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Saturday Apr 19, 2008

The Welshman shrugged off a knockdown in the first, got his head in order, and had more energy in locking down the win in his US debut. Hopkins fans will say that "Slappy Joe's" shots lacked oomph, and that their man was robbed.

Too Young, Busy: Calzaghe Wins Split Decision

By Michael Woods

It looked like it would be a short, embarassing night for Joe Calzaghe, when Bernard Hopkins sent him to the floor in the first. But the unbeaten Welshman got up, and got to work, and left Las Vegas with a split decision win in a clinch and low blow filled affair that nevertheless kept the fans on the edge of their seats throughout.

Hopkins said after that he deserved to get the nod, and his fans do have a case when they argue that Hopkins' shots, though they were fewer, were sharper than the Welshman's. Calzaghe got in a groove as the fight progressed and down the stretch, was able to stay busier as Hopkins looked a bit more gassed than he has in recent memory.

Stay tuned for Ron Borges' in depth ringside account.

Contact Michael Woods @ TheSweetScience.com

donputo69:	well..i had hopkins but joe did it..its no big deal because i hate hopkins but im not a joe fan either...anyway...why everytime hopkins loses he always has an excuse?..talking about how he bust his face and how his face looks pretty and bla bla bla bla..listen..the judges are not here to judge a beauty contest..they are here to judge a boxing fight GET IT..holla back..ohh and by the way..i had it 115-112 for joe.. Saturday Apr 19, 2008
wayne:	Hopkins clearly lost the fight. What's the name of the ringside judge who gave Hopkins the fight. Whoever it was should be banned for life. Hopkins did nothing but Box like a Old Man. Plus that Hopkins is dillusional. Of course it was expected Hopkins would say everyone saw the fight and knew who won. Hopkins didn't win. As a matter of fact Hopkins never came close. Hopkins wons maybe two or three rounds that was it. Saturday Apr 19, 2008
Jonald:	I had it for Calzaghe in a landslide. He beat Hopkins at every facet of the game, most notably ring generalship and punches landed, which were decisively in Joe's favor. Oddly enough, I knew Hopkins was in trouble after the knockdown. After JC got up, Bernard didn't go after him AT ALL. He might have thrown 2 more punches the entire round. He should have tested Joe's chin at that point but let the moment pass without even trying. None of HBO's commentators remarked about it either. It was a more exciting fight than I had expected. Now, let's make Calzaghe - Pavlik! Saturday Apr 19, 2008
Radam G:	Wow! That first round scared me. Slappy Joe slipped! No, just kidding. He got slapped down. But he was able to get up and slap his way to a split decision, though B-Hop sliced him on the nose. Now it is going to be more slapping days for Calzaghe. I don't know about execution days for the Hopkins. Maybe he will have some low electrical current shocks. Holla! Saturday Apr 19, 2008
BIGDADDY74:	Another ugly Hopkins fight. I respect him,but I hope retires.He'll probably fight RJJ next..YUCK!! Saturday Apr 19, 2008
Jonald:	This clamor for Roy Jones is a joke. He was considered completely shot before Trinidad. Then he wins that fight (against a 170 pound welterweight) and he's back?! My first choice is Calzaghe - Pavlik at 168 or Calzaghe - Glen Johnson (it'll never happen but that would be GREAT)! Saturday Apr 19, 2008
gaz:	b'hop officially the biggest female anatomy on the planet, what an embaressment for him. fair play when he was younger it may of been a fight to watch... what a dissapointment! so much for the b'hop phisical age of 28. honestly i think everything about hopkins from the words to the performance is a disgrace. maybe in his day he was good, maybe not... to be honest i dont know! he did make calzaghe look alot worse than what he was but only by pure dirt tactics. finally well done to joe! one more fight maybe? i'll be watching and seconded for that judge and apparently the assoiciations press??? what the hell is all that about????! Saturday Apr 19, 2008
Johnny D:	It was definitely a close fight, and in the first few rounds Joe didn't really look in it at all. However, he was able to do what he's become renowned for, and switch tactics to suit the fight at hand. His punches looked sharper around round four, and he was able to draw Hopkins into punching first, then counter him. To his credit, Bernard forced Calzaghe to fight his fight for much of the night, but in the end Calzaghe had enough steam left to take the majority of the latter rounds convincingly. Saturday Apr 19, 2008
Evans:	BHop lost a narrow decision but a good effort by a 43 year old legend past his prime. And B-Hop lost because he lost steam at the end of the fight. It was such a close fight that whomever won round 11 and 12 would win the fight. And the younger Calzaghe just threw more punches and had more energy and carried the last few rounds Saturday Apr 19, 2008
Eastar:	I don\'t think those two phoney low blows helped B-Hop much either, fellas. CJoe won fair and square. It was competetive all the way thru but Slappy Joe proved to be too busy, and he hits way too hard. Man, he has deceptive punching power in those \"slaps\", don\'t he? Saturday Apr 19, 2008
Eastar:	I'm a big Roy Jones fan so I'm looking farward to seeing him fight Joe C. Though I think RJJ would lose the same way B-Hop did.Ya heard? Again, much props to Calzaghe for stepping his game up in the great U.S.. Holla! Saturday Apr 19, 2008
Plan:	Three more fights for Calzaghe: (1) Roy - for the money (2) Dawson-Tarver winner - for the belts (3) Pavlik if he's still undefeated then - for history Saturday Apr 19, 2008
donputo69:	calzaghe pacquiao cotto pavlik and scareweather..thats my new list..holla back.. Saturday Apr 19, 2008
:	wayne guy ur post there is the most delusional thing i have ever read Saturday Apr 19, 2008
Smiley C:	The hurt business has turned into the lightly-tap business for a victor. Hopkins landed the heavier, harder, more effective punches. He should gotten an easy decision. The Olympic-style boxing has invaded professional boxing. Decisions, nowadays, will be given to the person who lands the most punches, regardless of how heavy. The days of the puncher is coming to an end in the pros. Heavier punchers are now the dinosaurs. And feather punchers are now the Rock Stars. Fo' sure! Saturday Apr 19, 2008
Eastar:	I'm a big Roy Jones fan so I'm looking farward to seeing him fight Joe C. Though I think RJJ would lose the same way B-Hop did.Ya heard? Again, much props to Calzaghe for stepping his game up in the great U.S.. Holla! Saturday Apr 19, 2008
donputo69:	please..i dont wanna see calzaghe against a washed up jones..i rather see gatti vs gomez 2..i mean come on..joe vs jones will be one of the most boring fight i ever will see..please jones do me a big favor..RETIRE..i dont wanna see get KO again.. Saturday Apr 19, 2008
Joe Calzaghe:	Well i wanna thanks my fans for showing me alot of support.I knew i was going to win this fight.I said it all along that hopkins cant beat me.as for the low blows you may ask?.I think he is a great actor.Give him a oscar for that moment.Im going to celebrate this victory and sit down with my father and talk about our next fight.Hopefully against pavlik.But we will wait and see.Thank you. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
BabyDee:	I had Calzaghe wininng 116-111. Bernard did land the cleaner more effective punches, and had Joe's output down, but with that being said, Joe simply outworked BHop. He landed more, consistantly throughtout most of the rounds. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
guidofk:	yeah sure call out jones now!!! where were you 7 or 8 years ago joe? waiting for the geats flames to burn low so they be easy to stomp out. jones, eubanks and hopkins would of killed joe in there primes, 90% of joes punches were deflected on hopkins chin, kinda like in a pillow fight. if joe would of fought from the begining in the usa he would of lost a long time ago. well if he wants jones, at least jones has the faster hands @ almost 40, but he has no legs and fights like winky wright now. kinda like me going to thre nursing home to beat up old farts at 27 years old. perfect for joes likings. hes gonna have it harder than rocky marciano, ya see marciano had no choice to fight older out of prime fighters but joe ducked and waited for greats not to be so greats anymore, what a fraud joe is, he proved nothing by beating an old man(hopkins and eubanks), id be same with roy jones. the facts hurt but there they are, anybody disagree? there are crazy if so. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
DaveB:	I hated that fight. I don't mind a tacticle fight where the guys fight on the inside and work hard to gain the advantage but I bet these two guys clinched over 100 times. I thought Joe won but either way the decision went it really didn't prove anything because the fight was worthless. Pavlik would be a good fight to watch with Joe if they can fight at 168. I know Pavlik would not let Joe come forward on him and be the aggressor. That one would really be interesting because Pavlik won't quit ( I'm not saying that Hopkins did he just didn't have enough in the tank) and he is young enough to keep throwing punches. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
andy from newcastle:	What is this nonsense, sick of writing long comments and wasting my time. So agreee with a lot of the comments. Joe, overrated, Hopkins past it, Jones Jr, a joke- fight Hopkins and be done with the both of you. JC fight Pavlik and retire, dont be doing with Dawson or Johnson, they\\\'d both lick you, but you\\\'d beat Tarver. Nuff said Sunday Apr 20, 2008
sdb:	If there's no KO, the judges have to favour the busier fighter - on the whole. End of debate guido and, like Hopkins, you clearly had your excuses ready before the fight. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Whaaaa??:	guidofk, that is the biggest load of crap I have read in a long time!! I take it that you are kind of new to this sport, no? If you know anything about Joe Calzaghe you would know that he has been chasing big fights in general and Jones and Hopkins in particular for the best part of the past decade. THEY never wanted any part of HIM because he was not a big name in the states. Jones fought all kinds of welterweights and light-heavies who had a name in America but never took on Joe who was his natural rival at super-middle. Ask Jones why they never fought, not Joe. Hopkins signed for a fight with Calzaghe years ago and then pulled out when his demands for 5 million dollars were not met. Look it up - it is well documented. It was beating Lacy which got the ball rolling for Joe in terms of recognition in America. Then Kessler, now Hopkins. Now Jones wants Calzaghe - the ball is on the other foot and there is nothing Jones can offer Calzaghe. He is old and spent and Calzaghe is the man. How does it feel Roy? - I think that's called karma. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Dice C:	I for one completely disagree with the comment above me. It was the U.S. fighters ducking Calzaghe and Collins back in the day. Hopkins was the one that pulled out of a fight with Joe back in the day. Jones constantly ducked Collins and in case your boxing knowledge is limited I'm talking about Steve Collins. It was the Americans ducking the Irish and Welsh guy becasue know self respecting black fighter wants to lose in his prime when there are no excuses( Hopkins) to a white boy. Thats the facts! Sunday Apr 20, 2008
sdb:	If there's no KO, the judges have to favour the busier fighter - on the whole. End of debate guido and, like Hopkins, you clearly had your excuses ready before the fight. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Yuvie:	Please............I'm not saying Calzaghe has had the toughest fights but surely outclassing young guns Lacy and Kessler counts for something. You act like Joe is 27 himself. Joe ain't even in his prime anymore. Forget Jones though, I'm pretty sure he'll go for a Pavlik fight. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
sdb:	If there's no KO, the judges have to favour the busier fighter - on the whole. End of debate guido and, like Hopkins, you clearly had your excuses ready before the fight. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
BabyDee:	guidofk is a Jones/Hopkins nuthugger!!! Joe is no spring chicken himself. BHOP, though 43, was still at the top of his game. But lets talk BHOP and who he fought. Trinidad (Started @ 147), de la Hoya (Started @ 130), Winky (Started @ 154), and Tarver (38 years old). He fought a lot of smaller guys, but he still became great by beating them. At the end of the day, who is Joe C. gonna fight? Tarver (Looked crappy against Woods), Dawson(Couldn't beat an old man Johnson), Chris Byrd (Old). These are the top names @ LH. No matter who Joe C. fights next, there will be an excuse for the loser. At the end of the day, this is just how the fight game is.........He cleaned out the Super Middle Division, and din't do it against old men. We all saw the domination at SM. Give the man some credit. He finally came to America to fight the generally recognized LH Champ for his first fight at LH and won. Give the guy some props. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
rudy:	What an awful fight! Man was that boring. Hopkins did his usual thing but wasnt enough....Joe pushed the pace, and pressed the action -- deserved the decision over the 'cagey' vet. Both guys looked like they lost a step last night, no matter what you guys say, the fight with Jones will feature two quick handed combination punchers -- should be exciting. I got Roy Jones over both of these fools right now. Ya'll musta forgot!!!! Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Damian:	Massive congratulations, Joe, you've made millions proud, yet again. You are undoubtedly the UK's greatest sportsperson, and greatest boxer ever. You worried us in that fight, especially after the KO, but everyone knows that Hopkins makes his opponents look bad, and he clearly came to try and nick the fight by smothering your punches, constantly running in for hugs, with grappling and assorted dirty tactics, and then trying to catch you with desperate right leads. You clearly hurt him several times, and, given his constant smothering and holding tactics, no-one can blame you that you weren't able to stop him. It's a shame he doesn't have the dignity to admit defeat (and really, it ought to have been a UD: 111-116 is about right), but you would expect that, and you can simply forget about this loudmouth wanker now. Enjoy your rest and your time with your family and friends -- you deserve it more than any man on the planet. Eternal thanks once again for making us so proud, for so many years. We look forward to hearing what you plan for the future -- but no urgency! You've spoilt us enough already! (Obviously, we'd all love to see you box Pavlik's head off, but respect any decision you make at this point.) Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Damian:	"especially after the KO"???? Errrm, sorry: that should've been: "especially immediately after the flash knock-down (push down?)"? (Sorry, was late night last night! Cheers Joe ...) Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Smiley C:	Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik would knock Slappy Joe out. Slappy Joe is also Sloppy Joe. The Ghost would clean up on this amateurish fighter and scare him back to English for good. Fo' sure! Sunday Apr 20, 2008
donputo69 hanging out in the beautiful island of puerto rico..:	hey rudy..why are you calling calzaghe a fool?..i think the man is a great boxer..he outclassed the MR. EXCUSES HOPKINS..anyway..i just hope that this fight doesnt happen..i wanna see joe vs the ghost..holla back.. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
mr payback:	i thought joe won as most of us do. But in a waybernard had a moral vitory he made ,Bernard looked good and took calzaghe out of his gameplan big time, he scored a knockdown and i thought looked very strong and sharp for his age and dsiplayed alot of skill. I thought he lost by 3 or 4 points but each round was very close. Bernard did enough that he can still claim he got robbed and i feel he earned at least a little bit of bragging rights on how he performed. It also raises the question how might have this fight looked if it were in 2001 or 2002, from what hopkins showed tonight i could see a younger more energized hopkins beating JOe C. I personally would'nt mind not seeing either guy retire right now. i would like to see calzaghe vs roy jones, and bernard hopkins against kelly pavlik at a catch weight, he could try to redeem himself against a different white boy. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Damian:	Pavlik would KO Calzaghe, "this amateurish fighter", eh? Yes, and this is what they said about Lacy, who was actually more highly rated P4P before he fought Calzaghe than Pavlik is now. By calling a top-five P4P fighter "amateurish", I'm afraid you just expose yourself as an absolute cretin. As for "scare him back to English for good" -- well, I understand that it's very difficult for yanks to differentiate between two different countries (Calzaghe is from Wales, not England), but can you really not tell the difference between an adjective ("English") and a noun ("England") either?!! Keep on demonstrating what an enlightened nation you are, America, and the rest of the world will just keep on laughing ... Sunday Apr 20, 2008
U A Loser:	Damian is back. The guy obviously has such an inferiority complex about his nation...he spends all his time insulting people for not being as smart as he is, and insulting America and Americans. He calls people cretins all the time. I'm trying to picture what this cat looks like--he's probably about 5-4, a pudgy nerd with glasses, who gets off on harshing on people on the Net because he never speaks up in the real world. Cretin Damian, everybody laughs at you because they think you are a royal jerk. They shouldn't put up your posts Damian. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
guido:	joe won fare and square, i do agree hopkins fought dirty but its just not a big deal. kinda like when marciano fought joe louis, but rocky clearly killed the old man. hopkins get more respect than joe. i hope joe at least goes 50-0 before he hangs it up. id like 49-0 to be beaten( in my life time) and joe going out on a winning note( for italian sake). Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Damian:	Well, I'm in fact a 6ft 1" , 225-pound who enjoys practising boxing and the occasional street fight (never been down), so no, I can't say I'm exactly afraid of "speaking up in the real world". But yeah, whatever you say ... Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Damian:	Sorry, should've been 6ft 1", 225 bloke or Englishman, but substitute whatever makes you feel good ... I'm not interesting in posting about myself (and no need for TSS to post this or my last comment if they don't want) ... Today is a day for celebrating Calzaghe's spanking of yet another yank. Rule Brittannia!! Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Smiley C:	Same bloody place -- Calzaghe is from the English Kingdom, and he bleed. Pavlik would kick his Italian-Welshman butt anywhere and anytime. Perhap the fight will take place in Italy. The home of Pops Calzaghe. Don't u Brits get 2 happy, Slappy (feather-hitting) Joe aged and got knocked on his butt by an ancient boxer. The Ghost would definitely finish off Slappy Joe. He would bang, bust him up, break his nose and ghost-scare himself into retirement and back to regal empire of illusions. Fo' sure! Sunday Apr 20, 2008
U A Lou:	Damian likes to write about spanking. And I'm sure he's a ripped 6-1, 225. Right, Keep living an internet fantasy BLOKE JOKE. America really doesn't care about England, hate to break it to you. But keep on hatin dude. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Smiley C:	I know the type. Yes, Damian has "an inferiority complex." Not only about his "nation," but himself. Don't picture this cat. Trust me. He is at the bottom of British Empire society (if he is living there). He is far from being royalty. Therefore, he is just a common jerk with bad teeth, bad breath, bad looks and bad luck. He is play acting in cyberspace. I guess he just picked the TSS World. Cyberspace is his only travelling and cultural experience. Maybe, he spends most of his time in a ward and on medication. The lad needs friends, and don't know how to make them. Hey, Brits, help out da lad! Fo' sure! Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Damian:	"America really doesn't care about England, hate to break it to you." I'm well aware that most Americans don't care about anything outside the US -- in fact most can't even locate England (or anywhere else -- probably even Canada) on the map. Are you suggesting that this kind of breathtaking ignorance and cultural myopia is something to be proud of?!! Are you really not aware that the rest of the world regards you as a kind of retarded, petulant child?!! Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Shifty:	Heh, maybe you could realize you are ingnorant when you say the rest of the world regards America as this and that. Damain, why is it that so many people want to come to America. I agree with Smiley, you look down at America to make yourself feel better. Is America perfect? No way! But it is so obvious you are just plain bitter and can't get past that. I'd feel bad for you if you weren't so happy to be so nasty and bitter. "The lad needs friends and don't know how to make them." Funny. Yup, this guy talks tough on the board and is a pussycat in the real world!! Sunday Apr 20, 2008
BabyDee:	Lets calm down before we start talking Pavlik. Pavlik is 15 pounds away from LH, and who is to say he can carry his power there. Pavlik is no harder of a puncher than Kessler and Lacy, and those guys could not get rid of Joe. Hopkins power is underrated. He is after all, the only guy to KO tough as F'N nails Glen Johnson. On top of that, Hopkins landed a clean perfect punch, but who cares, cause at the end of the day he (Joe C.) still won, EASY! Hopkins knew what was the inevitable, and that is why he kept beggin' for rest w/the punk ass low blows he supposedly received. We all got eyes. Go look at Judah Cotto to see what a low blow looks like. Hopkins sounded like a man who had toooo much pride to say he lost, but he knew. Why did Hopkins make the comment......................"I was able to make him (Joe C.) fight my fight for the first half of the fight"???? Why, cause he knew Joe fought Joe's fight the rest of the way, and you don't win controling half of the fight. Pavlik is too slow, and if Taylor knocked Pavliks ass down @ 160, Joe could hurt him @ 175. The only fight that makes any kind of sense is Roy, Calzaghe. Tarver and Dawson are gonna fight, Pavlik has his next 2 fights lined up, so the only fighter who is worth something is Jones, and though that fight means nothing, it's still the biggest fight to be made at this time. Joe is the real deal, and he shuldn't have to keep proving it. They said Lacy (Whooped his ass) and that didn't matter, they said Kessler (Dominated) and that didn't matter. They said Hopkins (Won easy) and that still don't matter. Who the hell does he have to prove himself to. Just shut the mouths of all the BHop fans.....................Hopkins fought like Oscar de la Hoya, when he fought Tito. He just ran and ran and ran for the last 3-4 rounds, but at least everyone knows Oscar had put on a clinic. You ran, clinched, ran, clinched, ran, clinched, and fought more like bitch than Oscar did. At least Oscar wasn't beggin' the ref for timeouts, everytime he got hit with something hard. And I am an AMERICAN. Lets give this guy his props already. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
BabyDee:	Yo Dice C. The comment above you was in total agreement with you, so I don't know what you were smokin on when you said you completly disagree with the comment above you, and then agreed with everything the comment above you said. All in all, I agree with both of you. Joe was ducked for a minute. All because of money and location. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
William A Major:	roy would be a good fight for any of them if he would forget the ko's and let his hands go.he is still like lightning and is sharp but he is so afraid and hesitant to let go that he'll lose a decision or possuibly get wacked again because of it . the guy still has the tools just not the confidence. good list donputo69 Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Minister. B:	Is this Damian for real or just for laughs? I bet he hasn't been down the street except in his wheel chair. My God, he is apparently disabled and psychotic. Somebody in the caring facility, please take him on a field trip. He needs some air, and to see sights that will settle him down. I'm praying for him. He coulda' been a contenda', if not for his obvious retardation. He is surely a petulant child, who love the U.S.A., apple pie, and its style of boxing. I bet his favorites are Cotto, DelaHoya, Mayweather and Pavlik, just to name a few. God Bless! Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Scotti Cooper:	Joe Calzaghe -2 weight World Champ. Congratulations Joe, Like you say ,at the end of the day you know you won the fight. The fight was well documented all week and they called it right, back peddling, dirty, counter punching bore, who also reverted to feigning injury to catch his breath and get points deducted from you, Legend in his own lunchtime. Next time your in Dubai ,I will stand you the beers, well done Undisputed Champ. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
guido:	theres only one mayweather.... oh isnt this the mayweather knocks ricky flatten out like a little girl blog. oh sorry wrong blog. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
BabyDee:	GUIDO! LMAO!!!!! GREAT! Sunday Apr 20, 2008
DaveB:	The thing is Calzaghe is pretty much in a no win situation. He has more to lose than gain as far as his legacy goes. If he beats Jones he beat an old man. If he beats Pavlik he beat a smaller fighter with less experience. If he loses to these guys he never really was that good. That is the problem when fighters fight after their primes as with Jones & Hopkins. It is that way anytime fighters fight five, six, seven years after the fight should have been made. It really proves nothing either way. The best that can be done now is that Joe and his competition can make some good paydays, one or the other improves his record, and hopefully the public can be entertained. Everyone still walks away believing what they believed before the event happened anyway. Sunday Apr 20, 2008
Kool-Aid:	Calzaghe v. RJJ, Tarver or Dawson. Pavlik needs to knock a few people out before calling out Joe. Let us see what he does in his next 2 defenses first before we start calling out Calzaghe. Monday Apr 21, 2008
Damian:	Well, despite the fact that Calzaghe has repeatedly called Pavlik out (e.g. issuing a public statement inviting him to Wales to make a deal and mentioning him as the only fighter he's still interested in fighting in many interviews), it seems -- unsurprisingly I suppose -- that Pavlik has decided against taking such a risky fight, and has already decided on his next three fights: Lockett, Rubio, then Abraham. By the times all that's done with, Calzaghe will have retired. So please note: Pavlik ducked Calzaghe, not vice-versa! I think it's a great shame -- would have been a great fight, and Calzaghe fights best against hard hitters who come forward at him. I'm sure Calzaghe would've given him a boxing lesson, as he did Lacy and Kessler. But the likelihood now is that it'll be Calzaghe vs Jones, maybe in November. I actually don't think Jones even deserves the shot, since he refused to give Calzaghe the chance to fight him in his prime, but it'd be a great payday for Joe, so you can't blame him if he takes it. Monday Apr 21, 2008
steadadelica:	what has calzaghe got to do to prove his quality. he doesn't duck anyone. he will fight anywhere. his style leaves him open to punches therefore his fight are always entertaining. he gets up off the canvas and dominates a quality boxer who many (including my self) though had more than a chance. i think it must be hard when you're that talented but only a few people can see it despite a perfect record. Monday Apr 21, 2008
Yuvie:	Damian, I'd like to see Calzaghe/Pavlik but Pavlik ducking Calzaghe? I thought the reason why he was taking the fight with Lockett is partly for an easy fight and partly to get the attention of Calzaghe. Also, why should he just jump into a fight with Calzaghe at this point in his career. I'd say he's still a bit too green to be thinking about Calzaghe. He may have youth on his side but he still showed that he's pretty weak against a skilled boxer in the second fight with Taylor. I don't wanna see Calzaghe go out in a fight with Jones. Even Tarver sounds better than Jones at this point after dismantling Woods like he did. Monday Apr 21, 2008
Damian:	What I meant was, if Pavlik had now planned his next three fights -- as it seems he has -- and none of them include Calzaghe, then he will never fight Calzaghe because the latter has made his intention to retire by the end of the year entirely plain, and there's obviously no way Pavlik will fight four more fights before 2009. In effect, Pavlik is thus 'ducking' Calzaghe (as did Jones, Hopkins and Taylor at various stages) -- but as you say, it's totally understandable in Pavlik's case, since, let's not forget, he only very recently won the middleweight titles and doesn't want to give up his '0' at this stage (and moving up in weight to fight the undefeated P4P no 2 would very probably mean doing just that). I still hope it happens, but it's looking extremely unlikely. I just hope no-one then sdays 'yeah, but Calzaghe never fought Pavlik', as if that proves something. Monday Apr 21, 2008
Yuvie:	Nah, I don't think they will. You'll always get the odd US hater, who will never accept a british fighter as even being great but on the whole, I don't think you can mess with what Calzaghe has done. He could of went on fighting nobodies but to defeat Lacy, Kessler & Hopkins so late in his career like he has is something that no one can complain about. Jones looks like the obvious choice now but as I said even Tarver sounds like the better option. We'll see what happens in the coming weeks. Monday Apr 21, 2008
Nuckle:	Joe C is wack!!! Hopkins shouldve got the decision, he landed the more cleaner and harder punches. He would have knocked Joe C out if the age didnt prove to be a factor. Has anyone ever watched girl fights? Thats how Joe fights. All his punches are thrown like a girl or better yet like a sissy. Monday Apr 21, 2008
Aaron:	I think Roy Jones is a pretty fair bet against Calzaghe. Jones is in a much better state of ability now then people give him credit for, during the losses to Tarver and Johnson, he really was messed up from the weight loss coming down from heavyweight, and hadn't figured out how to adjust his style to the diminished speed and reflexes he had from getting older. In the Trinidad fight he finally looked 100% again at his optimal weight of 168-175. He'll never be what he once was in the mid-late 90's, but I would say he has better legs and offense than B-Hop does at this point. If Hopkins could take JC the distance and weather his blows, then Jones might be able to potshot Calzaghe for a decision. Monday Apr 21, 2008
Smiley C:	Tarver can probably out slap Slappy Joe. I call for a fight between Tarver and Calzaghe. This Damian dude is the Brit (if he is from GB) from hell. This cat has cultural dyslexia and/or an intellectual impairment about America. Americans have had more inventions and discoveries in one year than the British Empire has had in its whole existence. We have always had to rescue the Brits from something. Fo' sure! Monday Apr 21, 2008
Smiley C:	I'm with you, Nuckle. Slappy Joe is more like Sissy Joe. I bet Layla Ali would kayo that slapping, tapping chump. Fo' sure! Monday Apr 21, 2008
ben:	C'mon Smiley C that slanderous talk will get a horde of marauding Brits burning the White House down a la 1812!! As an ex-pat Brit residing in NZ I'm incredibly proud of my country and anyone who has half a brain has huge gratitude for the sacrifices your boys have made aiding us in times of trouble. Onto the boxing which is the greatest sport in the world which prompts so much mud-slinging and differences of opinion I would like to add personally I thought JC did enough to win. You win by hitting cleanly and hopefully not getting hit back. On that score JC outworked BH on both counts. It wasn't a great fight but nobody expected it to be. I thought BH fought like a below par Pernell Whittaker and left the two judges who scored it correctly little option. Whilst some American fans may not like JC's perceived slappy style he does have 32 kayos which is very impressive. The kudos that come with being champion of the world allows you to dictate where you want to fight and given that JC has fanatical following in Wales it stands to reason to hold your fights there. This also allows the opposition to earn a good pay-day through the gate receipts. JC has never ducked a fight and fought the best in his division which is all he could possibly have done. Whether or not his generation has been up to the mark is not in his control unfortunately but he has done all that was asked of him and more. He has conducted himself with grace and dignity throughout his career and a better role model for professional boxing would be incredibly hard to surpass. I would personally like him to retire now with a perfect record rather than be fed a diet of former greats as this will further alienate some of you disgruntled fans over the pond. Thanks for your entertainment Joe Calzaghe! Monday Apr 21, 2008
Radam G:	There is more exciting reading this site, than it was watching the bout. Gosh, the blood is boiling. I am not stirring up jack! The bout was what it was. And, in Las Vegas, you cannot tell which way the judges will go. I was pulling for Slappy Joe. He got it. I am happy for him. Enough said. I guess it was Welsh Italian Dragon Time. Holla! Monday Apr 21, 2008
Thomas Rooney:	I'm very proud of Calzaghe,. Like he said it wasn't pretty but he got the job done. After being knocked down in the first it was a great effort to come back and win. Two more fights now for Joe I hope - another one in America and then a big name in Cardiff to finish. Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
Father Shabooboo:	Slappy Joe? I love that. Watch the Lacy fight and tell me how many slaps were landed! Hopkins is old, tired, boring and past it. As is Jones (well, less boring granted). Pavlik for me but he come forward style is made for Joe just like Lacy. He telegraphs his right and Joe would just step inside it like he did Lacy's left. Don't get me wrong, I love Pavlik and he is still very young. But I don't think it's right for Pavlik now and if it ain't gonna be now it ain't ever gonna be. I prefer Joe against Tarver. He's another idiot who needs to be smashed in. Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
Nuckle:	I dont know who, but somebody need to ko this paper champ slappy... I mean........ sloppy... my badd sissy joe. Everybody meat riding right now. It took him 11 year and 45 fights to finally fight some real competition and away from his home. If that's not ducking I dont know what is. Than he fought a 43 year old BHOP, now everybody know if BHOP was his age 36 he would have put the beats on Sissy Joe worst than he already did. And if this was anybody else (like PBF) nobody would give him credit for beating a guy past his prime (like DLH). So stop giving Sissy Joe props. He wants to fight Roy Jones next, who's also out of his prime. Be serious. BHOP real record 51-2-1 Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
johnny szyndler:	Everyone is doing exactly what i knew they would...''yeah but b-hops past it...yeah but he's in his 40's'' so why did boxrec and other boxing websites have hopkins rated as the no.1 p4p boxer?????? Joe beat him fair and square deal with it...and as for the age issue Joe is going on 37, he's not exactly a teenager! And the comments about yeah but if Calzaghe fought RJJ or B-hop ten years ago he would of got beat....B.S!!! firstly it is common knowledge that hopkins refused to fight calzaghe years ago on two occasions just like steve collins did and many other world champions! Ten years ago joe would have been 26...without bad hands and even more speed and power. The fight on Saturday was a horrible spectacle but Hopkins clearly lost, other than the first round all he did was throw about 3 counterpunche's a round and held him more than my girlfriend did when i bought her an engagement ring. Just hope Calzaghe fights Pavlik next, a young fighter, undefeated and someone who Amercians cant say is over the hill or too old.....pavlik is made for J.C Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
guido:	i think jones has a better style to make joe have a question mark above his head. we all now jones is way faster and the harder puncher, but could he be fast enough to counter the hundreds of hand slaps. jones wont get tired like hopkins. the only two things jones is missing is his legs and confidence. so if jones could effectivly counter joe, i think he would have a good chance of winning. when watching his last fight, he could of finished off trinadad but he didnt, that wouldnt work over in whales against joe, they would rob roy more than likly on a verdict. so he would need a ko over joe, but joes chin and heart are better than i thought. Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
steadadelica:	id put my house on joe knocking pavlik out. then it will be really interesting to see all the crap the disbelievers would type on here..'pavlik was too small' or better still ' too young' to win, ha ha. get over yourselves, you call it wrong, except it move on that what all losers have to do eventually, no matter what country they come from. Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
Nuckle:	I never really disliked any boxer until now and its not his personality, which is the way you haters choose to not like boxers. I dont like the way he fights. All of you Sissy Joe fans go buy a chicks fight dvd and you will see a spitting image of Sissy Joe and how he throws punches. Another thing, he dont even throw combinations, hooks, uppercuts or body shots. When he let his hands go he just start slapping (this is not slap boxing). 1 of the 1st things you learn in training or amateurs (which is how Sissy Joe fights) is when you have your opponents against the ropes or when you throw any combinations you suppose to pick your spots. He dont do that he just slaps repeatedly without even bringing his arms back, turning with his punches and getting full extension on them. Boxing 101 Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
Damian:	Smiley C wrote: "Americans have had more inventions and discoveries in one year than the British Empire has had in its whole existence." Well, clearly I'm arguing with a man with great and formidable historical erudition!! Could you please substantiate this comment? If you like, I will cite 500 examples of British inventions which have affected the hold world during the past 500 years (or simply during the Industrial Revolution, if you like), and then you can tell me a year when Americans produced more than that in one day, yes? (Or choose a whole decade if you prefer.) Admittedly, we don't have many great 'ball dunkers' or 'quarterbacks' (but perhaps you've noticed that the only sport most of the world really cares about is what you call 'soccer' -- like boxing, a British invention -- and almost no-one plays baseball, what you call 'football' etc.), but we can at least modestly boast the likes of William Shakespeare, Robert Boyle, Geoffrey Chaucer, Jonathan Swift, Isaac Newton, John Locke, David Hume, Adam Smith, Alexander Bain, John Milton, John Keats, Alexander Pope, John Keats, George Stephenson, Charles Darwin, Samuel Johnson, Humphry Davy, James Clerk Maxwell, Michael Faraday, John Baird, Frank Whittle, James Watt, Alexander Fleming, William Thomson, Charles Dickins, Ernest Rutherford, Francis Crick, Alan Turing ... Most of these names will mean nothing to you, of course, but the perhaps you can 'google' a few of them and try to learbn something? (I know you won't!) Without these, and dozens of other British men and women I could mention , the world would look nothing like it does today ... But yes, you're right of course, I'm clearly suffering from an "inferiority complex" about my nation!! What a crumby history we Brits have, eh?! Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
Smiley C:	You tell 'em, Nuckle. Hey, Ben! I think that we beat the Redcoats in 1812. Any way, I was just talkin' smack. But I am serious about Damian. This guy is intellectually impaired about the USA. And do I believe that he is a mental cripple and probably a physical one. He has picked the TSS world to harass and insult Americans. This punk is a cyberspace jeck and stalker. Fo' sure! Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
Damian:	Yes, Smiley: clearly I'm way out of my intellectual depths. Adios, genius ... Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
Ben:	No probs Smiley C but the redcoats turned you fellas over back in 1812! At least this forum is getting us genuine fans of boxing sparring verbally, which shows the sport is in good health! As for Nuckle, dude whats going on over there? You've got some serious issues regarding JC. Some of the greatest fighters in history were not particularly wicked punchers but their ring intelligence was exceptional. Fighters such as Willie Pep, Harry Greb, Tony Canzoneri, Barney Ross, Jimmy Mclarnin, the list will go on. These all time greats were not kayo artists but all time greats none the less. An ugly win is nevertheless a win and history shows JC has 45 of them consecutively. Give us Brits a break, we don't get many world class boxers and when we are blessed with one, we wanna shout it from the rooftops. Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
Smiley C:	Damian, you are some serious work. Are you for real? You are one pseudointellectual lad, if there ever were one! I suspect that you are a fake with an elementary education. You will still be in the stone ages if it were not for these great American, to name a few: Alexander Graham Bell, George Washington Carver, The Wright Brothers, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Goodyear, Jonas Salk, Eli Whitney, George Westinghouse, John Gregg, Steven Job, Frederick Taylor and Robert Fulton. What transportation vehicles did the Brits invented? What telecommunications did the the Brits invent!?What type of lights to see in the dark, did the Brits invent? What invention did the Brits make to keep crops from going bad? Show me a Brit Bill Gates! Don't worry, Americans will always save the queen and all the snot noses, delusional Brits. Fo' sure! Wednesday Apr 23, 2008
Damian:	Smiley: I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but your ignorance is outstanding. I think it's amusing indeed that you mention the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, as your first example of as great 'American' inventor, considering the fact that he was BRITISH!! And do you honestly think that any of the others you mention compare in stature or influence to (e.g.) Isaac Newton, James Clerk Maxwell or Charles Darwin? (If so, you simply know very little about history). You ask me what methods of transportation, telecommunications electric lighting etc. the British invented. Well, if you knew anything about the people I cited above you wouldn't have to ask, but here's a very short list of British inventions/discoveries: the telephone, the electric motor, the television, the steam engine, the train/railway, the automobile, the light bulb (Joseph Swan got there before Thomas Edison), the law of gravity, the laws of mechanics, electromagnetics, electrons, the atom, DNA, the computer, radar, the jet engine, vaccinations, antibiotics, the internet, the flushable toilet, the vaccum cleaner, the lawn mower, football ('soccer'), boxing, the USA ... would you like me to continue? Wednesday Apr 23, 2008
Smiley C:	You delusional wacko, Alexander Graham Bell was a U.S. citizen. He had enough sense to come to the place things were happening. I am finish with your retarded, fake, jealous, backwoods butt. The USA rocks. You poor bottom of society Brit. Your own homies don't like you. Get a life, you cyberspace terrorist. Fo' sure! Wednesday Apr 23, 2008
Damian:	"The USA rocks." Damn, I've been refuted yet again!! Wednesday Apr 23, 2008

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