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By Keith Idec - PHILADELPHIA — Jean Pascal isn’t the only previous opponent on Bernard Hopkins’ mind as he heads toward his 46th birthday.
Hopkins isn’t interested in fighting Kelly Pavlik again, though. If there is any way that he can, Hopkins would like to help Pavlik as the former middleweight champion attempts to deal with his dependence on alcohol.
“I wish him well,” Hopkins said. “Hopefully he’ll overcome it. It’s a tough thing.”
Hopkins hopes he gets the opportunity in the near future to meet with Pavlik to talk about whatever Pavlik would want to discuss. Though Hopkins isn’t certain Pavlik would welcome such a meeting, he has been concerned about the Youngstown, Ohio, native since he learned nearly a month ago that Pavlik entered the Betty Ford Center on Nov. 4 to treat his problem with alcohol.
Hopkins’ offer was another sign of a deep mutual respect he and Pavlik have displayed since they signed contracts to fight nearly 2½ years ago. Though 43, Hopkins 51-5-2, 32 KOs, 1 NC) dominated a then-undefeated Pavlik (36-2, 32 KOs) throughout a 12-round fight that was contested at a catch weight of 170 pounds on Oct. 18, 2008, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
After soundly defeating him (118-108, 117-109, 116-109), Hopkins compassionately consoled a battered, dejected Pavlik in the ring. Among other things, he encouraged Pavlik not to allow that lopsided loss to define what Hopkins still considers a promising career.
“I said things in the ring to him that night that I meant,” Hopkins said. “I still think he has great talent and I think that he can compete at the elite level. I wish him the best.”
Pavlik’s career has stalled since Hopkins beat him by unanimous decision.
He has won two of his three fights since that image-damaging night, but those two victories came against overmatched opponents Pavlik was supposed to beat easily — Marco Antonio Rubio (48-5-1, 41 KOs) and Miguel Espino (20-3-1, 9 KOs). Pavlik’s post-Hopkins existence has been defined more by withdrawing from three scheduled middleweight title fights in 2009, two against Paul Williams and another against Sergio Mora. [Click Here To Read More]
Hopkins isn’t interested in fighting Kelly Pavlik again, though. If there is any way that he can, Hopkins would like to help Pavlik as the former middleweight champion attempts to deal with his dependence on alcohol.
“I wish him well,” Hopkins said. “Hopefully he’ll overcome it. It’s a tough thing.”
Hopkins hopes he gets the opportunity in the near future to meet with Pavlik to talk about whatever Pavlik would want to discuss. Though Hopkins isn’t certain Pavlik would welcome such a meeting, he has been concerned about the Youngstown, Ohio, native since he learned nearly a month ago that Pavlik entered the Betty Ford Center on Nov. 4 to treat his problem with alcohol.
Hopkins’ offer was another sign of a deep mutual respect he and Pavlik have displayed since they signed contracts to fight nearly 2½ years ago. Though 43, Hopkins 51-5-2, 32 KOs, 1 NC) dominated a then-undefeated Pavlik (36-2, 32 KOs) throughout a 12-round fight that was contested at a catch weight of 170 pounds on Oct. 18, 2008, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
After soundly defeating him (118-108, 117-109, 116-109), Hopkins compassionately consoled a battered, dejected Pavlik in the ring. Among other things, he encouraged Pavlik not to allow that lopsided loss to define what Hopkins still considers a promising career.
“I said things in the ring to him that night that I meant,” Hopkins said. “I still think he has great talent and I think that he can compete at the elite level. I wish him the best.”
Pavlik’s career has stalled since Hopkins beat him by unanimous decision.
He has won two of his three fights since that image-damaging night, but those two victories came against overmatched opponents Pavlik was supposed to beat easily — Marco Antonio Rubio (48-5-1, 41 KOs) and Miguel Espino (20-3-1, 9 KOs). Pavlik’s post-Hopkins existence has been defined more by withdrawing from three scheduled middleweight title fights in 2009, two against Paul Williams and another against Sergio Mora. [Click Here To Read More]
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