Tweet
by David P. Greisman - Passions can burn for decades, but flames will eventually run out of fuel.
Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. carried the competitive fire into their 40s. Entering this year, Hopkins, 45, had fought eight times since that milestone birthday. Jones, 41, had fought three times. They had captured championships, secured their legacies, declined from their primes and continued to fight anyway.
One thing was left, and it was long overdue.
A rematch. One that would come nearly 17 years after the original, back when Hopkins was 28, Jones was 24, and neither had fought for a world title before that night when they met each other. Jones was already in dominant form. Hopkins was still developing. Jones won a decision and a middleweight belt.
In the ensuing years, Jones would add titles at super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. Hopkins would conquer middleweight before moving up to light heavyweight. Jones was the best at 175 and Hopkins was the best at 160 when, one night in February 2002, each fought on HBO – Jones in Florida, Hopkins in Pennsylvania – before sharing the screen in a verbal showdown. [Click Here To Read More]
Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. carried the competitive fire into their 40s. Entering this year, Hopkins, 45, had fought eight times since that milestone birthday. Jones, 41, had fought three times. They had captured championships, secured their legacies, declined from their primes and continued to fight anyway.
One thing was left, and it was long overdue.
A rematch. One that would come nearly 17 years after the original, back when Hopkins was 28, Jones was 24, and neither had fought for a world title before that night when they met each other. Jones was already in dominant form. Hopkins was still developing. Jones won a decision and a middleweight belt.
In the ensuing years, Jones would add titles at super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. Hopkins would conquer middleweight before moving up to light heavyweight. Jones was the best at 175 and Hopkins was the best at 160 when, one night in February 2002, each fought on HBO – Jones in Florida, Hopkins in Pennsylvania – before sharing the screen in a verbal showdown. [Click Here To Read More]
Comment