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by Cliff Rold - It’s hard not watch Bernard Hopkins with a little bit of awe.
In the 1990s, Roberto Duran challenged William Joppy for Middleweight belt at the age of 47. It was a disgusting spectacle, Duran stopped in three. Evander Holyfield has been beaten multiple times past the age of 40, for titles and not, against Heavyweights who likely couldn’t have laced his shoes in his prime.
That’s the way it usually goes. A fighter ages, elects to keep fighting, and adds losses to their record that no one thinks the ‘real’ them would ever have had.
Every once in a while, a fighter hangs around and keeps winning. Hopkins has hung around and then some, winning titles at Light Heavyweight three times including a lineal championship win over Jean Pascal in 2011 to become the oldest legitimate world champion in boxing history.
There’s been much to celebrate about Hopkins run at Light Heavyweight and plenty to ponder about how much it elevates him in the pantheon of the greats. One question that doesn’t seem to come up much is this:
Has Bernard Hopkins faced tougher competition after 40 years of age than he did before?
The question is not to be confused with whether he was a better fighter after 40. Watching today’s Hopkins, in contrast to the fighter he was at Middleweight against Felix Trinidad, reveals some of the subtle adjustments age brings to bear. He’s not as offensive now, nor as quick. [Click Here To Read More]
In the 1990s, Roberto Duran challenged William Joppy for Middleweight belt at the age of 47. It was a disgusting spectacle, Duran stopped in three. Evander Holyfield has been beaten multiple times past the age of 40, for titles and not, against Heavyweights who likely couldn’t have laced his shoes in his prime.
That’s the way it usually goes. A fighter ages, elects to keep fighting, and adds losses to their record that no one thinks the ‘real’ them would ever have had.
Every once in a while, a fighter hangs around and keeps winning. Hopkins has hung around and then some, winning titles at Light Heavyweight three times including a lineal championship win over Jean Pascal in 2011 to become the oldest legitimate world champion in boxing history.
There’s been much to celebrate about Hopkins run at Light Heavyweight and plenty to ponder about how much it elevates him in the pantheon of the greats. One question that doesn’t seem to come up much is this:
Has Bernard Hopkins faced tougher competition after 40 years of age than he did before?
The question is not to be confused with whether he was a better fighter after 40. Watching today’s Hopkins, in contrast to the fighter he was at Middleweight against Felix Trinidad, reveals some of the subtle adjustments age brings to bear. He’s not as offensive now, nor as quick. [Click Here To Read More]
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