Name another over 40 fighter who could do what Hopkins did last Saturday

[Kid McCoy]

Name another over 40 fighter who could do what Hopkins did to Pavlik last Saturday, or an opponet like Pavlik. An undefeated KO artist, reigning Middleweight Champion, 17 years his Junior.

One of the key matches that comes to mind is Foreman/Moorer, but honestly, there's no comparison in terms of skill.

George Foreman was losing every round of that fight against Moorer, had it not been for the 1 punch that knocked Moorer out, he would've lost a shutout on the cards.

On the other hand you've got a 43 year old Hopkins, facing Pavlik. Now I'll admit that Pavlik is a flawed fighter, and certainly not in the same league as Hopkins as far as technical talent goes.

But he does have a 17 year age advantage, a significant power advantage, a stamina advantage, and a small height advantage.

And Hopkins pitched a near pefect shutout. (I gave Kelly 1 round.)

Tell me anybody else who could do that, past, or present. Who else at over 40 years old could keep Kelly Pavlik limited to winning 1 round?

If it hadn't been for one punch that KO'd Walcott when he was behind on the cards, perhaps Rocky Marciano would now be just another forgotten contender? Fact is George landed the punch and achieved something which will probably never be replicated. As impressive as Hopkins was on Saturday, I rate George's feat a lot higher.

Check out Archie Moore's fights with Yvon Durelle at age 44 or thereabouts. He was still successfully defending his light-heavy title well into his 40s, and periodically beating heavyweight contenders too. Hopkins still has to prove that the Pavlik performance wasn't a one-off.

[Flawless 2]

Holmes - Butterbean

[ßringer]

If it hadn't been for one punch that KO'd Walcott when he was behind on the cards, perhaps Rocky Marciano would now be just another forgotten contender? Fact is George landed the punch and achieved something which will probably never be replicated. As impressive as Hopkins was on Saturday, I rate George's feat a lot higher.

Check out Archie Moore's fights with Yvon Durelle at age 44 or thereabouts. He was still successfully defending his light-heavy title well into his 40s, and periodically beating heavyweight contenders too. Hopkins still has to prove that the Pavlik performance wasn't a one-off.

In terms of overall impact and lasting meaning, I would agree with the bolded. However in terms of level of skill and craftsmanship George is way behind Bernard. I don't think anyone could argue the latter. There's no doubt Foreman's performance meant more though.

And I agree with Archie Moore's Durelle fights.

As for the last bolded part, I think Hopkins has every intention of proving that point. He said in the post fight intreview he was "sorry" for his recent lackluster performances, and promised to continue to fight the way he did that night against his next opponets.

I know there are many who will call bull**** on that, but these are the same people who picked Pavlik, Tarver, and Trinidad all to destroy him. If there's one thing Hopkins loves more than money and boxing, it's proving the critics wrong.

And I believe him.

[Sin City]

He's not a racist. (He trusted Freddie Roach to be his head trainer in 2 of his biggest fights, Wright, and Tarver.)

He is an *******, but in the kind of way that one day you'll miss having in this sport.

And he didn't do anything remotely dirty against Pavlik, I didn't even see a headbutt, and that's saying something.

Admit it Vick, you're ass sore. I saw you predicting a Pavlik KO on here.

My only wish is that I was there in person to see the look on your face, after about the 5th round when you realized Kelly was completely outmatched.

I always root against Hopkins whenever he fights. I don't like him.
That's like saying.. oo I'm not racist, I have a black friend.
So what if he trusted Freddie? He has said racist **** about Latinos and Whites alike.
He called some dude Pedro on a radio station cus he was Latino and told Calzaghe he would never lose to a white boy, he also threw someone flag on the floor. Subtle racism is still racism.
He just another one of those black nationalist ****** dudes..

[Kid McCoy]

However in terms of level of skill and craftsmanship George is way behind Bernard.

I know there are many who will call bull**** on that, but these are the same people who picked Pavlik, Tarver, and Trinidad all to destroy him. If there's one thing Hopkins loves more than money and boxing, it's proving the critics wrong.

That's a fair point. I thought Pavlik would beat him, but I'm happy to admit that Hopkins' performance technically was astounding, arguably his best ever. There's a thread on one of the other sub-sections about great performances by over-40s, and this will go down as one of them.

[JAB5239]

Good to see some respect coming Bernard's way.

Honestly speaking, I give a lot of credit to Naazim Richardson for Bernard's performance. When Freddie Roach was in charge Hopkins just didn't have it, and it was frustrating because I knew he still had it. Naazim helps Hopkins find that edge.

At the end of the day it was Hopkins himself in that ring doing what he did, but I think having Naazim back in the corner helped him out mentally quite a bit.

Freddie Roach is a **** trainer. Other than Pacquiao and Vazquez he hasn't done much. He's a bandwagon'er like Steward.

Bernard is in his comfort zone when Richardson is training him, in a way that he could never be with any other trainer at this point in his career.

[ßringer]

I always root against Hopkins whenever he fights. I don't like him.
That's like saying.. oo I'm not racist, I have a black friend.
So what if he trusted Freddie? He has said racist **** about Latinos and Whites alike.
He called some dude Pedro on a radio station cus he was Latino and told Calzaghe he would never lose to a white boy, he also threw someone flag on the floor. Subtle racism is still racism.
He just another one of those black nationalist ****** dudes..

I really don't think Hopkins calling that guy "Pedro" constitutes as racism, considering it was that guy who started in on Hopkins for the flag incident.

As for the flag incident itself, what would you have done? Hopkins was in hostile territory, where everybody hated him, he was getting 0 respect for his accomplishments, the crowd was all over him, and ontop of it all Tito was in his face disrespecting him and waving that flag in his face.

I would've done the same damn thing. Maybe that makes me racist, maybe it doesn't, I don't know. All I know for sure is when you're in a seriously heated confrontation with someone up in your face like that, you sometimes act without thinking, I know I've done it a few times myself.

And I still lol at the "I'll never lose to a white boy" comment, people are so sensitive about that ****.

Maybe it's just me. In Kensington, where I grew up, racism was a cause for laughter.

[El Dominicano]

Jersey Joe Wolcott comez close but other then that Nope. Foreman was gettin the **** beat out of him untill he dropped that bomb. TheMachine showed me video of Joe Wolcott beatin the crap out of Joe/Marciano before he got caught. What would have been of Walcott if he didn't get caught

[ßringer]

Jersey Joe Wolcott comez close but other then that Nope. Foreman was gettin the **** beat out of him untill he dropped that bomb. TheMachine showed me video of Joe Wolcott beatin the crap out of Joe/Marciano before he got caught. What would have been of Walcott if he didn't get caught

I don't find it at all coincidental that Hopkins idolizes Walcott.

And I'm glad you agree about my Foreman point. Too many people get caught up in the fact that he won, and I'm not taking anything away from George on that front, he handled his business and got the KO. But he was looking like near liquid dog**** in the ring that night before he landed that haymaker.

[El Dominicano]

I always root against Hopkins whenever he fights. I don't like him.
That's like saying.. oo I'm not racist, I have a black friend.
So what if he trusted Freddie? He has said racist **** about Latinos and Whites alike.
He called some dude Pedro on a radio station cus he was Latino and told Calzaghe he would never lose to a white boy, he also threw someone flag on the floor. Subtle racism is still racism.
He just another one of those black nationalist ****** dudes..

Pedro deserved what he got coming to him. Like I said...It takez time for people to deal with having lost a loved one BUT that dude was bitchin about crap that happend in 2001. If you for example you were put under that kind of pressure/ disrespect and had Tito throwing an evil smile while waving that falg in your face....you wouldn't get mad?! Wouldn't you feel as if Tito was basically tryin to say "We're better then you". I love Tito nothing against him...but I think I might have done the same. It all dependz on how you take thingz