Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave1877
Well Calzaghe is worth his place in most people's top 10 P4P lists, purely because he has beaten the best there is to offer in his division, Lacy was seen as the next big thing and he taught him a boxing lesson, where in many rounds there was a strong case for a 10-8 without any knockdowns, he destroyed him into a state where he will never be the same again,
He took on Kessler who was seen as the biggest threat out there, and beat him fairly convincingly in a solid performance,
Sure he possibly ducked a couple of contenders along the way, and until the Lacy fight I was critical of him for taking easy options and not taking on the best, or risky fights, but you have to remember that before the Lacy scrap some people were offering predictions of a quick Lacy stoppage victory, and the boxing media was pretty much split on the Joe/Kessler fight beforehand. And he outclassed them leaving no question as to the decisions.
Taking on Hopkins is an interesting one, and would have been more attractive some years ago, but Hopkins can still hold his own, has never lost to a southpaw, and took care of Winky Wright, age isn't really a factor for this 'freak' of a man at 43, and it's going to be an interesting tussle.
Again, B-Hop is in many top 10 P4P lists worldwide and a win will definitely take Joe up a level in estimation. Especially considering that Joe is fighting at light-heavy for the first time, although he says he will be stronger for it because he has to lose less weight for the fight and says that his speed will be that of a super middle but he feels his power will benefit from the extra weight (he apparently walks around at 14 stone)
I believe Calzaghe stops Hopkins in the later rounds, and he has said that although he wants to retire at the end of 2008 he wants to fight Roy Jones and/or the winner of Woods/Tarver and/or Kelly Pavlik. If he beats Hopkins then Pavlik and retires unbeaten he will go down as a legend there's no two ways about it. I just fear that he will go for Jones, and will therefore always have to accept people saying he took on Hopkins and Jones when they were past their sell by date.
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You make a lot of good points...and I agree with many.....With that said...
Fighting a 43 year-old Hopkins is fighting an old, one-division higher than his best, faded to a degree fighter. That is another fact there is no two-ways about. Facing an even worse faded Roy Jones is only further foolishness if Calzaghe decides to go that route (outside of the money aspect - though we are speaking to his legacy or lack of).
Calzaghe biggest accomplishment (and it is a big one - IMO) is that he has remained undefeated and champion for this long....(sub par competiton for a great many fights or not)....
Joe C beating Hopkins will do absolutely nothing for him in my eyes....In terms of his legacy or his value as a fighter...... He is fighting a guy at 43 he is suppose to beat....Plain and simple..... If he doesn't, it will only reflect on his value to begin with.......But the money is certainly worth the risk for Joe C....