Bernard Hopkins: "I Will Put Roy Jones Jr. To Sleep"

By Mark Vester

Some people still can't believe it. Sixteen-years later, Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. are ready to get in the ring to fight for a second time. The first bout in May of 1993 was won by Jones via a twelve round decision to pick up the vacant IBF middleweight title. Last week they finally signed the necessary documents for a second meeting in the first quarter of 2010. Jones still has to beat IBO cruiserweight champion Danny Green on December 2 in Austalia. Hopkins plans to have a tuneup fight in Philadelphia, also on December 2.

The fighters agreed on a light heavyweight bout with 50-50 deal that includes a knockout clause. The winner, if by knockout, would receive 60% of the money, and the loser would get 40%. 

Hopkins told the Philadelphia Daily News that he plans to finish Jones off by handing him another knockout loss.

"I'm willing to gamble on myself. I'm not saying I can't get knocked out, but nobody's done it yet. Roy Jones has been knocked out, twice. I'm going to put him to sleep, too," Hopkins said.

He told the paper that he doesn't want an easy tuneup either. Hopkins wants to take on someone who is willing to fight back and make him work. He plans to donate all of the money from his December bout to charity.

"I want it to be against a credible guy who will stand in there and fight back," Hopkins said.

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