Bernard Hopkins: Could 2005 Be His Defining Year?

toney is way too big for BHop man, he can go for Tarver also

Felix Sturm

I doubt he will get taylor or tito in the ring this yr

he wont move up!!

Hopkins is a JOKE if he moves up and I mean it...Both Toney and Tarver can KO Hopkins...

he will not fight toney or tarver!! he is scared to move up. he has had his chances to move up and always backs away!! i think he will fight taylor and trinidad after eastman for sure and maybe one fight next year and then retire. but who know's!! but for sure he won't move up. he had a chagainst ottke, calzaghe, tarver, toney and jones!! he never wanted to though!! lets see what happens!!

WHY THE HELL will Tito KO Nard. How many times do people remind others that Nard beat Tito, shut him out on the scorecards and KO`d his sorry ass. Tito was so dis - heartend by the loss he retired because he couldn`t bare the humilation of the defeat. He musters the courage to return to boxing after over two years out and all of a sudden he is gonna KO Nard, something no one has ever come close too. Please explain what part of the 12 round sickening beating Nard gave Tito, did Tito show the ability to win a round against Nard let alone KO him? Huh, what? I can`t hear you? I said what part of their first fight gives the notion that Tito can win a round against Nard? Please find that dominating moment Tito had so i can see it like you guys that Nard is making a mistake in fighting Tito again. What has Tito done to deserve such a status as to get boxed silly then KO`ed, then retire, come back and suddenly KO that opponent? I still can`t hear you?? Maybe its the dominating win over Oscar De La Hoya? Or his punishing KO win over old Pernell Whitiker? What, he didn`t KO a 35 yr old Coked up Whitiker who lost his next fight by 4th rd KO to a journeyman? I see....this Tito, real fearsome dude, I beat Hopkins is shitting himself as we speak! Bahahaha! *sigh* Ahh.. thanks for that man, your sarcasm had me in stitches at work :) I have no real relevance to add to this thread.. I dont really know Tito and Nard that well, but I'd like to see this fight go ahead.

Lets get real Hopkins will still work Trinidad. Tarver its a toss up in my estimation. As for Hopkins beating Toney not a chance. His punches will do nothing to Toneys iron chin and eventually he will get Koed.

I dont think that b-hop will fight three times this year. i think he will have trouble with eastman. IF and i mean IF he gets by eastman i dont think that he will get past trinidad. and if he does there is no way it will be anything like the 1st fight. if he ever fought tarver and toney i think would remind b-hop why he never moved back up to 168. if he wanted to cement his legacy he would beat eastman, tito, and then roy jones.

WHY THE HELL will Tito KO Nard. How many times do people remind others that Nard beat Tito, shut him out on the scorecards and KO`d his sorry ass. Tito was so dis - heartend by the loss he retired because he couldn`t bare the humilation of the defeat. He musters the courage to return to boxing after over two years out and all of a sudden he is gonna KO Nard, something no one has ever come close too. Please explain what part of the 12 round sickening beating Nard gave Tito, did Tito show the ability to win a round against Nard let alone KO him? Huh, what? I can`t hear you? I said what part of their first fight gives the notion that Tito can win a round against Nard? Please find that dominating moment Tito had so i can see it like you guys that Nard is making a mistake in fighting Tito again. What has Tito done to deserve such a status as to get boxed silly then KO`ed, then retire, come back and suddenly KO that opponent? I still can`t hear you?? Maybe its the dominating win over Oscar De La Hoya? Or his punishing KO win over old Pernell Whitiker? What, he didn`t KO a 35 yr old Coked up Whitiker who lost his next fight by 4th rd KO to a journeyman? I see....this Tito, real fearsome dude, I beat Hopkins is shitting himself as we speak!

This won't be his year because he will fuck it up somehow, just like he has his whole career.

This will not be his defining year, if the aforementioned bouts come through. I think that he will give Eastman a sound outboxing, but Trinidad will put up a much more spirited effort this time around. Trinidad will stop loading up on the hook, will throw his punches just short enough to lose a split decision. As for Tarver, this is where his luck runs out. Tarver is simply a bad style for him, a defensive minded counter puncher who can blow you out with one shot. I think Tarver backs Hopkins up, gets in with quick combos, and beats Hopkins by UD or late stoppage. Toney annhilates Hopkins, but that fight is internet bullshit.

I agree. The feeling is Hopkins was very distracted by Sept 11th when he fought Tito and really didn`t fight that good of a fight. In a rematch i think Hopkins will be probably prepared for Trinidad and be able to beat him quicker. Tito will will do the only thing he can do and the only think he has ever done, he`ll come forward and try to left hook Hopkins out of the match. It beats the Mayora`s and the Joppys but not against the heart of Nard. Hopkins KO 8 Trinidad!

If when you say defining year you mean the year when he finally goes over the hill and his career starts to drift away then yes it will be 2005. Hopkins has been a great champion but he is getting old (correction he is old and it is frankly amazing, at this weight division, that he is what he is - huge credit for that), we saw signs of it against DLH, he ain't going to last much longer - time for the new breed.

Hopkins vs. Tito - Tito (possible KO) Hopkins vs. Tarver - Tarver by KO if he delivers one big punch, otherwise, Hopkins by UD Hopkins vs. Toney - Hopkins by UD, Toney will be too slow after coming down in weight

I figure it all depends on Eastman now. If he screws this one up then he's over. Too old for a comeback.

Hopkins is a great fighter, Since this is his last year, it will probably be big for him

I think Hopkins could give Toney trouble, I think he does have a chance if he fights a very tactical fight.

Id love to see him fight Tarver however fighting Toney would be a huge mistake. There is no way Hopkins can go with Toney.

Hopkins is liekly to face Trinidad because the money is so good. As for Hop moving up in weight and fighting Tarver. At fight time he would be giving up ~ 15 pounds to a guy that is about 4-5 years younger. I don't think the money would be right for Hop to take that. I am soory, but there Hopkins has more a chance of squeezing his left testicle into his right nostril on HBO then fighting James Toney. Sorry dude........ It's funny you say that because the whole idea of him fighting Toney came from this article not from me. http://www.maxboxing.com/Alvarez/Alvarez010905.asp