Where now for B-Hop?

[Horse]

Hopkins said that he will not fight some Joe Schmoe which Murray is.

Not if he beats Golovkin. He'll be the real main man at middleweight.

[Horse]

Did he? By better im guessing you mean he managed to survive the full 12 rounds. Other than that he was completely dominated.

Who has done better then?

[Horse]

Darnell Boone (first fight)

That's not really recent though is it? That was over 4 years ago now.

[Horse]

You asked a question and I answered it.

I was responding to a post that was talking about Kovalev's recent opposition. Do your research.

By the way, the CompuBox punch stats seem to support my stance that Hopkins is a shot fighter:
• Bernard Hopkins landed five or less punches in seven of the twelve rounds against Sergey Kovalev. He could only manage to land thee shots during rounds 1, 2 & 9.
• The total amount of punches he connected with for the entire first three rounds is the same as he managed in the 12th round (i.e. ten shots).
• Excluding the final round (where his work-rate was roughly four times higher than normal), Hopkins threw an average of 14 punches per round (in comparison to Kovalev’s 49 shot average).
• Kovalev managed to land 186% more punches against Hopkins than Shumenov.
• Kovalev managed to land 81% more power punches against Hopkins than Shumenov.
• Marco Antonio Rubio managed to land the same amount of punches in the first round against Gennady Golovkin than what Hopkins could manage throughout the entire first four rounds against Kovalev.
• Bernard Hopkins only managed to connect with one solitary jab for five of the twelve rounds.
• Hopkins could only manage to land an average of FIVE punches per round.

That doesn't show that Hopkins is shot.

[amwsnw]

I'd pay to see Bhop v Stevenson and I would think he stands a very good chance of victory - styles make fights. But I hope he retires.

[Horse]

Agreed, but these statistics are an accurate reflection of my perception of Hopkins’ performance against Kovalev that I personally witnessed, as he simply didn’t fight back – he was purely in survival mode.

Put it this way, CompuBox states that the average work-rate for a light heavyweight fighter is throwing 54.1 punches per round, but Hopkins could only manage 14.

When a fighter cannot throw punches and he’s on the receiving end of many more than what he’s accustomed to, then it’s time to hang up the gloves.

Sometimes fighters really do grow old overnight… and unfortunately, that’s what happened to Hopkins.

That being said, I’m not criticising Sergey Kovalev or trying to undermine his victory. He was the consummate professional because he demonstrated patience and was disciplined enough to stick to his game-plan. Sergey can only beat the man that he shares the ring with, so I can’t fault his performance in any way.

Hopkins’ performance against Kovalev was much akin to witnessing James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith’s appalling efforts against Mike Tyson… they were both very negative and purely focussed on going the distance.

He was fighting Kovalev, not some bum. Struggling to throw a lot of punches against a guy who can take his head off, doesn't mean he is shot.

[Evander]

If Bernard Hopkins wants to continue his career and pick up some more paycheques he could do so with no problem, he can fight 2 or 3 gimmes and still be in good standing.
He's already a made guy and can do pretty much what he wants.

[JCS]

http://www.BS.com/hopkins-movi ... ion--84138

Hopkins will be back for one more... sounds like he'll fight a 168lb champion at a catch weight... or he's moving down to fight a 160lb champion at a catch near 168?

[ikorolev]

Some articles explicitly mention GGG:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/box ... _bout.html

[Evander]

^
Contemplating a GGG v Hopkins fight can only be seen as a huge mark of respect for a 49 year old Bernard.

[MachoTime]

^
Contemplating a GGG v Hopkins fight can only be seen as a huge mark of respect for a 49 year old Bernard.

Respect for taking a brutal beating by GGG.

[Evander]

The legacy points Bernard Hopkins is chalking up will leave him way out in front of anybody else for the last 30+ years when he eventually retires.

[Evander]

Just to add :)

Going 12 full rounds and losing everyone of them doesn't sound worth mentioning.
For Bernard Hopkins and what he was up against buys him respect when all is taking into consideration.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Everything points towards Froch being the ideal opponent for this, given everything Hopkins has said, and I'm shocked noone's mentioned it. It also works for Froch's plans as well.

Think about it.

Moving down a division? Check

Bout with champion? Well, Ward is unavailable and Froch has belts, so check, Bernard can spin this one

Underdog? I would think so, check, although others might disagree. I think Froch can outwork Hop without landing a great deal but just throwing a lot.

And why it works for Froch: Final fight against legend, possible marquee event he has been looking for, more of a challenge than Chavez, Hopkins is beatable, Hopkins won't knock him out or cause him damage before retirement.

Why it works in general: The whole 'Their final fight' marketing angle, they could even make it at a catchweight to suit both guys, maybe 171 or something.

The stars align, surely?

[Ian1973]

Everything points towards Froch being the ideal opponent for this, given everything Hopkins has said, and I'm shocked noone's mentioned it. It also works for Froch's plans as well.

I doubt that Froch would be willing to consider facing Hopkins (as there are better options out there for him), but if he did, he would dominate the cagey veteran with ease… a stance I’ve maintained for several years.

If you watch the tactics Froch employed against Arthur Abraham, coupled with his work-rate during the Kessler rematch, then I really have no idea whatsoever how Hopkins would be able to cope with dodging an average of 87 heavy-handed punches per round, using tactics that are fairly similar to how Kovalev fought last Saturday.

Hopkins has always wanted to fight Carl Froch, probably because it would allow him to earn a career-high payday, but I’m confident that the man from Nottingham could earn much more money competing against the likes of Kessler or DeGale (assuming the Chavez Jr. bout falls through due to contractual issues). So I doubt that we’ll get to see a Froch-Hopkins fight.

Don't agree at all I'd fancy Hopkins to beat Froch. Froch is hard but he's slow, one dimensional and tailor-made for those with a boxing brain to outbox him. Hopkins on points.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Everything points towards Froch being the ideal opponent for this, given everything Hopkins has said, and I'm shocked noone's mentioned it. It also works for Froch's plans as well.

I doubt that Froch would be willing to consider facing Hopkins (as there are better options out there for him), but if he did, he would dominate the cagey veteran with ease… a stance I’ve maintained for several years.

If you watch the tactics Froch employed against Arthur Abraham, coupled with his work-rate during the Kessler rematch, then I really have no idea whatsoever how Hopkins would be able to cope with dodging an average of 87 heavy-handed punches per round, using tactics that are fairly similar to how Kovalev fought last Saturday.

Hopkins has always wanted to fight Carl Froch, probably because it would allow him to earn a career-high payday, but I’m confident that the man from Nottingham could earn much more money competing against the likes of Kessler or DeGale (assuming the Chavez Jr. bout falls through due to contractual issues). So I doubt that we’ll get to see a Froch-Hopkins fight.

Don't agree at all I'd fancy Hopkins to beat Froch. Froch is hard but he's slow, one dimensional and tailor-made for those with a boxing brain to outbox him. Hopkins on points.

I would agree if Bernard threw more punches. At this stage, I think he just gets outworked. Fergus, the concept of Froch stopping Hopkins and doing what Kovalev couldn't is laughable though.

[Perseus]

Everything points towards Froch being the ideal opponent for this, given everything Hopkins has said, and I'm shocked noone's mentioned it. It also works for Froch's plans as well.

I doubt that Froch would be willing to consider facing Hopkins (as there are better options out there for him), but if he did, he would dominate the cagey veteran with ease… a stance I’ve maintained for several years.

If you watch the tactics Froch employed against Arthur Abraham, coupled with his work-rate during the Kessler rematch, then I really have no idea whatsoever how Hopkins would be able to cope with dodging an average of 87 heavy-handed punches per round, using tactics that are fairly similar to how Kovalev fought last Saturday.

Hopkins has always wanted to fight Carl Froch, probably because it would allow him to earn a career-high payday, but I’m confident that the man from Nottingham could earn much more money competing against the likes of Kessler or DeGale (assuming the Chavez Jr. bout falls through due to contractual issues). So I doubt that we’ll get to see a Froch-Hopkins fight.

lol.
For the DLH fight Hopkins was guaranteed 10 million before ppv payouts and probably raked in another few million after ppv money came in. DLH/Hopkins topped a million buys.
No way he makes anything close to that for a fight with Froch.

[JCS]

Everything points towards Froch being the ideal opponent for this, given everything Hopkins has said, and I'm shocked noone's mentioned it. It also works for Froch's plans as well.

To 168... try to goad Froch into a fight and cash out in England, guns blazing. I think he could guile and counterpunch his way through Froch's sloppy, slow punches, unless he is completely spent which I wouldn't doubt based on last night's fight.

[jujigatame]

Froch/Hopkins would not sell diddly squat in PPVs, at least not here in the states.

[baron_otto]

I don't see Froch wanting this. I strongly suspect its a tougher fight than many assume and Froch won't look good even if he wins. He can get a big payday, look good and not have to deal with the rough treatment Hopkins will bring if he fights someone else.

[Horse]

I don't see Froch wanting this. I strongly suspect its a tougher fight than many assume and Froch won't look good even if he wins. He can get a big payday, look good and not have to deal with the rough treatment Hopkins will bring if he fights someone else.

But Hopkins does far more for his legacy.

Calzaghe's best wins were against Kessler and Hopkins. Froch should be aiming to surpass Calzaghe and beating Hopkins would help with that.

[palooka]

I don't think beating this version of Hopkins will persuade anyone that Froch is a better champion than Calzaghe - he may as well box Jones Jnr.

(To gain the utmost recognition Froch ought to rematch Ward and beat him, as that's not likely he should forget about 'legacy' etc and box Chavez Jnr in a big Vegas bout that would most likely be fight of the year - he'd likely win, he'd get the Yanks on side and he could swan off into the sunset loaded, with his marbles intact and with the fans calling for more.

[Horse]

I don't think beating this version of Hopkins will persuade anyone that Froch is a better champion than Calzaghe - he may as well box Jones Jnr.

(To gain the utmost recognition Froch ought to rematch Ward and beat him, as that's not likely he should forget about 'legacy' etc and box Chavez Jnr in a big Vegas bout that would most likely be fight of the year - he'd likely win, he'd get the Yanks on side and he could swan off into the sunset loaded, with his marbles intact and with the fans calling for more.

Hopkins would be a very big win for Froch, it would very positively add to Froch's record and significantly increase his ATG ranking.

Froch has the chance to beat an ATG and Hopkins is still credible. I suggest he takes it.

Chavez Jr. is not a proven world level super middleweight, it is not an interesting fight.

[palooka]

Beating an ATG means different things depending on when the fight is held; Hopkins is an ATG and he is almost 50 years old having just been beaten out of sight. If Froch were to beat Hopkins now many would say, with some validity, that he beat an old and way past his prime ATG.

Though Chavez Jnr lacks eminence what he does have is a pretty basic, fan pleasing style, strength, guts and a fantastic chin and he has a big fan base - quite similar to Froch.

Just my opinion obviously.

[Horse]

Beating an ATG means different things depending on when the fight is held; Hopkins is an ATG and he is almost 50 years old having just been beaten out of sight. If Froch were to beat Hopkins now many would say, with some validity, that he beat an old and way past his prime ATG.

Hopkins is still clearly world class though. Beating Hopkins would be a great win. Hopkins should have a comeback win before he fights another top level opponent though.

Though Chavez Jnr lacks eminence what he does have is a pretty basic, fan pleasing style, strength, guts and a fantastic chin and he has a big fan base - quite similar to Froch.

Just my opinion obviously.

He's a great risk vs reward opponent, but he would only just qualify as one of Froch's top 10 wins, at No. 10. Hopkins would arguably be Froch's best win. Chavez Jr. is not a very credible opponent, Hopkins is.