20th April Joe Calzaghe v Bernard Hopkins

[slick]

To Win Fight
Joe Calzaghe 1.36
Bernard Hopkins 3.25

Fight Outcome
Joe Calzaghe by KO, TKO or Disqualification 4.00
Joe Calzaghe by Decision or Technical Decision 1.90
Bernard Hopkins by KO, TKO or Disqualification 10.00
Bernard Hopkins by Decision or Technical Decision 4.00
Draw or Technical Draw 19.00

These two are old in the tooth but this fight still has the makings of a cracker imo, can't see either getting KO'd and the best bet there to me is Calzaghe by decision but those odds are very short for as older Hopkins is , he's been one hell of a fighter the likes of Calzaghe has'nt met to many times in the past.

I'm looking forward to this one and hopefully Calzaghe's experience at this weight should see him through it, would be great to see him give Hopkins a good hiding as he's a load mouth cnut.

[mrmuzeman]

Been looking forward to this one for a while now

Its actually a first time step up to Light Heavy for Calzaghe slick so technically Hopkins is the one with more experience (although hes only had 2 fights at light heavy I believe so meh). Its all much a do about nothing though, the fact of the matter is its only an extra pound or two and both will be comfortable at the weight for sure.

IMO the odds on unbeaten super champ Calzaghe are great. 1/2 for the straight win or 10/11 on the points decision are the best odds for each at the mo.

I think Hopkins is getting over the hill really. People talk about Calzaghe getting on at 36 but Hopkins is ancient in comparison at 43. I think its important to remember that for all Hopkins unbeaten middleweight glory for over a decade it did all come to an end in 2005, when Jermain Taylor beat him and then beat him again in a rematch, although both were very close points victories. Moved up to light heavy after that and has had 2 wins over decent names in Tarver and Winky Wright. Reality is that Tarver came out of shape to his fight and Wright caught a headbutt (deemed unintentional) that resulted in a big cut in the early rounds.

I cant see how Hopkins will live with Calzaghes hand speed and point scoring ability. In theory Calzaghe should throw twice as many punches and as hes a skilled fighter, any points victory really should be his. So for Hopkins to win hes gona have to stop or KO Calzaghe and I dont see it happening. Calzaghes only been on the canvas once ever and even in that fight he got straight up and knocked the other guy out cos it pissed him off.

The bet value wise is definitely on Calzaghe to win on points. For all the amount I think Calzaghe will win, fact is Hopkins has never lost by KO, only on points decisions. Couple that with Calzaghe seemingly happy to outbox/outscore opponents these days (4 of last 5 fights won on points, the knockout being against the totally crap Manfredo, a nothing fight) and I think its a very good bet. Only problem is when you watch boxing you wana cheer on a guy and hope to see a knockout and that bet goes against that fun element. If I see Calzaghe spark Hopkins and hes sprawled out on the floor I wana enjoy it!

My way around that is to find a couple of new bookies with sign up match bet offers and bet Calzaghe straight win, then use the free bet on the same outcome, to gain double the odds for my money essentially. Only thing to be careful of on that is check the T&Cs cos a lot stipulate you must use the free bet on a greater than evens outcome (which 1/2 on Calzaghe isnt).

The ones I found quickly enough that let you bet anything with their free matched bet are

Totesport £25 (1/2 odds Calzaghe)
Paddypower £25 (2/5 odds Calzaghe)
Boylesports £50 (4/9 odds Calzaghe)

So as long as you dont have those accounts already (or a close friend or family member doesnt ) you could whack on £100 and get a return of £189.44 off that lot, without the disappointment of Calzaghe possibly sparking Hopkins out and leaving your points decison bet as badly broken as Hopkins jaw.

[mrmuzeman]

Just clicked on the bookie links in my post there and seen that literally tonight Paddy Power have changed their £25 free bet to a weird layered £30 free bet thing, typical Still theres other bookies out there with normal £25 free matched bets etc, you catch my drift.

[slick]

I meant Calzaghe has had more fights at a higher weight Muze as he usually fights at super middleweight as opposed to Hopkins at Middleweight , so it could prove an easier transition as Hopkins is well past his best and middle age flab has given him no alternative and he has not gradually progressed. Two Light heavy fights straight from Middleweight in three yrs is not ideal preparation to take on the likes of Joe Calzaghe who just has to bung on a couple of extra pounds to make the weight allthough with the extra height and reach advantage it does look to suit Hopkins more which makes this fight even more intriguing.

Thats why i think this has the makings of a cracking fight with Hopkins underpriced but even so I cannot see him knocking out Calzaghe who with youth on his side will win this on points.

Calzaghe may be called a slapper but he's the best British Boxer I've ever seen with a work rate second to nobody, he can change his style during a fight to beat the opposition like he did against Kessler , something only the best boxers like Sugar Ray Leonard could do, only difference being he doesnt showboat.

Just like John Collins he's a peoples fighter with no hairs and graces and I wish him all the best here, If he wasent Welsh he'd have the world at his feet.

[mrmuzeman]

JOE CALZAGHE has vowed to turn into a recluse if he loses his light-heavyweight clash against Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas.

Calzaghe is planning one more fight after his bout against Hopkins at the Thomas and Mack Centre on April 19. But the Welshman admits defeat will speed his departure.

Calzaghe, who steps up a division after a decade unbeaten as WBO super-middleweight champ, said: “I will retire and never show my face in public if I lose to Hopkins.

“But Hopkins has never been in with a fighter who has my skill and can punch as hard so I don’t think that will happen.”

[mrmuzeman]

BERNARD HOPKINS has warned Joe Calzaghe he will do whatever it takes to win their Las Vegas showdown. Hopkins, 43, plans to punish the Welshman so badly that his father and trainer Enzo Calzaghe will be forced to throw in the towel. And the Executioner cannot wait to end Calzaghe's 44-match unbeaten streak.

He said: "I walk a fine line that others don't want to walk — I'll win by any means necessary. "Anything can happen, I fear nobody and nothing.
"You will all see something special on April 19 and I will show you all who is the best. "I said I'm going to punish Calzaghe slowly and I repeat that today.
"I ask that his father is merciful to him and pulls him out when he is getting hurt."

Despite the taunts, Calzaghe insists he is not fazed by the prospect of stepping up to light-heavyweight and fighting in America for the first time in his career.

The super-middleweight champion said: "Hopkins can be the bad guy now but I'm going to be the bad guy when we meet in Vegas. "He's good at mind games. He's cagey, he's crafty, he bends the rules a bit. But believe me, I've been through the mind games. "If Hopkins wants a war then I will give him one and meet him toe to toe. "If he wants a chess match I'll give him a chess match and out-box him. "All I'm going to say is that I will remain unbeaten."

and a good interview/article with Hopkins

'Brits are very arrogant and I'll bring out the worst in them' | Boxing | guardian.co.uk Sport

[mrmuzeman]

Calzaghe is bang on Evens (after commish) to win on points at betfair. That is a very good price imo

[mrmuzeman]

I see main man Cortez has been given reffing duties for this one as usual. Cant see how it will impact on Calzaghe really though, not like hes an in your face fighter anyway like Hatton is. If anything it works in his favour I would have thought against Hopkins who leads with his head a lot.

If you have a spare 15minutes a decent couple of pre fight pomortional interviews below

YouTube - Bernard Hopkins speaks candidly about the bout with Calzaghe

YouTube - Joe Calzaghe talks about upcoming bout with Bernard Hopkins

[slick]

I'm having a bit of that evens Muze, can't see any other result tell the truth.

I'm looking forward to the fight more than the Hatton one as both are great boxers.

[mrmuzeman]

A wink and a kissy face? This is a weigh in not a love in!

[mrmuzeman]

Not too keen on Frank Warrens sneaky positioning there neither.

Sweet trash talk

And referring to his rival’s stint behind bars in the mid 1980s, which Hopkins has repeatedly spoken of in the lead-up to the fight, Calzaghe says: “Prison? Big deal, wow, give him a medal.

“Hopkins had to go to prison to make him hard so he must have been weak. I was born hard, I don’t need to go to prison to become hard. I’m a hard man full stop and you’ll see that on Saturday - I’m going to make a grown man cry.”

[Betfly]

What time does this start.

The setanta trailer says 10.30 but does that mean 4am?

[mrmuzeman]

Itll be on something around then Betfly. Id be shocked if it was before 3am cos thats 7pm in Vegas. My Brothers trying to convince me to let him record it all on the SkyBox then we can just skip through to whenever it starts etc the next day, which isnt a bad idea. You can get your sleep and skip though the undercard, which on this occasion is pretty wank. Its got Audley Harrison on ffs. Just gota make sure you dont turn the news on or look at bbcsports site in the morning and catch the result and spoil it all!

[slick]

I'll probbaly watch it as i'm out tomorrow night and won't be back till the early hrs, if the build ups in full swing and the bout is within an hr of starting then I'll stay up otherwise I usually fall asleep and catch the repeat later on.

Audley Harrison ffs he gets out of breath just entering the ring the fat cnut.

[Betfly]

Good Shout muse I got the V+ thingy as I'm gonna be steamin come 1am so I'll do that.

Just have to delete some of that CSI & derivatives pish the wife has on it!

Good write up looking forward to it.