Mr. Beelzebub
08-24-2004, 11:27 AM
Hopkins: De La Hoya is loco!
August 23, 2004
from: www.*********.com
By Matthew B. Cleary III
A little less than a month before his highly anticipated showdown to unify the four major belts in the middleweight division against Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins took time out from his training schedule to meet with the press at the South Florida Boxing Gym in Miami Beach, Florida.
Hopkins said, “My training is going well. I am in the city of Miami, which offers a lot of temptation, but I am not losing focus on the big picture. I am in bed by eight, up by five, and running five miles a day. I have sparred over a hundred rounds so far.”
Hopkins did not give away many secrets to the media, but he did say one thing, “The key to this fight is not going to be power. It is going to be one word, and that one word is speed.” Hopkins compared De La Hoya and Trinidad, saying, “De La Hoya is different. Tito was one dimensional. This is much more like the Leonard and Hagler comparison.”
On the promotion of the fight Hopkins said, “It is hard to find a villain in this match. De La Hoya has never dissed another fighter. He has a laid back, Golden Boy style. Look at the Vargas fight. Vargas said he was not a true Mexican, but then in the ring, Oscar showed he was what he was said not to be.”
Speaking about his own management and his split from promoter Don King, Hopkins said, “I am self-managed, and self-promoted, I have escaped the claws of Don King with a heartbeat and a pulse.” He compared himself to De La Hoya saying “I am the undisputed champion. We are two individuals who have overcome different types of adversity. He lost his mother before the Olympics; I have done time and risen from the streets of Philadelphia.”
Hopkins also commented on the attacks that he has not done enough with his career since the victory over Felix Trinidad saying, “I have no regrets. I am a big Frank Sinatra fan. I did it my way, just like the song. It is easy not to give a guy his credit to have patience to go to the well.”
On the sanctioning bodies Hopkins said, “The chickens are the WBC, WBA, and IBF. They are the money making belts and they create the publicity. I am like Noah. The media did not foresee my vision. Look in the archives; you would think I am a fortune teller.”
On the specifics of the fight with De La Hoya, Hopkins said, “He is not a knockout puncher. I have a great chin and I can close the fight at any time.” Commenting on Oscar De La Hoya’s comments that he could foresee dying in the ring if he wasn’t in great shape Hopkins said, “De La Hoya is anticipating on living, not on winning. If he wants to live, he will be in shape to run, to run, and to run.”
On the lackluster fight Oscar had with Felix Sturm, Hopkins said, “De La Hoya will be committing suicide to fight me the way he fought Felix Sturm in June. He underestimated Sturm. The fight with Sturm was a blueprint for me not to train, but I will not fall into that trap. On September 18th, Oscar De La Hoya will be my 19th victim.”
Finally he had a word in Spanish for Oscar De La Hoya. He said, “Oscar you are loco for fighting me.”
August 23, 2004
from: www.*********.com
By Matthew B. Cleary III
A little less than a month before his highly anticipated showdown to unify the four major belts in the middleweight division against Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins took time out from his training schedule to meet with the press at the South Florida Boxing Gym in Miami Beach, Florida.
Hopkins said, “My training is going well. I am in the city of Miami, which offers a lot of temptation, but I am not losing focus on the big picture. I am in bed by eight, up by five, and running five miles a day. I have sparred over a hundred rounds so far.”
Hopkins did not give away many secrets to the media, but he did say one thing, “The key to this fight is not going to be power. It is going to be one word, and that one word is speed.” Hopkins compared De La Hoya and Trinidad, saying, “De La Hoya is different. Tito was one dimensional. This is much more like the Leonard and Hagler comparison.”
On the promotion of the fight Hopkins said, “It is hard to find a villain in this match. De La Hoya has never dissed another fighter. He has a laid back, Golden Boy style. Look at the Vargas fight. Vargas said he was not a true Mexican, but then in the ring, Oscar showed he was what he was said not to be.”
Speaking about his own management and his split from promoter Don King, Hopkins said, “I am self-managed, and self-promoted, I have escaped the claws of Don King with a heartbeat and a pulse.” He compared himself to De La Hoya saying “I am the undisputed champion. We are two individuals who have overcome different types of adversity. He lost his mother before the Olympics; I have done time and risen from the streets of Philadelphia.”
Hopkins also commented on the attacks that he has not done enough with his career since the victory over Felix Trinidad saying, “I have no regrets. I am a big Frank Sinatra fan. I did it my way, just like the song. It is easy not to give a guy his credit to have patience to go to the well.”
On the sanctioning bodies Hopkins said, “The chickens are the WBC, WBA, and IBF. They are the money making belts and they create the publicity. I am like Noah. The media did not foresee my vision. Look in the archives; you would think I am a fortune teller.”
On the specifics of the fight with De La Hoya, Hopkins said, “He is not a knockout puncher. I have a great chin and I can close the fight at any time.” Commenting on Oscar De La Hoya’s comments that he could foresee dying in the ring if he wasn’t in great shape Hopkins said, “De La Hoya is anticipating on living, not on winning. If he wants to live, he will be in shape to run, to run, and to run.”
On the lackluster fight Oscar had with Felix Sturm, Hopkins said, “De La Hoya will be committing suicide to fight me the way he fought Felix Sturm in June. He underestimated Sturm. The fight with Sturm was a blueprint for me not to train, but I will not fall into that trap. On September 18th, Oscar De La Hoya will be my 19th victim.”
Finally he had a word in Spanish for Oscar De La Hoya. He said, “Oscar you are loco for fighting me.”