There are 60.247 boxer records, at least 559.404 bouts and 9.597 news archived

Home Italy Schedule Results Ratings Amateur Records Amateur Encyclopedia Contacts Reserved Area

News

BERNARD HOPKINS, EXTRAORDINARY CAREER

 

 

Bernard Hopkins: It's time to pack it in

By Robert Portis  -  bestboxingblog.com

Tomorrow night, Bernard Hopkins will add another chapter to his extraordinary career and put another line in the record books; the Guinness book that is. Considering that Hopkins is 48-years-old, his participating in a championship match, no matter the opponent, is a record-setting milestone. Win or lose, the fact he continues to compete is remarkable. But take away the age factor, and this is a contest few in boxing, and no one outside of the sport, cares about. Who is Karo Murat anyway?

hopkins-murat

Bernard Hopkins has nothing left to prove as a boxer. The fact he thinks he does has to be one of the stranger and more poignant spectacles in all of professional sports. There’s something sad about a competitor who is never satisfied with his accomplishments, who cannot come to terms with the fact that all stories must, at some point, end. Fer cryin’ out loud, the guy is almost 50 years old.

Chances for a satisfying ending have come and gone. The perfect moment would have been back in 2007. His long reign as middleweight champion concluded by two tedious waltzes with Jermain Taylor, Hopkins impressed everyone and erased the bitter taste of defeat with a surprisingly one-sided win over light-heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver. A solid 3-to-1 underdog, Bernard schooled the younger man in almost every facet of the game to both win another title and further establish himself as a modern day great.

At the time, Hopkins had in fact indicated this would likely be his final ring appearance and after his surprising win the applause from both the public and the media was loud and long. An exit at this particular moment would have been classy, dignified and aesthetically satisfying. But it didn’t happen. Instead what did happen was an inconclusive and forgettable affair with Ronald “Winky” Wright, definitely not a bout or performance from which one wants to ride off into the sunset.

The next perfect time to call it a career was the following year when Hopkins took another youngster to boxing school, dominating highly regarded Kelly Pavlik and making most forget all about Bernard’s loss to Joe Calzaghe six months before. Some had predicted that youth would finally triumph over age as Pavlik had looked impressive in his wins over the same Jermain Taylor who had taken Hopkins’ middleweight crown, but the bout was barely competitive. Once again, Bernard’s ring smarts and experience proved too much for a more powerful but less skilled fighter and “The Executioner” had added another significant scalp to his Hall of Fame worthy collection.

Had Hopkins at that point chosen to move on, pick up a microphone and take his seat next to Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley, boxing would have been spared the ugly spectacle of his foul-filled rematch with a washed-up Roy Jones Jr., as well as the ugly spectacle of Roy Jones Jr. picking up a microphone and taking his seat next to Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley. Alas, Bernard decided to fight on. Which led to the next perfect time to call it a career.

Jean Pascal was viewed as a talented and quite legitimate light-heavyweight champion and more than a few foresaw an ugly end to Hopkins’ career against an opponent bigger, faster and stronger, but the ageless wonder put on an inspired and inspiring performance, rising from two knockdowns to sweep the late rounds and salvage a draw on Pascal’s home turf. Despite the knockdowns, most observers thought Hopkins had been robbed of an historic win, so an immediate rematch was set, again in Quebec. Those who thought Pascal might learn from the mistakes of the first bout were themselves mistaken as the old champ completely psyched-out Pascal before taking a clear-cut victory, becoming the oldest boxer to ever win a world title.

At this point many thought that finally, here was the perfect time for Hopkins to blow kisses to the bleachers and, festooned with title belts, walk away, satisfied in all he had accomplished. But, no.

Instead we got the ugly spectacles which were his matches with Chad Dawson, pointless, foul-filled affairs which did neither man, nor the sport, much good. In the first bout, Hopkins was thrown to the canvas after tackling Dawson in the second round and suffered a separated shoulder, the non-fight eventually ruled a no-contest. In the rematch, Dawson out-worked the older man, who resorted to frequent head-butts, to take a legitimate points win. But there was Hopkins after the fight, a match which drew fewer than eight thousand spectators, petulant, complaining about being robbed and, naturally, refusing to retire.

No doubt some people got genuinely excited when Hopkins won yet another world title by outpointing Tavoris Cloud this past March, though who those people would be exactly, I’m not sure. Cloud, who fought as if he were impersonating a cooperative sparring partner, hasn’t looked good in years, but it didn’t matter.  The focus was on Hopkins making history again and continuing to compete on the championship level. But it was difficult to ignore the general sense that the story had gone on too long, the narrative becoming tiresome. What was left to say that hadn’t already been said umpteen times? Besides, the fight itself was as routine as a gym workout and about as stirring. Hopkins won another championship. Yes, it’s remarkable. So. What’s next?

What’s next can only be deflating. The opportunity for something satisfying has passed, several times. Hopkins, who still rails about how everyone hates him and wants to squeeze him out of the fight game, now says he wants to unify the light-heavyweight titles before finally walking away. The possibility of all of the different players involved — sanctioning bodies, networks and promoters — coming together to make such a series of matches feasible is slim to none. But beyond that, Bernard Hopkins is almost 50 years old. And call me crazy, but the last thing I want to see is a 50-year-old man in the ring with a truly dangerous customer like Sergey Kovalev. Or Adonis Stevenson.

Could Hopkins neutralize their power and make them look bad, as he did against Tarver, Pavlik, Pascal and Cloud? Maybe. But he might also get hurt. This is boxing, after all, the most dangerous of sports. All it takes is one punch. And for what? Truth is, Bernard could get hurt tomorrow night. And if he did, everyone would be asking that same question: for what? The man has done it all. At what point is he pushing his luck?

Bernard Hopkins is a multi-millionaire. His life story is the stuff of novels and movies. He emerged from prison, doggedly pursued his ambitions, and fully redeemed himself. He ruled the middleweights for almost a full decade, won six world titles, defeated a slew of champions including Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad. His place in boxing history is more than secure. It’s long past time for this esteemed champion to finally put down the punching mitts and pick up a microphone. Or a promoter’s license. Or a pen to write his autobiography. Or better yet, maybe a bag of cheetos and a cold brew as he, at long last, kicks back and — basking in the sun, content and at peace with himself — enjoys a well-earned retirement. It would be fitting; it would be dignified; it would be sensible.

Sadly, if he keeps fighting, the final outcome could be anything but.

Sourcewww.bestboxingblog.com/dear-mr-hopkins-time-go/

 

 

 

 

Archive

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson Oct 12, Gothenburrg, SWE, Jazyc's, Armand Boxing Promotion 10x2: Linn Sandstrom, 52,15, Aus W10-U Camila Campos, 52,15, Bol ...

16/10/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson Oct. 6, Parma, ITA: lth: Beh Alassane Traore, IC/Ita V KO _ Borislav Gligoric, BA Female: sft: Jessica Bellusci, Ita...

09/10/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson Sept. 29, Quartu Sant'Elena, ITA: l: Jonathan Rubino, Ita W 6 Aziz El Ghouiyal, Mor/Ita Sept. 28, Vara...

02/10/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson Sep 22, Majdanpek, SER: 6x3, c: Bosko Misic, B-H KO 6 Miljan Dordjevic, Ser 6x3, m: Novak Radulovic, Ser W 6&n...

25/09/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson Sep 14, Ryomgaard, DEN, Midtdjurs Hallen, TK Promotion 8x3:: Jakob Bank, 76,3, Den W8-U Iago Kiziria, 76,3, Geo Kizi...

18/09/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson Roberto Bakaj Aug 4, Lezhe, ALB: 10x3: lh: Amarildo Bakaj, Alb KO 4 Ion Mbanugu, Gha Baka won the vacan...

08/08/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson July 21, Bottega Vallefoglia, ITA: Female: Nadia Flalhi, 61.800, Ita W 10 Mahjouba Oubtil, 63.400, Mor/Ita (vacante ...

24/07/2024

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

EURO RESULTS By Per-Ake Persson July 14, Sequals, ITA: Samuel Nmomah, 71.700, Nig/Ita W 10 UD Oleksandr Shytyi, 70.250, Ukr (WBC International Silve...

17/07/2024

Other news

02/10/2022 - EDER JOFRE DEAD 86
12/10/2021 - Tony DeMarco passes
15/03/2021 - RUMBLE IN DAR
14/12/2017 - R.I.P. KENNY BARR
09/03/2017 - LOU DUVA DIES AT 94
19/02/2017 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/02/2017 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/02/2017 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
04/01/2017 - EURO NEWS
20/12/2016 - EURO NEWS
15/12/2016 - EURO NEWS
08/12/2016 - EURO NEWS
02/12/2016 - EURO NEWS
28/11/2016 - EURO NEWS
24/11/2016 - EURO NEWS
21/11/2016 - EURO NEWS
19/10/2016 - EURO NEWS
12/10/2016 - EURO NEWS
06/10/2016 - EURO NEWS
04/10/2016 - NORDIC NEWS
28/09/2016 - EURO NEWS
24/09/2016 - EURO NEWS
20/09/2016 - EURO NEWS
15/09/2016 - EURO NEWS
06/09/2016 - EURO NEWS
30/08/2016 - EURO NEWS
26/08/2016 - EURO NEWS
18/08/2016 - NORDIC NEWS
28/07/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
27/07/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
17/07/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/07/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
05/07/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
30/06/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
27/06/2016 - GERMAN NEWS
21/06/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/06/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
07/06/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/06/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
02/06/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
26/05/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
24/05/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/05/2016 - ARSLAN BACK JUNE 4
19/05/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/05/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
30/01/2016 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
29/12/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/12/2015 - THE TEPER CASE
18/12/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
07/12/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
24/11/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
20/11/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/11/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
09/11/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
20/10/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
12/10/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/10/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/10/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
28/09/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
25/09/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
17/09/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
10/09/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
02/09/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
18/08/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
10/08/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/08/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
31/07/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
25/07/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/07/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
30/06/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
28/06/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/06/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
22/06/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/06/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
05/06/2015 - THE REAL ROCKYS
01/06/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
21/05/2015 - IL FIGHTER D'ITALIA
04/05/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
29/04/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
18/04/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/04/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
09/04/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/03/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/03/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
16/03/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
07/03/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/03/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/02/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
17/02/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
15/02/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
01/02/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
27/01/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
25/01/2015 - MARSILI vs TATLI?
15/01/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
15/01/2015 - 2014 WBF AWARDS
11/01/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
09/01/2015 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/01/2015 - SCANDINAVIAN NEWS
22/12/2014 - FRITZ SDUNEK PASSES
15/12/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
11/12/2014 - GERMAN NEWS
01/12/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
27/11/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
15/11/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/11/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
28/10/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
30/09/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
20/09/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/09/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
04/09/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
27/08/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/08/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
04/08/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/07/2014 - YANCHY vs SATCHELL
22/07/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
11/07/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
22/06/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
10/06/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/06/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
26/05/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/05/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/05/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/05/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/05/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
29/04/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
18/04/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
08/04/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/04/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
31/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
26/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
11/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
10/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
04/03/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
25/02/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
24/02/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
21/02/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
20/02/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/02/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
07/02/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
30/01/2014 - SPANISH NEWS
28/01/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
13/01/2014 - GYULA TOROK PASSES
12/01/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
09/01/2014 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/12/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
10/12/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
26/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
21/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
18/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
15/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
12/11/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
22/10/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
14/10/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
08/10/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/10/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
30/09/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
16/09/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
08/09/2013 - MARCO HUCK INJURED
06/09/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/09/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/08/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/07/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
15/07/2013 - VARON STOPPED
10/07/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
02/07/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
25/06/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/06/2013 - CARAMELITO NEWS
21/06/2013 - PULEV vs DIMITRENKO
18/06/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
11/06/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
11/06/2013 - HOT ITALIAN SUMMER
10/06/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/06/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/05/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
12/05/2013 - NSUBUGA PASSES
12/05/2013 - MAGNUSSEN PASSES
07/05/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
23/04/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
18/04/2013 - OPI 2000 NEWS
08/04/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/03/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
08/03/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
11/02/2013 - BEDAK RETURNS
27/01/2013 - KASPERSKI RETIRES
26/01/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
21/01/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
15/01/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
03/01/2013 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
01/01/2013 - HAPPY NEW YEAR
26/12/2012 - CHARR DEFEATS AIRIC
25/12/2012 - HAPPY HOLIDAYS
22/12/2012 - GROVES vs NDIAYE
16/11/2012 - RUMBLE OF THE KINGS
12/11/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
31/10/2012 - HASKINS vs JAMOYE
23/10/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
19/10/2012 - ROSSITTO vs BACURIN
11/10/2012 - SES SHOW NOV 16
11/10/2012 - BOYTSOV ILL
08/10/2012 - ABRAHAM vs BOUADLA
28/09/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
26/09/2012 - RABCHENKO vs VITU
24/09/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
20/09/2012 - SANTOS vs NADER
10/09/2012 - FIGHT 4 PEACE
06/09/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
04/09/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
02/09/2012 - RESULTS FROM YSTAD
26/08/2012 - KESSLER vs ABRAHAM?
21/08/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
17/08/2012 - HAAPOJA vs VERSACI
10/08/2012 - PARODI vs OBA
07/08/2012 - PIANTEA vs BOTHA
03/08/2012 - ZAVECK INJURED
30/07/2012 - WBC WEEKEND SUMMARY
26/07/2012 - ABOUT UNIVERSUM
17/07/2012 - PERSSON'S EURO NEWS
06/07/2012 - BETTINI PASSES