I think this is the key to B-Hop's success.
http://www.ocregister.com/sports/hopkins-fight-taylor-1780250-wright-career
Hopkins has never blown up in weight between fights. He has said in past interviews that he hasn't had a donut in 20 years. He always looks like he is ready to step in the ring and go 12 rounds.
Hopkins never needed a handler to knock on his door at 4:30 a.m. to get up and do his road work. He doesn't even need an alarm clock. His inner clock gets him up at the crack of dawn to run.
"That is a profound discipline that I've followed over 20, well, over 15-20 years of my career," he said.
Hopkins admires a lot of fighters from boxing's golden age, but he said he tried to emulate Marvelous Marvin Hagler early in his career.
"When I took a page out of his book of discipline, of always coming in shape, never having an excuse, no one ever expected any guy like him to not be in shape whether he won or lost a fight, and that's the great Marvin Hagler," Hopkins said. "The most disciplined fighter of my era; the most profound work habits that this guy had."
I can clearly see the comparison and I think it's no coinscidence that prior to Hopkins being my favorite fighter of the last 10 years, my previous favorite was Hagler. I really think Bernard is cut from the same cloth that Marvin was and they just don't make fighters like that anymore. That's why I'll be really sad to see Hopkins go. And I don't think Hopkins' true grit will ever be appreciated until years after he is gone.
Hagler's destruction of Hearns while short was a masterpiece. As was Hopkins' destrution of Trinidad. I wonder what Hagler thinks of Hopkins?
They have their similarities and differences. The blue-collar gym rat with the Philly background (even if Hagler was from Mass, he had some important fights in Philly). They're both complete fighters who could fight inside and outside. Hopkins is a little slicker and quicker. Hagler had the heavier hands, a better jab, and beat more quality MWs on the way to the title. Hagler is a little more proven in his success in brawling against big punchers. Hopkins could trade, but the Hearns fight and latter rounds versus Mugabi showed more brawling success than I've seen Hopkins have. Hopkins is probably the better tactician in there.
Hagler has seemed respectful of Hopkins.
I can clearly see the comparison and I think it's no coinscidence that prior to Hopkins being my favorite fighter of the last 10 years, my previous favorite was Hagler. I really think Bernard is cut from the same cloth that Marvin was and they just don't make fighters like that anymore. That's why I'll be really sad to see Hopkins go. And I don't think Hopkins' true grit will ever be appreciated until years after he is gone.
Hagler's destruction of Hearns while short was a masterpiece. As was Hopkins' destrution of Trinidad. I wonder what Hagler thinks of Hopkins?
Too bad he fights nothing like Hagler did. Marvin Hagler was a monster in the ring. His 3 round war with Thomas Hearns, showed his complete arsenal. He took out John Mugabi, an undefeated KO specialist.
After his draw with Vito Antuofermo, Hagler was never the same, vowing to not leave it in the judges hands anymore.
Hopkins isn't that kind of fighter, he walks, talks, and acts like he is.
But when he gets in the ring, he's a boxer.
With all that being said, I hope he can find a way to KO
Ronald Wright.
So was Hagler.
The Hearns fight was going away from his usual style. He boxed the early rounds versus Mugabi, then beat him up on the inside in the latter rounds, all the while jabbing the Beast silly.
Hopkins in his younger days mixed it up more, then became more of a conservative boxer in his latter years. Hagler is sort of the opposite where he was mostly a boxer-puncher, but brawled more toward the end of his career.
Too bad he fights nothing like Hagler did. Marvin Hagler was a monster in the ring. His 3 round war with Thomas Hearns, showed his complete arsenal. He took out John Mugabi, an undefeated KO specialist.
After his draw with Vito Antuofermo, Hagler was never the same, vowing to not leave it in the judges hands anymore.
Hopkins isn't that kind of fighter, he walks, talks, and acts like he is.
But when he gets in the ring, he's a boxer.
With all that being said, I hope he can find a way to KO
Ronald Wright.
they don't make em' like haggler no more
Too bad he fights nothing like Hagler did. Marvin Hagler was a monster in the ring. His 3 round war with Thomas Hearns, showed his complete arsenal. He took out John Mugabi, an undefeated KO specialist.
After his draw with Vito Antuofermo, Hagler was never the same, vowing to not leave it in the judges hands anymore.
Hopkins isn't that kind of fighter, he walks, talks, and acts like he is.
But when he gets in the ring, he's a boxer.
With all that being said, I hope he can find a way to KO
Ronald Wright.
I believe him too...I mean, he's 42 and yet at this stage of him fighting...u'd think he'd lose something...and he's never lost any skill unlike Jones...its just that he takes his time now in the ring...
him and floyd are probably the 2 biggest gym rats...