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Hopkins talks up his resumeLight heavy by Ben Dirs - BBC Sport (U1657561) 16 April 2008   Bernard Hopkins has his own peculiar way of proving his most outlandish statements correct, in his own mind at least. Match his resume of quality opponents against mine and I win by a knockout “Like that comment?” adds The Executioner. “I’m too sharp for you man, I’m a fox, and I fight like that too ...”Bernard Hopkins However, it was difficult to disagree when the 43-year-old moved onto one of his favourite topics, how his fight record compares with that of Calzaghe. “Match his resume of quality opponents against mine and I win by a knockout. His record and accomplishments don’t match up against Bernard Hopkins’s, no-one can dispute it.” Not this journalist anyway. Some of Hopkins's detractors have pointed out that his biggest wins have come against opponents moving up through the weights. Puerto Rican great Felix Trinidad springs immediately to mind, as does former six-weight world champion Oscar de la Hoya. But, as someone noted on 606 only yesterday, it's all getting a bit Monty Python if you are seriously going to ask the question: “Apart from that, who has Bernard Hopkins ever beaten?” Well, there were the 20 world middleweight title defences spanning 11 years, including wins over John David Jackson, Glen Johnson, Keith Holmes, William Joppy, Robert Allen and Britain’s Howard Eastman, the first four men all world champions at one time or another. Then there was his processional victory over Antonio Tarver, a former undisputed light-heavyweight champion, on his 175lb debut in 2006, and he also went the full 12 rounds with a near-peak Roy Jones in 1993. Calzaghe, despite fine wins over Chris Eubank, Byron Mitchell, Jeff Lacy and Mikkel Kessler, can’t trump that, which, and I must make this clear, is not the same as saying he’s not going to beat Hopkins when the two meet at the Thomas and Mack Center on Saturday. Blimey, Joe Calzaghe’s preparing for the fight by reading my blog “This is Joe’s infomercial to America, and it won’t be a good one,” added Hopkins. “The economy is so screwed up, we ain’t even asking people to pay $55 [the fight is free to air on HBO].“I’m not only doing the economic structure a favour, I’m also doing him a favour and showing why he hasn’t come over here until now.” And with that, trainer Freddie Roach finished taping up his mitts and Bernard went to work. “Nice pants,” a brave Welshman shouted as Hopkins began shadowboxing. Hopkins, who wore plenty of British cheek during the build-up to Hatton-Mayweather last December, raised an eyebrow and grabbed his skipping rope. Watching Hopkins step on his rope on more than one occasion, I wanted to believe the old boy’s coordination had gone, but truth be known he looked trimmer than Pat Butcher’s apron, and probably will when he’s pushing 90. Calzaghe had already performed for the few hundred assembled fans on the first floor of Planet Hollywood, and the contrast between the super-relaxed boxer between the ropes and the slightly tense, reluctant celebrity as he mingled with his supporters was striking. “The ring is my home,” Calzaghe often says, and it showed. He loosened up again when chatting with the press, despite having several dozen microphones shoved up his hooter, and I had mixed emotions when he picked on a bemused Duke McKenzie for picking Hopkins to win on Saturday. On the one hand I felt bad about committing my BBC colleague’s prediction to print, on the other hand I thought: “Blimey, Joe Calzaghe’s preparing for the fight by reading my blog.” Joe, you’re a ruddy legend, but there’s got to be better things to do with your time in Vegas. Try looking at naked women. Or re-cataloguing your CD collection. PS. Duke is proving something of a maverick. After his shock prediction yesterday, he has now emerged as one of the only experts to forecast an exciting fight on Saturday. “If Calzaghe goes a couple of rounds down mid-way through the fight, he’ll have to open up and let fly,” says The Duke. PPS. A bit of banter flying about this morning among the British journos, with several claiming they played a major part in making the fight happen. When I’m old, do you think I’ll get away with telling my grandkids I outpointed Bernard Hopkins in Vegas back in 2008? PPS. Embarrassing moment of the day came when the announcer at the open workout revealed that Audley Harrison would be fighting on the undercard. Expecting cheers from the Brit contingent, she was met with silence and the odd giggle. Latest 10 commentsRead members' comments or add your own
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ichi_1 (U2189242) posted Apr 19, 2008 I honestly see Joe demoloshing Hopkins and ending his career. Ive seen Hopkins fight many a time and although he is the most boring fighter to watch you cant help but have a grudging respect for the way he goes about his work. Hell smother his opponent for most of the round, punch his way out of any clinches that are not broken by the ref and then step it up in the final 20 secs to steal the rounds to win the fight. Thing is Joe knows this. He knows what Hopkins does and he is quicker and more accurate than Bernard is. All Joe has to do is beat him to the punches out of the clinches and when frustration sets in for Hopkins, open up and pick him apart. Joe can punch all day long, Hopkins cannot. Everything is in Joe's favour for this fight. The only thing that may be his undoing is his heart getting the better of him. But honestly this will only happen if Hopkins opens up, and if he does that he will be beaten to a pulp.
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box-ed (U9094051) posted Apr 19, 2008 "COME ON B-HOP
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box-ed (U9094051) posted Apr 19, 2008 Oh also I almost forgot.... Something freddie roach pointed out. "eubank is a better win for calzaghe then people realise"
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Tulku21 (U11301207) posted Apr 19, 2008 does anyone else think that BHop considers himself to be smarter than he actually is? He seems to contradict himself all the time!
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clevedongas (U8487112) posted Apr 19, 2008 is the fight free tonight and its on at 3am is it not?
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princek111 (U11157834) posted Apr 19, 2008 I tell you guys why lennox lewis is hopeing bernard hopkins beats calzaghe its because he knows if calzaghe wins tonight then calzaghe would be Great Britains best fighter knocking lennox of the top spot I think calzaghe would win on points but if he hits the old man hopkins on his tempel and some hard hooks to the head for a few rounds hopking will fall like a girl.
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princek111 (U11157834) posted Apr 19, 2008 no you have to suscribe to santa tanta sports im not wacthing it live because i hate ordering of setanta there a huge rip of why dosent sky box office start to show these big fights again well atleast ricky hatton still fights on sky
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tex_manc29 (U11638568) posted Apr 19, 2008 Box-ed?? surely you didnt mean this is Freddie Roach's last big day? He trains Pac-man who is in the same league as Hatton and De la Hoya for fan bases and PPV buys! Plus hes regarded as being one of the best trainers in the world.
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box-ed (U9094051) posted Apr 19, 2008 No I meant hopkins will be having his last fight. Sorry for the confusion.
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theroux79 (U11691010) posted Apr 19, 2008 I have been watching this fight develop over the last couple of months and im shocked with how the boxing media have spun this fight to be a close contest. Comment on this article |
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