Comments Thread For: Hopkins Stands Behind Kelly Pavlik's Road To Recovery

[brooklyngod]

well thats cool of bernard and i hope kelly is doing his best to try and battle his issue. best of luck to kelly and be strong son

[StrangerInTown]

Its nice to see Hopkins giving encouragement and moral support to Pavlik' alcoholic problem.

But, what about the so called slick african-american undefeated boxer - Floyd Pretty Boy Mayweather jr. ?

Did Hopkins offered any kinds of help to him?

I am troubled by your perception of Mr. Hopkins remarkable caring.
I hear a suggestion that Hopkins is offering his help and hope to a white fighter and not a black fighter.
This appears to be the message because each man faces a very different battle. If you are suggesting that Floyd creates his issues due to an alcohol/drug predicament, then that is another tale. But you do not state anything of that nature.

Hopkins survived 5, tough years for armed robbery. He did his time and did not look back. B-Hop knows how to promote and at times can be very disrespectful to a potential opponent. Outside of the ring, he is a gentleman and plays by all of the rules this world and society demands.
Hopkins went man to man with Pavlik which created a bond that only fighters know.
Bernard Hopkins is a gentleman and supports those who attempt tp help themselves.
Floyd Mayweather is a walking nightmare right now. There is no doubt that he has an attitude that is rejected by anyone with a social conscience. Floyd hurts women, has terrified his own children and throws hands outside of the ring, all acts of cowardice.
His mug shot displays a smiling, joyous, sociopath who has yet to admit his participation in these acts.
Why would a man such as Bernard Hopkins defend a man who has yet to suggest any remorse for his tribulations. Could Mayweather survive a 5 year bid away from his mansion? No way. My guess is that Bernard feels as if Floyd has yet to earn any support and is a self absorbed egotist.
Hopkins knows what ego can do. He has used his mostly for good and at 45 is still a truly amazing athlete.
As an ex pug who has just celebrated 28 years of sobriety, I recognize the battle that Pavlik is waging. He has requested assistance and is now in the biggest fight of his life.
Hopkins has recognized this courage and as a gracious human being who has faced Kelly in battle, he knows there is good stuff in him.
I can tell you this much. I think Pavilk's career is history and that both he and B-Hop should consider training pug's as opposed to waging war with them.
Each of these men has already engaged bravely in their professions and it is time for each to accept that the years and fate are offering them new paths.

[switchsouthpaw]

Never make fun of anyone with addiction issues. Pavlik does have talent and seems like a good enough guy. Hopefully he can overcome his demons. I hope the same for Mayweather.

[JudeTheObscure]

"never make fun of anyone with addiction issues"

let me tell you- addiction is not a problem. it is a choice.

cancer is a problem. addiction is indulgence. overcome your demons? lots of people have overcome demons by getting up and going to work and pushing through it. its a weak excuse to get drunk and wasted because you've got "demons". you think there isn't people with harder lives and more traumatic emotional experiences in the world than a professional boxer?

this thing we've done where drug addiction is some kind of sickness is terrible. it is serious, yes- but it's the result of something all of us have been taught is clearly bad since we were little kids. its a CHOICE, not a disease. getting drunk and getting high is not tragic. it's the decision made by people who want to indulge and experience fun and pleasure. how is it a sickness problem? i have very little sympathy because i've worked with, honestly, former nuns who were gang ****d by soliders, mothers who have had their children murdered, people who lost limbs after being hit by drunk drivers. they've gotten their s**t together and haven't felt sorry for themselves. it's a little difficult for me to feel sorry for someone who just likes to drink beer.

hatton and pavlik should shut the f**k up. greater boxers than THEY have been defeated, and came back to prove their greatness. it's this ***** society we live in where they need to feel sorry for themselves and fall into ******* and booze. someone needs to slap their pale faces and not feel sorry that they're addicts.

[JudeTheObscure]

I've been saying Pavlik needs a new team since I saw the Countdown special on HBO that prefaced the fight against B-Hop. I could not believe how limited, how ****y, how ridiculous that corner was. No Plan B whatsoever. Against Martinez, no Plan B, etc. I've got nothing against Jack Loew but Pavlik seems like a cat who is really into not letting people down, or this image of him that Youngstown has cultivated. Top Rank should realize their investment in him is going down the tubes, and intervene with an advisory. Pavlik still has (admittedly very little) time to turn his career and legacy around, but keeping his childhood, neighborhood team isn't doing it. He needs more.

[Holtol]

"never make fun of anyone with addiction issues"

let me tell you- addiction is not a problem. it is a choice.

cancer is a problem. addiction is indulgence. overcome your demons? lots of people have overcome demons by getting up and going to work and pushing through it. its a weak excuse to get drunk and wasted because you've got "demons". you think there isn't people with harder lives and more traumatic emotional experiences in the world than a professional boxer?

this thing we've done where drug addiction is some kind of sickness is terrible. it is serious, yes- but it's the result of something all of us have been taught is clearly bad since we were little kids. its a CHOICE, not a disease. getting drunk and getting high is not tragic. it's the decision made by people who want to indulge and experience fun and pleasure. how is it a sickness problem? i have very little sympathy because i've worked with, honestly, former nuns who were gang ****d by soliders, mothers who have had their children murdered, people who lost limbs after being hit by drunk drivers. they've gotten their s**t together and haven't felt sorry for themselves. it's a little difficult for me to feel sorry for someone who just likes to drink beer.

hatton and pavlik should shut the f**k up. greater boxers than THEY have been defeated, and came back to prove their greatness. it's this ***** society we live in where they need to feel sorry for themselves and fall into ******* and booze. someone needs to slap their pale faces and not feel sorry that they're addicts.

So you think its ok to make fun of people who have problem with drugs?

You say "Pavlik should shut the f**k up". Show me one piece of information with Pavlik talking about his problem with alcohol.

I do agree with you that people who are addicted to drugs get to much sympathy though. It is there own doing and sometimes tough love is better.

[Mr. Philadel]

I don't think it's a matter of 'Hopkins wants Pavlik to do good because it makes him look good'. Hopkins showed Pavlik a lot of respect both before and after the fight, whereas with Calzaghe, Pascal, Tarver, and even Winky there were things he said/did in order to get under their skin. He's also spoken negatively of other boxers he's fought even after the fight, rather than trying to make his resume seem better than it is.

Maybe he just liked the guy from having met him before they fought or maybe he sees some of his younger self in Pavlik. Whatever it is, he's probably in a good position to give advice.

spot on ....I think B.Hop likes the "blue collar" way Kelly goes about his work

[JudeTheObscure]

[/B]
So you think its ok to make fun of people who have problem with drugs?

You say "Pavlik should shut the f**k up". Show me one piece of information with Pavlik talking about his problem with alcohol.

I do agree with you that people who are addicted to drugs get to much sympathy though. It is there own doing and sometimes tough love is better.

You are correct- Pavlik has not gone off and whined in public. I apologize if I gave that impression. But I meant more along the lines of saying anything in general. Take aside what I said about my thoughts, and just consider this: Muhammad Ali lost to Frazier. What did he do? He gave Frazier credit, admitted he didn't take him seriously, and promised to whup him next time. That's just one (obvious) example. Whenever anyone lost, they tried harder next time. These guys egos are so blown, and boxing is so desperate to create superstars, they have no excuses to feel sorry for themselves- once. For every champion dealing with "demons", theres a dozen hungry contenders ready to get on with it. So get on with it.

I think it's boring to talk about people with addiction problems, plain and simple. Make fun of them? I guess. The effects of drugs are far reaching. They effect families, children, etc. I'd rather give my sympathy to the victim.

[bojangles1987]

Of course he stands behind Pavlik. He feels guilty for being responsible for what's happened to him.

And if anyone else already made this joke, sorry I stole it.