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Hopkins impressed me on Saturday, to a large extent. Seeing him trick Taylor into fighting his kind of fight after the first two rounds and then the old man taming the tiger WAS impressive. I actually had Hopkins winning 115-113 and posted a thread about it here.
But... I realised what I dislike about him, apart from the attitude, the "stealing" of rounds, and so on, is... the footwork. Here's my three main reasons why:
1. Flat-footedness. With Ali it was on his toes, it was dancing, it was beautiful. With Hopkins it's on the heels and is usually of such a precision that aesthetically it looks no different to running. To look at, it's not pleasant.
2. The distance. If Hopkins used his footwork to place himself within a position to strike the target, then used his feinting and feet to place himself out of range, I'd be impressed. But what he does is not only use his feet to place himself out of danger, but to place himself out of the fight altogether. Whatever his skills, it IS still a boxing match, and spending around two minutes of every round at the opposite side of the ring to your opponent is so "negative" a style of fighting it makes Roy Jones look like the ultimate inside fighter. Before commenting on this point, read it again and try and understand what I'm saying. I have no objection to Hopkins nimbly placing himself several feet away from his opponent. But when it's right over the other side of the ring... that's taking the piss. Often you feel as if Bernard would like a ring that's a mile long just to make sure. So how does he win the round? Get in the single shot from a jumping position.
3. The stumbling. Okay, this one isn't so important, but two points didn't sound enough. Check here for: The Bernard Hopkins Footwork Megamix Video (Eastman Fight)
But... I realised what I dislike about him, apart from the attitude, the "stealing" of rounds, and so on, is... the footwork. Here's my three main reasons why:
1. Flat-footedness. With Ali it was on his toes, it was dancing, it was beautiful. With Hopkins it's on the heels and is usually of such a precision that aesthetically it looks no different to running. To look at, it's not pleasant.
2. The distance. If Hopkins used his footwork to place himself within a position to strike the target, then used his feinting and feet to place himself out of range, I'd be impressed. But what he does is not only use his feet to place himself out of danger, but to place himself out of the fight altogether. Whatever his skills, it IS still a boxing match, and spending around two minutes of every round at the opposite side of the ring to your opponent is so "negative" a style of fighting it makes Roy Jones look like the ultimate inside fighter. Before commenting on this point, read it again and try and understand what I'm saying. I have no objection to Hopkins nimbly placing himself several feet away from his opponent. But when it's right over the other side of the ring... that's taking the piss. Often you feel as if Bernard would like a ring that's a mile long just to make sure. So how does he win the round? Get in the single shot from a jumping position.
3. The stumbling. Okay, this one isn't so important, but two points didn't sound enough. Check here for: The Bernard Hopkins Footwork Megamix Video (Eastman Fight)
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