Bernard Hopkins Still Wants Rematch With Joe Calzaghe
by Scott Christ on Jul 23, 2011 4:07 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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Current light heavyweight world champion Bernard Hopkins apparently feels there's unfinished business with old rival Joe Calzaghe, and Dan Rafael of ESPN says that Hopkins put feelers out with UK press in Las Vegas today about a rematch:
At brunch and @THEREALBHOP is asking the UK writers if Joel Calzaghe if he wants to unretire for a rematch.less than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® 
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Dan Rafael
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Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KO) lost his light heavyweight belt to Calzaghe in April 2008 by split decision in a bowling shoe ugly fight that was debated by many but is regarded fondly by few. After that win, Calzaghe (who was already the super middleweight champion) fought just once more, beating the shell of Roy Jones Jr in November 2008 in a pay-per-view bomb in Madison Square Garden.
Calzaghe then retired with a record of 46-0 (32 KO), but it's a record many still don't consider truly great, despite the Welshman having never lost a fight. Now 39 years old, Calzaghe has made no serious indication that he's looking to return to the ring, but there has been mild speculation since he retired. The biggest headlines he's made in his time out of the ring came, unfortunately, when he admitted to cocaine usage. He also appeared on the reality show contest "Strictly Come Dancing."
Hopkins, 46, is currently set to defend his championship against Chad Dawson on October 15 on HBO pay-per-view from Newark.
Do you have any real interest in a Hopkins vs Calzaghe rematch, or would it just be a seniors tour-type event in your mind?
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I wouldn’t mind seeing it so that Hopkins could get the chance to officially get the win i thought he deserved the first time, but i don’t think Calzaghe would do it. He’s been out for too long and, imo, he knows he got away by the skin of his teeth on the scorecards last time. I think if Joe was speaking honestly he would say Hopkins was the hardest guy he ever fought.
Calzaghe would beat him again.
He’d have to be in top condition. Looking at him on tv recently he hasn’t ballooned, so it would all depend on his desire. I reckon in the three years he’s had off, his hands would have improved too, he’d be able to bang again.
by Phill on Jul 23, 2011 4:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Here's the thing about Bernard,
There are very FEW fights he’d be in that I would look at objectively and be excited for. A rubbermatch with Pascal is about it. Most fighters aren’t going to push the pace against him to the point where he’ll be active enough to be entertaining in the traditional sense.
Despite this, I’m a fan of the man and admire the strategy & skills he brings to the ring along with his combination of the intelligence, independence, and outspoken nature outside the ring. His newfound fame as the oldest titleholder adds some awe as well. It’s for these reasons I’d be interested in seeing him avenge his loss against Calzaghe, not because I think it’d be a particularly “entertaining” fight.
by soulrise on Jul 23, 2011 6:03 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Stop being so nice about that fight. It was fucking heinous.
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by Scott Christ on Jul 23, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
it was no doubt....
but being a hopkins fan id like 2 see him extract revenge on the robbery, i had Bhop winning but i guess HBO pulled sum strings so they could have RJJ vs Calzaghe. Bhop eats Joe for lunch now but thats never gonna happen, only fight i wanna see Bhop in is against Sergio, if he sumhow pulls off the miracle and beats him he has to be #1 P4P in da world.
by goldenbird09 on Jul 23, 2011 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions
The only ones who got robbed in that fight paid at the gate. Arguable result, but not either fighter’s finest hour.
Bad Left Hook
"My God, kids today think that the laces are for tying up the gloves."
-- Fritzie Zivic
very true.....
fight coulda went either way depending how you saw it, hopkins almost dropped him a couple times in that fight but it was his fault for losing as pathetic as it was…..also..was that Calzaghe in the ring at that start of the judah fight with bhop???
by goldenbird09 on Jul 24, 2011 1:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Grass green, water wet, pope catholic, etc.
It will never happen. Even if anyone wanted to see it, the chances Calz would unretire would be slim. But no one wants to see it.
First time around was the legit Lt Heavy championship of the world, and no one wanted to see it the first time!!! They locked me in the basement at Dempsey’s with a bunch of British tourists, to watch on a 17" screen! And the two of them didn’t exactly turn it into a closet classic either.
Bad Left Hook
"My God, kids today think that the laces are for tying up the gloves."
-- Fritzie Zivic
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