| Bernard Hopkins vs Joe Calzaghe Fight Odds and Predictions |
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| Written by Jeff Alexander | |||||||
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Wednesday, 16 April 2008
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 Boxing junkies get ready for the Bernard Hopkins vs Joe Calzaghe bout this weekend. Sportsbook.com has Joe Calzaghe a –260 odds favorite against Bernard Hopkins +200 in their April 19th bout live from Sin City. Checkout Expert Boxing Handicapper Jeff Alexander's Hopkins vs Calzaghe Picks and Preview for Point-Spreads.com.Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins is listed as the +200 underdog as oddsmakers haven't give all that much weight to his billing as Ring Magazine's light heavyweight champion. Back in June of 2006, Hopkins defeated Ring Magazine light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver by unanimous decision to take over the title. Tarver didn't look anything like the champ who had defeated Roy Jones Jr. twice. Hopkins returned to the ring in July 2007 to face former light heavyweight champ Ronald "Winky" Wright. Hopkins won another unanimous decision to keep his title. Now he will take on Joe Calzaghe of Wales who is listed as the -275 favorite. He is the WBO, WBA, and WBS super middleweight champion. Even though he is stepping up to fight in a higher weight class, oddsmakers clearly feel the, recently turned, 43 year-old Hopkins is at the end of the rope. Hopkins has 48 professional wins against just four losses and has been a great champion, but youth is not on his side anymore. Calzaghe is 44-0 in his professional career with 32 wins coming by way of knockout. "The Pride of Wales" will be eight years Hopkins' minor when this fight takes place. The aforementioned Ring Magazine lists the "Italian Dragon" as one of the top 10 best pound for pound boxers in the world. Calzaghe is the longest reigning title holder in any weight class in the sport. This guy has held the WBO super middleweight champion title for over ten years. Calzaghe's most recent fight was in November of 2007 against Mikkel Kessler in Copenhagen, Denmark. This unification bout was won by Calzaghe by unanimous decision, unifying three of his four world titles and surpassing the 20 title defenses made by Hopkins himself and Larry Holmes. While longshot lovers will blindly jump on Hopkins because of the value, we really can't see Calzaghe going down here. His southpaw style figures to give Hopkins problems as does his stamina. Calzaghe also has the ability to switch it up and box Orthodox if need be. The power he packs with either fist is unrivaled in boxing. Honestly, Hopkins is getting a little too much respect with this line if you ask me. Sportsbook.com has posted boxing betting odds on the Hopkins vs Calzaghe Fight: Hopkins +200 Calzaghe -260                        |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 15 April 2008 ) | |||||||