Bernard Hopkins,wow

[Bomber 1]

True legend, the term is banged about loosely but this guy is gonna go down as one of the greatest fighters ever to grace the sport, what I'd have give to see him and Hagler face off in a prime v prime bout...

[J]

big fan here, one of the bhest most adaptable thinking and pyscholgical fighters Ive ever seen, the wayhe dismantled de la hoya and tito was a thing of beauty..top 5 middelweight of all time imo.

[bfchunk]

Amazing stuff, though he should have got the same hour as Haye and De La Hoya did. Fascinating man and fighter. If the footage is there - use it. That said, the other 45 mins of Ringside today was very good too.

Hope we get to see Hopkins - Pascal II. Unless he grows old overnight (as said in his umpteenth last fights) he's got Pascal's number now.

[gasman]

if Ed or anyone at Ringside reads this please stick up more footage of that interview / day on the website, pretty please, do it or Bomber will round to sort u out

Totally agree. The Sky website should be an archive for all extended footage - how difficult would it be to do that - they have a ton of staff - get it sorted.

That Hopkins stuff was brilliant.

[wrimc]

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-negler110208

Top bloke as well this is a must read

[Andypittcov]

The highest compliment I can give him is...

He's mastered himself.

[DIRT SUGAR]

The Archie Moore of his day and I can't throw any higher praise at him than that. He's a one-off who has marched to the beat of his own drum. He is just so comfortable in the ring and aware of what's going on. I thought he was finished after the Jones rematch and why shouldn't he be after so many fights and at his age, but oh no, he regroups, then goes in against a young, athletic fighter in Pascal. The way he messed him up mentally then physically, and in his opponent's back yard, was very impressive. He may not be the most exciting fighter to watch and cleverly bends the rules to get an advantage (only Mayweather comes close in the way he does this) but the way he makes top-notch fighters come down to his level is very clever. A very focused fighter who lives the life and comes prepared at all times.

[gasman]

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-negler110208

Top bloke as well this is a must read

That was the first time I read that - wow, what a story - brilliant kid that Shaun and definitely my impression of BHOP increased even more after reading that. Thanks for the link

[matko]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UX_yRN-VCI plenty of training footage



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUDpxjTNqUM highligh clips

He mastered the basics and not only physically but mentally too!! Another great fighter from this era whoi feel could of held his own in any era!!

[jBacca]

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-negler110208

Top bloke as well this is a must read

Christ, emotional stuff. Inspiring to say the least. Great story.

[King Tubby]

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-negler110208

Top bloke as well this is a must read

Superb that. Thanks

[Chambers2]

Bernard Hopkins is a Legend, it's nothing short of miraculous that he's still competing at the level he is, but he don't half talk some sh!t

[Chris W 1982]

My favourite fighter of all time.

His "Beyond the Glory" feature on HBO is also worth checking out.

[Final round]

Not a fan I'm afraid, I appreciate his achievments, ring nous, taking away opponents advantages, mind games etc but his find his dirty style ugly as hell

[forcefraser]

Obviously Hopkins is a one of a kind fighter, amazing what he has done (and continues to do).

As a bloke, I can`t say I have that much time for him. From what I`ve seen he is not a particulary easy guy to deal with. Very much up his own arse and likes to hear the sound of his own voice.

Like a good number of Yanks, he likes to use words that make no sense and most likely he does not understand. His rantings don`t detract from the fact that he is a brilliant boxer.

I wouldn`t say he is a crowd pleaser though, more an artist who knows how to play his game to perfection.

[Autobarn]

hopkins is not an absolute legend. he cannot even trade punches with the most routine of challengers. ever seen hopkins in an actual exchange of shots? most of his acclaimed performances came in these stupid catchweights designed to preserve "ancient legends" in a jar for a company that struggle to build new talent, and boxing writers can be a sentimental bunch whenever an old timer does something. the man put on an outstanding performance vs tito trinidad, and didn't have another meaningful fight for the next 3 or 4 years.

bernard has a very clever counter punching style, but has been an astonishingly cautious creature, in negotations and in combat. he tried to get the ref replaced, and fought with extreme caution, v old foe robert allen in their 3rd bout. he's great at breaking an opponent's rhythm, but i would struggle to call him a "great fighter." methinks hopkins' approach is far too timid to be compared to someone like hagler.

used to be a massive hopkins supporter, once thought that american counterpunching was the truth, but he ended up a terrible turnoff, refusing to throw enough shots vs taylor, doing same in rematch for cynical payday, hugging winky wright, conning vs calzaghe. he's been in some of the worst fights of all time, and i remember this more than the tarver and tito masterclasses.

this man would not have had the stage he's been on, in any other era.

[Autobarn]

Obviously Hopkins is a one of a kind fighter, amazing what he has done (and continues to do).

As a bloke, I can`t say I have that much time for him. From what I`ve seen he is not a particulary easy guy to deal with. Very much up his own arse and likes to hear the sound of his own voice.
Like a good number of Yanks, he likes to use words that make no sense and most likely he does not understand. His rantings don`t detract from the fact that he is a brilliant boxer.

I wouldn`t say he is a crowd pleaser though, more an artist who knows how to play his game to perfection.

you wouldn't catch him giving a lecture on the dangers of solipism.

[hitman_hatton1]

big chip on his shoulder.

aside from that u gotta admire what he's done.

hope he breaks foreman's record by getting the decision against pascal.

then walk away and await the call from the ibhof.

[jessi]

great fighter, but i hate his approach to people, it must be horrible interviewing him (walking on egg shells) ! its his way or no way, his smiling abit more as he gets older but would hate to have him as a guest, if you disagree with him he gets physical, just like the bunce interview. great fighter though, not a hall of famer in my eyes though !

[Autobarn]

a hall of famer to me, but not a legend.

[stujones]

Yeah, great show. You cannot really dispute Hopkins' run really at Middleweight. It might have come a bit late in his career - but who more really could he have fought. He either fought the men, of people who beat possible rivals.

Sure his "best" wins came against blown up light middles, although for me his best performance was against Joppy. But who else really could he have fought at the weight - he beat the lot really. There was Sturm and a young Abraham maybe - but then DLH beat Sturm and I'm not sure WHEN Hopkins did a number on Abraham there would have been criticisms.

I did like the DLH interview, but wished they could have focused more on the very controvesial fights - such as Trinidad, Mosley etc and his views on Mosley admitting to taking performance enhancers for the rematch.

[greenyox3]

Can't really argue with his achievements; even if his biggest victories were against guys who were in above their own weight class.

But as a person I find it hard to like him. Always difficult to interview, large chip on his shoulder, and if I hear his "I'm from the ghetto, I went to jail, I'm still in touch with the poor people of Philly even though i'm a multi-millionaire" story once more I may throw up. Yeah he may have had a tough life, but you could probably count dozens of fighters who could tell you the same story. Where's their coverage?

But I do like his new bottom teeth. Needs the top ones done as well though.

[reggaereggae]

Can't really argue with his achievements; even if his biggest victories were against guys who were in above their own weight class.

But as a person I find it hard to like him. Always difficult to interview, large chip on his shoulder, and if I hear his "I'm from the ghetto, I went to jail, I'm still in touch with the poor people of Philly even though i'm a multi-millionaire" story once more I may throw up. Yeah he may have had a tough life, but you could probably count dozens of fighters who could tell you the same story. Where's their coverage?

But I do like his new bottom teeth. Needs the top ones done as well though.

YEah I agree - and he seems to blame the 'system' etc for him and others being in prison rather than their own actions.

Hefinds it hard to hide his contempt for people who have effectively paid for his lifestyle. By that I mean white America

[Wrists]

The longer Hopkins goes on still being able to beat/draw with the likes of Pavlik and Pascal the better Calzaghe's win against him looks

[observer1]

The longer Hopkins goes on still being able to beat/draw with the likes of Pavlik and Pascal the better Calzaghe's win against him looks

Just tell us, You're Enzo aint you ?