Calzaghe vs. Hopkins This Saturday on HBO
Image details: Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe Grand Arrivals served by picapp.com
Welsh superstar light heavyweight Joe Calzaghe is finally coming to the United States. Las Vegas to be specific. It’s been a long time coming. He’s held a world title since 1997, he’s undefeated in 44 professional bouts, and he could be boxing biggest drawing power. (35,000+ attended both of his last two fights).
But all 44 of the 36-year-old’s fights have taken place on European soil and the respect from American fight fans never really materialized. We say it’s easy to be fast and powerful when your opponents are Peter Manfredo, Jr., Charles Brewer, and Kabary Salem.
Respect comes Saturday in the form of Bernard Hopkins, boxing’s modern-day Methuselah and one of the wiliest competitors ever to step in the ring. If Calzaghe can defeat the 43-year-old Hopkins, Las Vegas odds have him a 3-1 favorite, he may yet grab that esteem. We’re not so sure.
Even if he wins detractors may point out that Calzaghe was facing a slower, older, past-his-prime Hopkins. What they’d really be saying is why couldn’t this fight have happened six years ago. Nevertheless we’ll be watching HBO at 9:45 Saturday night with great anticipation; Calzaghe’s HBO performances thus far haven’t disappointed.
Of course, we can’t count out Hopkins. His 2006 domination over Antonio Tarver still looms in the memory especially after Tarver’s demolition last Saturday of Briton Clinton Woods. The same Clinton Woods who had been penciled in, after a presumably easy victory against Tarver, as Calzaghe’s next opponent.
The pick: Bernard Hopkins in a close decision. And not just because he’s a fellow Pennsylvanian. I think his ring savvy and experience will be too much for Calzaghe. Bernard is used to the lights of Vegas and the pressures of a mega fight while Calzaghe is a small-town Welshman with a lot to prove.
Tags: Antonio Tarver, Bernard Hopkins, Clinton Woods, HBO, Joe Calzaghe, PredictionRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Boxing
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