Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe

Back Story

Those of you who watched this bout may not have been thrilled by it, unless you understood and appreciated the historical significance.  The bout featured two future hall-of-famers who are universally recognized champions, squaring off in a bout for all of the marbles at light heavyweight.

Bernard Hopkins, 43, the former universally recognized middleweight (160) champion, enters the bout as the universally recognized light heavyweight (175) champion and as one of the top 5 boxers in the world.  After holding world titles in the Middleweight division for more then a decade,  dispatching of all comers, including fellow hall-of-famers Oscar De La Hoya, and Felix Trinidad, he was written off after losing two questionable decisions against Jermain Taylor in 2005.

After a short retirement, Hopkins stepped up 15 pounds and totally outclassed then light heavyweight champion, and top 10 pound-for-pound boxer, Antonio Tarver.  13 months later, in July 2007, he comfortably beat Winky Wright, who was top 5 pound-for-pound at the time of the bout.

At this point, Hopkins totally erased the questionable decision losses to Jermain Taylor.  It would appear that the increase in weight totally refreshed his athletic abilities and while nearing his mid 40’s, was still a force to be reckoned with.

Joe Calzaghe, 36, also a top 5 pound-for-pound boxer, just recently stepped into the global spotlight.  Having never defeated a top pound-for-pound boxer, his record was 44-0, with only one questionable decision on his ledger, that being a split decision win against Robin Reid back in 1999.  Other than that, he has won all of his fights by a comfortable margin and has held titles at super middleweight for over a decade..  Although his opposition quality has been subpar for an elite boxer, he had established himself as the universally recognized super middleweight (168) champion by defeating Mikkel Kessler in November 2007.

Although he has been perceived as one of the top boxers in the world, he had never left the continent of Europe.  Also, his opposition quality had left some doubt that he could really hang with an elite boxer.

Pre-Bout Analysis

Those attempting to analyze this bout had quite a few unanswered questions.

• Would Hopkins, 43, get old overnight?
• Can Hopkins deal with Calzaghe’s activity rate?
• Can Calzaghe hang with an elite, proven fighter?
• How would the 7 pound increase affect Calzaghe?

Hopkins is a natural counter-puncher who picks his spots.  At 43, he is unable to sustain a high workrate throughout each round, so he relies on accurate, quick power punches to seal the deal.  His lead right hand may be the best in boxing.  He is a master technician, who still has excellent defense, great reflexes, good power, above average quickness, and one of the very best chins in modern history.

Calzaghe relies on a high workrate to win.  Although he has very fast hands and great footwork, he is awkward and is susceptible to flash knockdowns.  His punches are quick, although they are often flailing and are thrown with poor technique.  These punches tend to land on his opponents, but with little power.  However, they do seem to impress judges.  Like Hopkins, his chin is one of his best assets, but unlike Hopkins, he still has outstanding stamina.  Calzaghe is also great at adapting to his opponent.

Other than the ignorant fans who expected a domination by Calzaghe, most experienced fans and analysts expected Calzaghe to prevail by a very close decision due to Calzaghe’s workrate and stamina.

The Bout

Each third of this 12 round bout had its own story.  The first third of the bout was controlled and won by Hopkins.  After knocking down Calzaghe in the first round with a vintage lead right hand, he continued to potshot Calzaghe, who couldn’t get his high workrate going.  Although Calzaghe may have won round 4, if Hopkins could keep up the pace he had going in rounds 1-3, this would’ve likely become an easy win by Hopkins.

Control of the second third of the bout shifted between Hopkins and Calzaghe.  Hopkins began to tire, while Calzaghe began to figure out Hopkins’s style and start making his high workrate and stamina a primary factor in the bout.  Although not landing the flush power punches that Hopkins was still landing, Calzaghe started to win rounds by simply out-hustling Hopkins.  Scoring of these rounds depended on what you preferred.  Hopkins’s clean power shots, or Calzaghe’s somewhat ineffective aggression.

By the time round 9 arrived, Hopkins was starting to lose steam.  Calzaghe was forcing him to fight at a faster pace than his 43 year old body can handle, and Calzaghe actually started to land frequently on Hopkins.  It would not have been a travesty to score all of the final four rounds for Calzaghe.

In the end, Calzaghe won by split decision with scores of 116-111, 115-112 in his favor, and a 114-113 for Hopkins.  I scored the bout 114-113 Calzaghe, but could’ve definitely stomached a Hopkins win, because some rounds were very close.

Now What?

Bernard Hopkins has nothing left to prove.  He is easily within the Top 100 boxers of all-time and a surefire, first ballot hall-of-famer.  Even though he is still on the elite level, I fear that a sharp decline in his skills is near.  If he wants to make a few more dollars, the rematch with Felix Trinidad is still out there and that would be an easy, easy win for Hopkins.

Joe Calzaghe may be able to squeeze another bout or two into his prime/near-prime, but there is nothing out there too interesting on the competitive level.  As for money-making match-ups, he could fight Roy Jones, which would be an easy win now that Jones is nearing 40.   Same goes for Antonio Tarver.