a rhythm along with a cut from his nose.
Round 3:
The Hopkins faint is no longer working and the lunging jab goes to work. Calzaghe moves steadily forward faster and the fight moves toward a brawl. Two short rights land when Calzaghe moves to jump him. The pressure from Calzaghe makes it appear as work gets done. Hopkins' short game lands firm as Calzaghe begin to throw five punch combinations that land everywhere.
Round 4:
Straight right hands from a distance land as the Welshman throw tow combination then jumps on top f Hopkins. Small taunts and small flurries that excite the crowd provide no breathing room for Hopkins. Two punches end the round for Calzaghe while small glimpses of Hopkins going from south to north paw.
Round 5:
The opening punch belonged to Calzaghe and the rhythm belongs to the challenger and the new distance seems to slow the fight down some as it appears that the scoring is going Calzaghe's way. Clinches and faints rule the ring for Hopkins. Rights’ to the body are the weapon of choice for Hopkins as the usual plan for him is to dominate after the 6th round. The challenger is looking much more comfortable and he land more effectively.
Round 6:
Stalking Hopkins slowly, Calzaghe moves closer to land his straight left hand. The flurries go both ways and end with a clinch with neither fighter being the dominant of the two. The pressure still comes forward and this seems to bother Hopkins. The counter punching is the theme of six.
Round 7:
Counter punching is the move for Hopkins and the left jab of Calzaghe is much more pronounced and the left jab of Hopkins begins to meet his opponent and the catlike pounce of Calzaghe gets few cheers from the crowd and a flurry at the end of the round almost ended with Calzaghe on his back.
Will desperation set in on the fighters? I say yes with Hopkins still standing.
Round 8:
After the near knockdown the cagy Hopkins easily pushes Calzaghe back body shots and quick moves in the corners. The typical ending of all boxing matches that end would be an increase in activity to assert ones dominance.
Round 9: More of the same.
Round 10 - 12:
The decided difference about the end of the fight is that Hopkins had the impression that influencing the style of Calzaghe back fired when the offensive production went down. The straight lefts landed more and more. What I found most impressive about Calzaghe and other fighter that fight Hopkins is that if they are not hurt. Guile did not defeat the onslaught that is Joe Calzaghe. Now the stage is set for Joe to pull bigger fights. The light heavyweight realm is full of contenders. Who will he fight next?
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