BoxRec

http://www.BS.com/?m=show&opt= ... e&id=94834

By Victor Salazar

Bernard Hopkins, 50-years-old, was recently ordered to face undefeated hot prospect Artur Beterbiev in a final IBF light heavyweight eliminator to face Sergey Kovalev for the 175 pound IBF World title. Hopkins has been inactive since losing a twelve round decision to Kovalev last year.

Hopkins passed on the opportunity to face Beterbiev, because he so no reason to face the up and comer and said his decision to turn down the fight had nothing to do with Beterbiev being managed by Al Haymon or the association with Premier Boxing Champions.

At he moment, Hopkins has placed his full focus on facing WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham. Hopkins captured titles at middleweight and light heavyweight, but never won a world title at 168 as he jumped directly from 160 to 175 when he decisioned Antonio Tarver in 2007.

“It’s no politics [on why I turned him down],” Hopkins said to BS.com. “I represented the IBF 20 times, it was the first title I won. I think on this stage the Beterbiev fight means nothing to me because not only is there a title involved with Abraham but there is prestige involved with winning a title at 168-pounds. Abraham has that notoriety here and fans know him here like they know him in Europe. It was an obvious choice."


This sorta makes the myth of Haymon not wanting to work with any other promotional companies especially Golden Boy seem like a lie.

Why would Hopkins want to fight in an eliminator to fight someone who had already easily beaten him?

Stop whining about nothing!

Seems like an obvious choice to me too. Why would he fight in an eliminator for the right to fight Kovalev again?

Yep. He knows he can't beat kovalev and he has a good chance of outsmarting Abraham.

He's not running scared, he's just wanting easier fights now.

I guess he doesn't want to let *another* "white boy" beat him.

I don't think Bernard wanted to fight a guy like him for his last fight. I don't blame him. Most top level boxers retire 10-12 years before B Hop plan on. He could fight a .500 fighter and I wouldn't mind. For his health sake I wish he would just retire. Nothing else to prove, no shame on going out on a loss to a guy like Kovalev at his advanced age. `

CrazyHorse wrote:I don't think Bernard wanted to fight a guy like him for his last fight. I don't blame him. Most top level boxers retire 10-12 years before B Hop plan on. He could fight a .500 fighter and I wouldn't mind. For his health sake I wish he would just retire. Nothing else to prove, no shame on going out on a loss to a guy like Kovalev at his advanced age. `

X 1,000

No point in fighting him ? be a better fight with Abraham just for his legacy at least anyway as it's winnable.

I don't get why he's so hot to fight Abraham anyway. Is it just so he can go down and grab a belt in another weight class?

jujigatame wrote:I don't get why he's so hot to fight Abraham anyway. Is it just so he can go down and grab a belt in another weight class?

Perfect way of finishing his career don't you think?

Rexob wrote:

jujigatame wrote:I don't get why he's so hot to fight Abraham anyway. Is it just so he can go down and grab a belt in another weight class?

Perfect way of finishing his career don't you think?

Meh, I don't really care much about ABC belts so it's hard to get too excited about it. I'd rather see him clown Chavez. More interest and entertainment there, IMO.

I don't think BHop beats Abraham at this point. Maybe if King Arthur was going up to light heavy, but I don't see Bernard as much threat at 168. That extra weight cut at his age could be brutal.

Horse wrote:Why would Hopkins want to fight in an eliminator to fight someone who had already easily beaten him?

Stop whining about nothing!

Who's whining? This was an article written by someone else and all I did was ask a question, no need to get so defensive I'm a BHop fan too.

We should show B-HOP respect considering what he has achieved....................... dodging fighter's please

Maybe the Kovalev loss was a fluke and he'd school him in a rematch like many predicted the first time around.

Maybe he'd school everyone. You can't say his name without mentioning the word.....school, school, school.

crusader wrote:Maybe the Kovalev loss was a fluke and he'd school him in a rematch like many predicted the first time around.

Maybe he'd school everyone. You can't say his name without mentioning the word.....school, school, school.

I very much doubt it. Bernard knows when he's licked.

ClivePatrickLyons wrote:We should show B-HOP respect considering what he has achieved....................... dodging fighter's please

Kovalev did the most damage he did in the last round but people act as if he was beating Bhop badly the entire fight, but I just think that Hopkins found it wise to avoid fighting another fighter who hits just as hard as Sergey and is just as busy and relentless as him too.

BHop we all know has nothing to prove, would he have faced BB if he hadn't faced Kova first, i believe he absolutely would've because we know he doesn't duck anyone but there's no shame in him not facing a deadly puncher at his current/advanced age after the way he was getting hammered in the last round of his previous bout.

But sergey also didn't kick his offense into high gear until that last round. In a rematch he'd likely realize he could pummel Bernard all he wanted.

What a freaking joke! All I had to read is: 'Bernard Hopkins, 50-years-old, was recently ordered to face".....


No one orders BHop to face anyone, unless they are brand new in the game or outright stupid, imo.

Running scared? Did you seriously pose this question? I'm not surprised at the disrespect shown to a legend like Bhop when you consider the OP's track record and lack of love for the sport. Only he could accuse a 50 year old boxer of "running scared" when he chooses to fight for a title instead of an eliminator fight. A new level of dumb OP, nice work.

Dang.
If BHop beats Abraham some good fights to be made. Ward, Groves and Degale...

Hopkins has been fighting bigger guys for years. Now he wants to fight somebody of his size, and he is running scared ? Then Mayweather is running scared of Lara, Andrade and Golovkin @154.

Hopkins is a legend,he sure lives the life,a consumate professional,i bet even if he still fought in another 5 years he'd still always make weight unlike some of the pros today

Unfortunately, Abraham will likely not take the Hopkins fight. He is going after Sturm now which is pathetic, because Sturm has 0-1-1 record at 168.

ikorolev wrote:Unfortunately, Abraham will likely not take the Hopkins fight. He is going after Sturm now which is pathetic, because Sturm has 0-1-1 record at 168.

Ward, Chudinov/Buglioni, DeGale, Jack/Groves all fun title match ups at 168...