Last night's boxing

[jumpinjackflash]

Anyone else who watched the Calzaghe/Hopkins fight think that Hopkins was robbed? As much as I like Joe Calzaghe and wanted him to win - he didn't deserve to.

[Keef]

I didn't get to see it unfortunately, but the BBC website seems to confirm what you say. Of course they're not going to be strong about it because the Brit fighter won, but there are definite suggestions that it was contentious, particularly one judge only giving Hopkins 3 rounds, which even reading the reports will tell you is obvious bo!!ocks.

Fair play to Calzaghe I guess. He's obviously a good fighter, but I have never ever taken to him, and I hope he doesn't retire undefeated! He's now calling himself a legend killer, which for me is just another way of saying "I'm fighting old guys who are past their best". Roy Jones Jnr next, another fighter who had his best days a few years ago now!

[jumpinjackflash]

spot on Keef, although I doubt he could beat Roy Jones Jnr (having just about beat Hopkins). Bring it on though!

[david_carnell]

I stayed awake till 3pm and despite being steaming drunk managed to watch the whole thing.

As a boxing nut and huge Calzaghe fan I spent a lot of it with my head in my hands between rounds. It was far from a classic but Hopkins has a style which tends to prevent open, exciting contests.

The 1st round knock-down was an eye-opener but Calzaghe never seemed unduly troubled thereafter. Most rounds were close but Hopkins rarely seemed to want to do more than spoil and defend. Calzaghe threw the most punches and kept coming forward. Tbh, I was surprised by the result, not because I didn't think he'd won, but because it was close and with American judges in Vegas it was always going to be difficult to get a decision. The right result but the scorecard of one judge might be slightly off the mark.

Calzaghe should be revered as a boxing great. He has beaten everyone put in front of him for over a decade. Boxing is notoriously political and often the fights fans want never materialise for one reason or another. Hopkins signed up to fight Calzaghe years ago and then doubled his fee overnight and the whole thing collapsed. Joe's unlucky that just as he came to his peak his division was weakened by the loss of fighters like Benn, Eubank (who Calzaghe practically retired), Collins etc.

And if anyone thinks Jones Jnr or Hopkins are washed up just ask Antonio Tarver or Felix Trinidad.

[Keef]

Eubank was a finished man after the tragic Michael Watson fight. I give very little credit to Calzaghe for that victory, because Eubank had no killer instinct anymore, and shouldn't have been in the ring. Obviously we'll never know, but I've always felt that Eubank or Benn at their peaks would have eaten Calzaghe, and Collins for that matter, he got them both at the arse ends of their careers, and talks like he was the better man, absolute bol!ocks.

[Jeremy]

It wasn't exactly a vintage Calzaghe performance, but name me one fighter who has looked good against "B-Hop"? Roy Jones and Jermain Taylor also just about eeked out close points decisions. Hopkins is such a defensive fighter (some would say negative), and he has a few dirty tactics up his sleeve... it was never going to be a pretty fight.

I can see how some judges and pundits may have scored in Hopkin's favour, but at least Joe won the fight by boxing, rather than holding and pretending to be injured!

[Keef]

Funnily enough, Roy Jones Jnr sayd before the fight that Calzaghe needed to throw lots of punches, because if he tried using them sparingly, he's be playing in to Hopkins' hands. Turned out he was spot on, as Calzaghe basically won the fight on his work rate.

I wish Mayweather was a heavier bloke, now that would be a challenge! He is amazing.

Whilst we're talking boxing, what do people think of Haye's chances at heavyweight? I think he can do well, but needs to be careful not to be too cocky.

[Jeremy]

re Haye: being cocky is part of the game... it's not enough to be a good boxer, you need to market yourself effectively to get in there with the big boys. I reckon that's one of the reasons why JC failed to get the big name fights until right at the end of his career.

I think Haye could bring some much needed athleticism, skill, excitement and personality to heavyweight boxing, currently dominated by lumbering, podgy, 6'6 blokes. I hope he doesn't waste time by getting caught up in the domestic circus with the likes of Williams and Skelton, I'd like to see him get right in there and challenge someone like Ruiz, Rahman or Toney.

[jumpinjackflash]

I have a lot of respect for Haye - seen him live a few times and both times KO'd his opponents with the first two rounds (although admittedly they weren't big names!). Let's hoping he's our next Lennox..and not Audley!

[Keef]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> I hope he doesn't waste time by getting caught up in the domestic circus with the likes of Williams and Skelton, I'd like to see him get right in there and challenge someone like Ruiz, Rahman or Toney.

Quite right. Think he's already in a league above the UK guys, as he is a world champ of his weight, so the step up should be swift, he won' have to earn his shot like these guys do.

You're right about marketing yourself though, Audley decided to go it alone, and got everything wrong and ended up a joke. It's a shame, because I think he did have promise.

With regards the cockiness though, I used to love Eubank, because he was the sort of comedy villan. Naseem Hamed however was just a bit too cocky, and as good as he was, it just made me want to see him get knocked out! Was shocked at his career though, he was still so young when he lost the title, and he just disappeared.

[david_carnell]

Not quite at fighting weight is he?!

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41507000/jpg/_41507170_naseem203.jpg

I like Haye a lot. Good chin, fast hands, devastating punch power, good looking, charismatic. If he keeps his focus he could go all the way. I just prey he doesn't bulk up too much for the heavies and end up like some of the blimps currently knocking around a la:

James "Who ate all the pies" Toney

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/writers/richard_hoffer/03/20/toney.rahman/p1_toney_0320.jpg

[spadetownboy]

thats a couple of big boys,btw did anyone see the prize-fighter show on sky last week, 8 blokes fighting on the night for 25k, few porkers among that lot, but terrific idea and a great nights entertainment. it was won by a bloke from belfast who in true rocky style wasnt the best boxer but he just kept coming forward and in the end the boxing purist dolan who was the favourite on the night just couldn,t cope.

[Keef]

I heard about that too late to watch it, but sounds good. Do you know if they plan to make a regular thing of it?

[spadetownboy]

not too sure it was the first time they had it, but it appeared to be a great success,so hopefully it will be on again in the near future.

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

not because I didn't think he'd won, but because it was close and with American judges in Vegas it was always going to be difficult to get a decision. The right result but the scorecard of one judge might be slightly off the mark.

In all fairness to American judges, they usually favour the boxer who comes forward.

[Keef]

The fight is going to be shown in full at 12pm tomorrow on BBC 2.

[Keef]

And I bloody forgot to watch!!! :X