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Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe

January 01, 1970

Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe, was a boxing match that took place on April 19, 2008, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Paradise, Nevada, between The Ring light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins and unified super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe. The fight was dubbed the "Battle of the Planet",[1] and the fight was for Hopkins' The Ring light heavyweight title.

Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe
DateApril 19, 2008
VenueThomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Title(s) on the lineThe Ring light heavyweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Bernard Hopkins Joe Calzaghe
Nickname The Executioner Pride of Wales / Italian Dragon
Hometown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Newbridge, Caerphilly, Wales
Pre-fight record 48–4–1–1 (32 KO) 44–0 (32 KO)
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) 6 ft (183 cm)
Weight 173 lb (78 kg) 173 lb (78 kg)
Style Orthodox Southpaw
Recognition The Ring light heavyweight champion
The Ring No. 4 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
2-division world champion		 WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, and The Ring super middleweight champion
The Ring No. 5 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
Result
Calzaghe wins via 12-round split decision (113-114, 115-112, 116-111)

General information edit

Hopkins made 20 consecutive title defenses as a middleweight before two losses to Jermain Taylor. At about the same time, Calzaghe made 21 consecutive title defenses in the super middleweight division from Europe during a decade-long reign. Hopkins claimed Calzaghe declined to fight him after Don King's "middleweight tournament" in 2001, in which Hopkins won three title belts, although Calzaghe denies this.[1]

On July 21, 2007, Hopkins defeated Winky Wright by unanimous decision to retain The Ring light heavyweight championship. After the fight, Hopkins called out Calzaghe and said that he wanted to fight him at Yankee Stadium on the fourth of July.[1] On November 3, 2007, Calzaghe defeated Mikkel Kessler by unanimous decision to retain his WBO super middleweight title and win the WBC and WBA super middleweight titles.

On December 7, 2007, Hopkins and Calzaghe met face to face in the media room set up for the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Ricky Hatton fight. Hopkins and Calzaghe began shouting insults and taunting each other, with Hopkins shouting, "You're not even in my league! I would never let a white boy beat me. I would never lose to a white boy. I couldn't go back to the projects if I let a white boy beat me."[2] Hopkins would later explain his comments, saying that it was not meant to be taken as a racial slur or a reflection of his feelings on white fighters, but simply said to create some hype for his fight with Calzaghe.[3] On January 23, 2008, the fight was officially announced to take place on April 19, 2008, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.[4] For his training, Hopkins worked with Freddie Roach, Nazim Richardson, John David Jackson (who fought Hopkins in 1997), and Mackie Shilstone.[5] Calzaghe was trained by his father, Enzo. The fight was promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Frank Warren's Sports Network. The bout was televised on HBO World Championship Boxing in the United States and on Setanta Sports 1 in the United Kingdom and the referee was Joe Cortez. Both fighters weighed in at 173 lb (78 kg).[6] 14,213 were in attendance for the fight, with at least half of them making the trip overseas from the United Kingdom to support Calzaghe. After winning the fight, Calzaghe made reference to Hopkins' pre-fight outburst. A grinning Calzaghe told Hopkins he had 'just got his arse kicked by a white boy', leading to laughter from the crowd and media.

Bout summary edit

In the first round, Calzaghe, who was seven years younger than Hopkins, was knocked down with Hopkins landing a short right hand which led to Calzaghe suffering a small cut on the bridge of his nose.

Calzaghe was warned by referee Joe Cortez in the second round for throwing a low blow. Cortez later warned both fighters for hitting behind the head. The fight was definitely slipping into the pattern that favored Hopkins - slow, down and dirty.

Cortez called a timeout and brought both fighters to the center of the ring for a lecture in the fourth round. He did that after both of them had committed fouls - Calzaghe for holding and hitting and Hopkins for hitting on the break. Calzaghe still managed to land a couple of blows to the back of Hopkins' head at the end of the fifth round.

Calzaghe never got the opportunity to showcase his hand speed and combinations. Hopkins would smother him whenever he tried to come in and throw more than one punch. But Hopkins seemed to slow down in the later rounds.

In the 10th round, Calzaghe hit Hopkins with a punch that Hopkins claimed was low. Hopkins crumpled to the canvas and was slow getting up. Cortez didn't take away a point, but gave Hopkins a five-minute break to gather himself. Calzaghe thought Hopkins was acting and waved for the crowd to show their displeasure with Hopkins. The fans booed on cue. Hopkins used the full five minutes to recuperate.

"It was a low blow," Hopkins said. "It knocked my privates out of the cup. That's why Joe gave me five minutes."

Hopkins complained of another low blow in the 11th round, but this time Cortez ignored his plea for time and told him to keep fighting. He came out and tried to ferociously attack Calzaghe, but Calzaghe charged back.

In the end, judges Chuck Giampa (116-111) and Ted Gimza (115-112) scored the fight for Calzaghe, while judge Adalaide Byrd (114-113) scored the fight for Hopkins.

HBO's unofficial ringside judge Harold Lederman scored the bout 116-111 for Calzaghe.

"It was a good fight. I thought Bernard (Hopkins) won though. But, I'm glad that Calzaghe won this. It was a good fight," commented former undisputed Heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson.

According to CompuBox, Calzaghe landed more punches on Hopkins than any of his previous opponents. Calzaghe landed 232 punches, almost double the number of punches landed by Hopkins (127).[7]

Aftermath edit

After the fight, Calzaghe called Hopkins one of the toughest fighters he had ever fought. He said, "I knew this wouldn't look pretty tonight. He's so awkward. He gave me some good shots. It wasn't my best night, but I won the fight. The world title in a second division and a win in America is just icing on the cake for my career."[8] Roy Jones Jr. was discussed as the next most likely opponent for Calzaghe,[9] and that fight took place in November 2008.

Hopkins was upset with the official decision and believed that he was robbed of a clear points win. He said, "I just really feel like I took the guy to school. I feel like I made him fight my fight, not his. I wanted him to run into my shots. I think I made him do that, and I think I made it look pretty easy. I think I controlled the pace, and I controlled the fight."[10]

Undercard edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Hopkins-Calzaghe's 'Battle of the Planet' just days away". CBSSports.com. 2008-04-15. Archived from the original on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  2. ^ Smith, Tim (2007-12-09). "Bernard Hopkins jabs at Joe Calzaghe, tossing out race card". NYDailyNews.com. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  3. ^ Vester, Mark (2008-01-31). "Bernard Hopkins Explains "White Boy" Comment". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  4. ^ . TransWorldNews. 2008-01-23. Archived from the original on 2008-04-21. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  5. ^ "Calzaghe/Hopkins: Bernard Hopkins trains with his "Execution Squad" for highly anticipated bout with Calzaghe". East Side Boxing. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  6. ^ Cozzone, Chris (2008-04-18). . Fightnews.com. Archived from the original on 2008-04-20. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  7. ^ Vester, Mark (2008-04-19). "Joe Calzaghe Outpoints Bernard Hopkins to Win!". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
  8. ^ Vester, Mark (2008-04-19). "Calzaghe: "Hopkins Was My Toughest Fight"". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
  9. ^ Vester, Mark (2008-04-20). "Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. Could Be Next". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
  10. ^ Vester, Mark (2008-04-19). "Hopkins: "I Took Joe Calzaghe To School"". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2008-04-20.

External links edit

  • Pre-fight report card
  • CompuBox pre-fight analysis
  • CompuBox post-fight analysis
  • CompuBox punch stats

January 01, 1970
bernard, hopkins, calzaghe, boxing, match, that, took, place, april, 2008, thomas, mack, center, paradise, nevada, between, ring, light, heavyweight, champion, bernard, hopkins, unified, super, middleweight, champion, calzaghe, fight, dubbed, battle, planet, f. Bernard Hopkins vs Joe Calzaghe was a boxing match that took place on April 19 2008 at the Thomas amp Mack Center in Paradise Nevada between The Ring light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins and unified super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe The fight was dubbed the Battle of the Planet 1 and the fight was for Hopkins The Ring light heavyweight title Bernard Hopkins vs Joe CalzagheDateApril 19 2008VenueThomas amp Mack Center Paradise Nevada U S Title s on the lineThe Ring light heavyweight titleTale of the tapeBoxerBernard HopkinsJoe CalzagheNicknameThe ExecutionerPride of Wales Italian DragonHometownPhiladelphia Pennsylvania U S Newbridge Caerphilly WalesPre fight record48 4 1 1 32 KO 44 0 32 KO Height6 ft 1 in 185 cm 6 ft 183 cm Weight173 lb 78 kg 173 lb 78 kg StyleOrthodoxSouthpawRecognitionThe Ring light heavyweight championThe Ring No 4 ranked pound for pound fighter2 division world championWBA Super WBC WBO and The Ring super middleweight championThe Ring No 5 ranked pound for pound fighterResultCalzaghe wins via 12 round split decision 113 114 115 112 116 111 Contents 1 General information 2 Bout summary 3 Aftermath 4 Undercard 5 References 6 External linksGeneral information editHopkins made 20 consecutive title defenses as a middleweight before two losses to Jermain Taylor At about the same time Calzaghe made 21 consecutive title defenses in the super middleweight division from Europe during a decade long reign Hopkins claimed Calzaghe declined to fight him after Don King s middleweight tournament in 2001 in which Hopkins won three title belts although Calzaghe denies this 1 On July 21 2007 Hopkins defeated Winky Wright by unanimous decision to retain The Ring light heavyweight championship After the fight Hopkins called out Calzaghe and said that he wanted to fight him at Yankee Stadium on the fourth of July 1 On November 3 2007 Calzaghe defeated Mikkel Kessler by unanimous decision to retain his WBO super middleweight title and win the WBC and WBA super middleweight titles On December 7 2007 Hopkins and Calzaghe met face to face in the media room set up for the Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Ricky Hatton fight Hopkins and Calzaghe began shouting insults and taunting each other with Hopkins shouting You re not even in my league I would never let a white boy beat me I would never lose to a white boy I couldn t go back to the projects if I let a white boy beat me 2 Hopkins would later explain his comments saying that it was not meant to be taken as a racial slur or a reflection of his feelings on white fighters but simply said to create some hype for his fight with Calzaghe 3 On January 23 2008 the fight was officially announced to take place on April 19 2008 at the Thomas amp Mack Center in Las Vegas 4 For his training Hopkins worked with Freddie Roach Nazim Richardson John David Jackson who fought Hopkins in 1997 and Mackie Shilstone 5 Calzaghe was trained by his father Enzo The fight was promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Frank Warren s Sports Network The bout was televised on HBO World Championship Boxing in the United States and on Setanta Sports 1 in the United Kingdom and the referee was Joe Cortez Both fighters weighed in at 173 lb 78 kg 6 14 213 were in attendance for the fight with at least half of them making the trip overseas from the United Kingdom to support Calzaghe After winning the fight Calzaghe made reference to Hopkins pre fight outburst A grinning Calzaghe told Hopkins he had just got his arse kicked by a white boy leading to laughter from the crowd and media Bout summary editIn the first round Calzaghe who was seven years younger than Hopkins was knocked down with Hopkins landing a short right hand which led to Calzaghe suffering a small cut on the bridge of his nose Calzaghe was warned by referee Joe Cortez in the second round for throwing a low blow Cortez later warned both fighters for hitting behind the head The fight was definitely slipping into the pattern that favored Hopkins slow down and dirty Cortez called a timeout and brought both fighters to the center of the ring for a lecture in the fourth round He did that after both of them had committed fouls Calzaghe for holding and hitting and Hopkins for hitting on the break Calzaghe still managed to land a couple of blows to the back of Hopkins head at the end of the fifth round Calzaghe never got the opportunity to showcase his hand speed and combinations Hopkins would smother him whenever he tried to come in and throw more than one punch But Hopkins seemed to slow down in the later rounds In the 10th round Calzaghe hit Hopkins with a punch that Hopkins claimed was low Hopkins crumpled to the canvas and was slow getting up Cortez didn t take away a point but gave Hopkins a five minute break to gather himself Calzaghe thought Hopkins was acting and waved for the crowd to show their displeasure with Hopkins The fans booed on cue Hopkins used the full five minutes to recuperate It was a low blow Hopkins said It knocked my privates out of the cup That s why Joe gave me five minutes Hopkins complained of another low blow in the 11th round but this time Cortez ignored his plea for time and told him to keep fighting He came out and tried to ferociously attack Calzaghe but Calzaghe charged back In the end judges Chuck Giampa 116 111 and Ted Gimza 115 112 scored the fight for Calzaghe while judge Adalaide Byrd 114 113 scored the fight for Hopkins HBO s unofficial ringside judge Harold Lederman scored the bout 116 111 for Calzaghe It was a good fight I thought Bernard Hopkins won though But I m glad that Calzaghe won this It was a good fight commented former undisputed Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson According to CompuBox Calzaghe landed more punches on Hopkins than any of his previous opponents Calzaghe landed 232 punches almost double the number of punches landed by Hopkins 127 7 Aftermath editAfter the fight Calzaghe called Hopkins one of the toughest fighters he had ever fought He said I knew this wouldn t look pretty tonight He s so awkward He gave me some good shots It wasn t my best night but I won the fight The world title in a second division and a win in America is just icing on the cake for my career 8 Roy Jones Jr was discussed as the next most likely opponent for Calzaghe 9 and that fight took place in November 2008 Hopkins was upset with the official decision and believed that he was robbed of a clear points win He said I just really feel like I took the guy to school I feel like I made him fight my fight not his I wanted him to run into my shots I think I made him do that and I think I made it look pretty easy I think I controlled the pace and I controlled the fight 10 Undercard edit nbsp David Lopez KOs nbsp Ryan Davis in the fifth round nbsp Audley Harrison KOs nbsp Jason Barnett in the fifth round nbsp Nathan Cleverly defeats nbsp Antonio Baker via unanimous decision nbsp Danny Garcia KOs nbsp Guadalupe Diaz in the first round nbsp Daniel Jacobs KOs nbsp Leshon Sims in the fourth round nbsp Hylon Williams Jr defeats nbsp Marcos Mendias via unanimous decision nbsp Jermell Charlo KOs nbsp Jesus Villareal in the third round References edit a b c Hopkins Calzaghe s Battle of the Planet just days away CBSSports com 2008 04 15 Archived from the original on 2013 02 03 Retrieved 2008 05 05 Smith Tim 2007 12 09 Bernard Hopkins jabs at Joe Calzaghe tossing out race card NYDailyNews com Retrieved 2008 04 11 Vester Mark 2008 01 31 Bernard Hopkins Explains White Boy Comment BoxingScene com Retrieved 2008 04 11 Bernard Hopkins to Fight Joe Calzaghe on April 19 in Vegas TransWorldNews 2008 01 23 Archived from the original on 2008 04 21 Retrieved 2008 04 11 Calzaghe Hopkins Bernard Hopkins trains with his Execution Squad for highly anticipated bout with Calzaghe East Side Boxing 2008 03 20 Retrieved 2008 04 11 Cozzone Chris 2008 04 18 Hopkins 173 Calzaghe 173 Fightnews com Archived from the original on 2008 04 20 Retrieved 2008 04 18 Vester Mark 2008 04 19 Joe Calzaghe Outpoints Bernard Hopkins to Win BoxingScene com Retrieved 2008 04 20 Vester Mark 2008 04 19 Calzaghe Hopkins Was My Toughest Fight BoxingScene com Retrieved 2008 04 20 Vester Mark 2008 04 20 Joe Calzaghe Roy Jones Jr Could Be Next BoxingScene com Retrieved 2008 04 20 Vester Mark 2008 04 19 Hopkins I Took Joe Calzaghe To School BoxingScene com Retrieved 2008 04 20 External links editPre fight report card CompuBox pre fight analysis CompuBox post fight analysis CompuBox punch stats Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bernard Hopkins vs Joe Calzaghe amp oldid 1215867288, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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