By Rick Reeno
MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Former undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, who in 2006 made a 15 pound jump in weight to challenge IBO light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver, believes WBA/IBO/IBF middleweight king Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (35-0, 32KOs) should make a similar leap in weight.
Hopkins last fought in the fall of 2014, when he lost a twelve round decision to IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight Sergey Kovalev (29-0-1, 26KOs).
In the opinion of Hopkins, Golovkin should go up and fight Kovalev, either at 175-pounds or a catch-weight.
That fight would be a tough consideration for 2016, with Kovalev already contracted to face Andre Ward in the fall. Kovalev also defends his title next month against Isaac Chilemba in Russia.
"How many times has a fight been signed and not happened? Are fans going to complain if they don't get Kovalev and Ward, and instead get Kovalev and Golovkin," Hopkins said.
"Nobody wants to fight these guys, so let them fight each other. I did it. I went from middleweight to light heavyweight to fight Antonio Tarver. Am I inhuman or something? I know I call myself the 'Alien.' There shouldn't be any excuses."
"Let Golovkin go up a few pounds and let Kovalev come down a few pounds, so they are both risking something. Maybe they do it at 168, maybe 167, 169 or 170. Everyone forgets that when I fought Winky Wright, that was a catch-weight. I came down five pounds. I didn't have to do that. When I fought Kelly Pavlik, everyone forgets that was a catch-weight."
Hopkins is a partner in Golden Boy Promotions, who guide the career of WBC middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.
If Canelo defeats Amir Khan on Saturday night in Las Vegas, he will be ordered by the World Boxing Council to face Golovkin in the fall.
A Canelo-Golovkin contest appears unlikely at the moment, at least for 2016, based on Canelo's position that Golovkin should come down to a catch-weight of 155-pounds.
