This has to be the perfect time for B-Hop to retire

Despite his recent ups (and downs), hanging em' up after this fight would a perfect way for a legend like Bernard to go out. Ask yourself this; how could B-hop ever top this moment if he continued to fight? If he keeps fighting, he will win some and lose some, losing more often the longer he stays in the game. He just schooled the mw champ, the conqueror of Taylor, and a hard hitting phenomenon 17 years his junior. If he leaves now he: A) gets to go out at the top of his game, after a bravura performance (and possibly his most impressive victory in a long career) B) gets to leave with his health intact (hopefully) C) will cap his career with an awesome upset on roughly the 20th anniversary of his first fight (and first loss) D) Could potentially train Kelly Pavlik or other fighters, and add to his legacy in that way. I've been ragging on Hopkins for his dull performances recently,yet I'd be excited to see him fight again after this. Nevertheless, I can see little reason now for Hopkins to go on fighting; I think he's already achieved everything he needs to, it can only downhill from here on out. What can he follow this with? Eeking out a close decision against Calzaghe? Fighting an over the hill Jones Jr (who is MUCH worse for wear than Hopkins)? Losing or winning a SD against Dawson? This is the high that Hopkins needs to go out on. If he fights again though, I will surely be watching. Thoughts?

Comments (6)

daggum

get revenge against calzaghe. some people look at boxrec and actually think joe won.

17y ago

MANGLER

I'm all for the greats retirin wit a big win, but I wanna see Bernard fight again. He definitley needs to go after the November LHW winner, especially if it's Roy.

17y ago

pfcwintergreen

Honestly, NO...why retire when your still more then capable of beating the top guyz out there. SRL/Duran/EM were gettin their ass beat before they decided to retire...I've yet to see B-Hop get his ass beat Why wait until you are getting your ass beat? Why not go with dignity and a W like Lennox Lewis or Marciano? Duran especially is a guy who should have gone out much, much, much earlier. For instance, after his last great performance against Iran Barkley. He's proved everything, has his health, and has what is probably going to be his last great victory(whether he retires or not). I for one hate seeing once-great fighters hanging on until they start getting pounded (Ali, Duran, Holyfield etc). Its not good for the fighters, and its not good for the spectators.

17y ago

BennyST

Agreed. I thought that if B-Hop can pull this out then he needs to retire. If Pavlik goes on to big things this will make him that much greater a legend, whereas if he goes out with a loss, which is inevitable if he keeps going on then it will tarnish everything he just did. He should definitely retire. Nothing better than a fighter going out whilst at the top of a great peaking comeback to show how good he truly was and could have been if he'd even decided to go on further.

17y ago

Silencers

Beating the winner of Calzaghe-Jones could top it, maybe a fight and a win over Dawson would top it as well but if he can't get these fights, he should retire.

17y ago

Motofan

If Im Hopkins, I wait to see if Roy can somehow beat Calzaghe. If Roy wins, then make the rematch. I think at this point Hopkins would stop Roy. If Roy loses to Joe, then I would call it a career.

17y ago