CALZAGHE SLAPS HIS WAY TO A SLOPPY VICTORY
April 20, 2008 - Joe Calzaghe is still undefeated ( 45-0 ) and now has Ring
Magazine's endorsement of being the " best " light heavyweight in the world
after slapping an aged Bernard Hopkins enough to win a split twelve round
decision. Disappointed ? I know I was. What was projected to be a candidate for
" Fight of the year " turned out to be the farce of the year. Other then Bernard
catching Joe coming with a nice right hand and dropping him in the first round,
there was little excitement to me. Calzaghe did what I thought he would do. He
just plain out hustled Hopkins. Bernard can no longer fight at that kind of
pace. Calzaghe out landed Hopkins almost 2 to 1 but not once did he even phase
Hopkins other then a few low blows. There was a lot of wrestling and clinching
and referee Joe Cortez earned his pay that night.
Where does Super Joe go from here ? Hopefully not a rematch with Bernard. In my
eyes the fight was a let down, a real stinker. Is Roy Jones Jr. next on
Calzaghe's dance card ? It is starting to look that way. That will generate some
fan interest and a decent payday for both Joe and Roy. Will I watch it ? Yes,
but not if it is a PPV telecast. Who would win ? Roy spends way too much time on
the ropes these days and that would be playing into Calzaghe's hand. I think it
would be another case of Joe landing 33& of 700 slaps and taking a decision.
I don't know how long Calzaghe plans to stay around but there is one fighter he
should flat out avoid. That is middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. After seeing
this performance by Calzaghe I honestly feel that Kelly KO's Joe inside of ten
rounds. Pavlik is just not somebody you can slap around. Hopkins was able to
land several counter right hands throughout the fight against Joe. Pavlik will
do the same. The only difference would be that Joe won't get up.
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