By Ted Sares: The predicted outcome: Hopkins will make this an ugly fight from the start and will frustrate the more aggressive Welshman who likes to swarm his opponents with fast combinations of never-ending punches. The “Executioner” will try to get “The Prince of Wales” to fight off the ropes where he can alternate with sharp counters and clinches. In so doing, he will be warned for low punches and butts and may well lose points.
By the late rounds, I would not be surprised for the crowd to begin calling for more action, but these two are too smart to let crowd noise bother them.
Going into the championship rounds, I believe Calzaghe will hold a slight lead based on his superior, but less than normal, punch volume. At this point, Hopkins may simply not have enough left in the tank to pull it out, but his rough and perhaps even dirty style will put the outcome it in doubt..
In the end, it likely will boil down to age, age and age offsetting a lot of pro-Hopkins intangibles.
I see Calzaghe winning a majority decision, but I would not be surprised by a DRAW.
The Outcome
Joe Calzaghe wins a relatively ugly 12 round split decision by making Hopkins fight HIS fight. Aside from a first round knockdown (which may have showcased the best punch of the fight), Hopkins did little to sustain the action and allowed the Welshman to dictate the pace from the fifth round down through the stretch.
Styles make fights and in this case, the styles made for less than a pleasing one. There were few flush shots and few combinations that did damage.
At the end of the day, Calzaghe did exactly what he had to do to win, putting on more pressure, utilizing superior punch volume, engaging in smart flurries at the end of several rounds, and backing up Hopkins for most of the fight. He deserved the win.
I had it 116-113 for Calzaghe, who is now 45-0.