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by David P. Greisman - Time is not timeless, for a man must ultimately run out of it, exhausting a finite amount of next years, next chances, next times.
The Bernard Hopkins of 45 years and 337 days had decelerated more than he had deteriorated. He had been defeated but had never been demolished. He was definitely – and defiantly – not done.
Against a man nearly 18 years younger, it was Hopkins who was stronger down the stretch, the fresher fighter later.
Against a man who was the light heavyweight champion, 15 pounds heavier than Hopkins was in his own prime atop the middleweight division, it was Hopkins who was the intimidator.
And against a man favored by better than two-to-one odds, it was Hopkins who made the bout even.
Even. That’s how the fight was after 12 rounds – a majority draw, with one judge scoring the action 114-114, another judge seeing it 113-113, and the third favoring Hopkins over Jean Pascal by a 114-112 tally.
The Bernard Hopkins of 45 years and 337 days had overcome disadvantages in age and power, had overcome two early knockdowns that put him at a disadvantage on the scorecards, had overcome the odds and the expectations and the laws of nature.
A man less than a month away from turning 46 should be nearing closer and closer to his midlife crisis. A boxer less than a month away from turning 46 should be moving farther and farther away from a life segmented into 10-week training camps and three-minute rounds.
Hopkins long ago proved himself to be no ordinary man. He had reformed himself after serving time in prison, had dedicated himself to boxing, had lived a controlled lifestyle, being frugal with his money, disciplined with his diet, and constantly set in his goals and what had to be done to attain them. [Click Here To Read More]
The Bernard Hopkins of 45 years and 337 days had decelerated more than he had deteriorated. He had been defeated but had never been demolished. He was definitely – and defiantly – not done.
Against a man nearly 18 years younger, it was Hopkins who was stronger down the stretch, the fresher fighter later.
Against a man who was the light heavyweight champion, 15 pounds heavier than Hopkins was in his own prime atop the middleweight division, it was Hopkins who was the intimidator.
And against a man favored by better than two-to-one odds, it was Hopkins who made the bout even.
Even. That’s how the fight was after 12 rounds – a majority draw, with one judge scoring the action 114-114, another judge seeing it 113-113, and the third favoring Hopkins over Jean Pascal by a 114-112 tally.
The Bernard Hopkins of 45 years and 337 days had overcome disadvantages in age and power, had overcome two early knockdowns that put him at a disadvantage on the scorecards, had overcome the odds and the expectations and the laws of nature.
A man less than a month away from turning 46 should be nearing closer and closer to his midlife crisis. A boxer less than a month away from turning 46 should be moving farther and farther away from a life segmented into 10-week training camps and three-minute rounds.
Hopkins long ago proved himself to be no ordinary man. He had reformed himself after serving time in prison, had dedicated himself to boxing, had lived a controlled lifestyle, being frugal with his money, disciplined with his diet, and constantly set in his goals and what had to be done to attain them. [Click Here To Read More]
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