Hopkins wants Froch

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Richard Schaefer told Dan Rafael that Hopkins is hunting for a fight with Froch. Hopkins is even willing to head over to England to fight Froch - and drop down to super middleweight to do it.

"Bernard Hopkins is interested to fight Froch. Why not? He just knocked out Jermain Taylor. [Golden Boy matchmaker] Eric Gomez spoke to [Froch promoter] Mick Hennessy and Mick is interested. They only want big fights. Bernard Hopkins is a big fight for them. What I have to do is discuss it with Bernard and HBO."

Richard Shaefer, Golden Boy Promotions, April 2009

[fatman]

Hopkins - by schooling

[Ted]

interesting. very interesting.

[Bard of Boxrec]

God, this would be ugly for Froch.

Carl needs to come up with a convincing excuse not to do this, and fast. A good one would be that he's aiming to unify the supermiddles before fighting someone like hopkins.

[states]

Hopkins is even willing to head over to England to fight Froch

Is he bollocks.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Funnily enough I fancy Froch to beat Hopkins. I think the old man would struggle with the pace and strength of Carl. He'd have a bad time of it in the later rounds.

[Bard of Boxrec]

If Hopkins can outbox and befuddle Pavlik, he can dismantle Carl. Froch would have to tighten up his defence and make old Hop work for every second to even have a prayer. If the Hop that fought Pavlik turns up, how can Froch win?

[jamesmcdonnell]

How does that follow.

Pavlik was a natural middleweight who was almost stopped by Taylor.

Styles make fights, and Pavlik just walked straight onto everything that Hopkins threw, Froch is a lot cagier than the rather limited and one paced Pavlik.

[Dioufy]

I think Hopkins beats Froch easily. Too hard to hit. If I was Froch, I would want Abraham, Bute or Pavlik.
All beatable I feel.
Hopkins stops Froch, perhaps.
Too freaking tricky.

[Chambers2]

It's certainly not the fight I'd choose for Carl, but that's not to say Froch can't beat him. I much prefer the Kessler fight or Bute or Miranda/Ward......

[Dioufy]

I don't know how Carl does beat him to be honest.
You need speed and accuracy for Hopkins.
Carl didn't show that Vs Taylor.
Hopkins looked like he had an awesome engine Vs Pavlik.
Froch won't knock Hopkins out.
I really fail to see how Carl would win Vs someone of the ilk of Bernard.
119-109 for Hopkins, even a late stoppage isn't out of the question.
And if he loses, he will look like a cock for failing to beat someone Calzaghe did beat, not in my eyes though.
Take Pavlik - big money and he's probably more one-dimensional than Froch.

[CheckHook]

Surely money will be a huge stumbling block in this fight happening anyway. Hopkins will want a huge slice and no doubt Golden boy will want future options on Froch. Can't see Hennessey or Froch taking the small cut they'll need to in order to make this fight happen.

[Carbo]

Hopkins by KO.

Froch's chin just too, too easy to find. When he throws the left, the right is somewhere about a foot behind and above his right shoulder and his chin is in the air. Froch isn't so fast that Bernard wouldn't be able to slip and counter.

Honestly, unless Bernard slides a great deal, which is always possible at that age, I can't see Froch winning.

[ArtOfWar]

How does that follow.

Pavlik was a natural middleweight who was almost stopped by Taylor.

Styles make fights, and Pavlik just walked straight onto everything that Hopkins threw, Froch is a lot cagier than the rather limited and one paced Pavlik.

No he isn't, what Froch have you been watching. Froch is a straigt ahead fighter with no defense whatsoever. Someone like Hopkins is his worst nightmare. I'd give Froch less of a chance against Hopkins than any other fighter at 175 down including Dawson. Dawson has some amazing skills, but he can be caught and hurt. Hopkins on the other hand has a defense tighter than fort knox.

The fight won't happen anyway, Hopkins will want to much money, because he always does and there won't be enough left to satisfy Froch.

[jammidodger]

stay well away Froch!! go after Kessler or Bute!!

[jamesmcdonnell]

How does that follow.

Pavlik was a natural middleweight who was almost stopped by Taylor.

Styles make fights, and Pavlik just walked straight onto everything that Hopkins threw, Froch is a lot cagier than the rather limited and one paced Pavlik.

No he isn't, what Froch have you been watching. Froch is a straigt ahead fighter with no defense whatsoever. Someone like Hopkins is his worst nightmare. I'd give Froch less of a chance against Hopkins than any other fighter at 175 down including Dawson. Dawson has some amazing skills, but he can be caught and hurt. Hopkins on the other hand has a defense tighter than fort knox.

The fight won't happen anyway, Hopkins will want to much money, because he always does and there won't be enough left to satisfy Froch.

Froch is a counter-puncher naturally, he was forced onto the front foot by Taylor who fought off the back foot, but Froch still prevailed. He would have to do the same against Hopkins.

I'm not saying Froch would win, only that i think he would make it surprisingly difficult for Bernard.

[Carbo]

How does that follow.

Pavlik was a natural middleweight who was almost stopped by Taylor.

Styles make fights, and Pavlik just walked straight onto everything that Hopkins threw, Froch is a lot cagier than the rather limited and one paced Pavlik.

No he isn't, what Froch have you been watching. Froch is a straigt ahead fighter with no defense whatsoever. Someone like Hopkins is his worst nightmare. I'd give Froch less of a chance against Hopkins than any other fighter at 175 down including Dawson. Dawson has some amazing skills, but he can be caught and hurt. Hopkins on the other hand has a defense tighter than fort knox.

The fight won't happen anyway, Hopkins will want to much money, because he always does and there won't be enough left to satisfy Froch.

Froch is a counter-puncher naturally, he was forced onto the front foot by Taylor who fought off the back foot, but Froch still prevailed. He would have to do the same against Hopkins.

I'm not saying Froch would win, only that i think he would make it surprisingly difficult for Bernard.

Hang on a second, though, James. You're saying Froch was forced out of his natural style against Taylor, because Taylor was a counterpuncher, too. But isn't Hopkins a counterpuncher? And isn't Hopkins the best in the world at taking people out of their game plans?

[yiddo14]

Would be a massive ask for Froch. Hopkins is all wrong for him.

Froch's only hope is to stop him and that seems to be impossible.
Mind you, I know Hopkins visited the canvas twice against Mercado, and apparently looked in serious trouble at one stage. Never seen the footage though, can't find it anywhere.

[DavidPayne]

I refer the right-honourable gentleman to the answer given by Zammo in the 1980's.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I'm not saying Froch would win, only that i think he would make it surprisingly difficult for Bernard.[/quote]
Hang on a second, though, James. You're saying Froch was forced out of his natural style against Taylor, because Taylor was a counterpuncher, too. But isn't Hopkins a counterpuncher? And isn't Hopkins the best in the world at taking people out of their game plans?[/quote]

Yes I agree with all that. However, let's not forget that Taylor himself was able to beat Hopkins twice, (whatever you think about the decision), by forcing the old man to work.

Froch is the type of fighter who will do whatever it takes to win - he found a way to win against Taylor, who boxed a very clever fight, and I believe he can do the same against Hopkins.

I think that people are rather being blinded by what he did to Pavlik - Pavlik did little but stand in front of Hopkins, he hardly threw a shot in response. Froch will not do that.

[Adamj1987]

hopkins would kill froch in a bout between em froch needs to be senible and fighting to many people he'd be the underdog against

[jamesmcdonnell]

hopkins would kill froch in a bout between em froch needs to be senible and fighting to many people he'd be the underdog against

I definetly think Froch should fight someone else first, but it's commendable that he wants the best.

[Autobarn]

Hopkins by KO.

Froch's chin just too, too easy to find. When he throws the left, the right is somewhere about a foot behind and above his right shoulder and his chin is in the air. Froch isn't so fast that Bernard wouldn't be able to slip and counter.

Honestly, unless Bernard slides a great deal, which is always possible at that age, I can't see Froch winning.

I can see what you're saying.

Froch would need way more experience, would need to find a mature style to even contemplate somrething like this. He'd have to clean out his division to have an idea how to fight Bernard, and if Froch cleans out his division he'll have taken too much punishment and injury.

However, I do think Froch is better than he looked winning and defending the title. Taylor is "only" 30, a guy with quicksilver speed up at super middle. Hopkins - for all his mastery, and that's a lot - can be a painfully slow starter, is 44, would be weakening himself down at 168 (he didn't look strong v WW at 170 catchweight), and would be in a hostile environment. Without EVERYTHING in his favour, things can go wrong for Bernard.

I don't believe the fight is happening. I think these threads run away when there is probably little likelihood of it happening. If BH would come over here, there would be some kind of catch. Hopkins-Adamek could not agree on money, for instance.

It would be a daft career move to take the fight. Even beating Hopkins, you look like a turd. Losing vs Hopkins, you get set back badly.

[Fatsam]

Someone has to stop hopkins some time, not sure it's going to be froch though.

[Cannibal]

"I'll never lose to 2 white British men!"