Bernard Hopkins: 'I would never fight Andre Ward'

[$Bullsfam$]

Not like Ward would fight Hopkins at 175 anyway. He'd make him come to 168 like Dawson. Ward is great but he is seriously tarnishing his legacy by not taking risks. It's one thing not to move up and fight Kovalev and Adonis when the division is hot, and it's another to not fight them while sitting on the sidelines an ungodly amount of time while calling out middleweights for a cheap pay day.

[DoubleMM]

I love this fight and commend Hopkins for taking it.

This thread was more about asking the question: "Is Hopkins not fighting Ward a token of Ward's prominence". This is in no way a shot at Hopkins; I know better than that.

But I will tell you, if we're being honest, that I've never been a favorite of Hopkins fighting style (excessing holding, headbutting, fouls, etc), although is it very effective; make no mistake.

But now that Hopkins is fighting Kovalev, there's absolutely nothing anyone can say about his greatness and fearlessness.

yes, dude faked an injury to get out of a fight.....

[Daddy T]

Lol people always got to find something to hate about. Dude is fighting Kovalev. Far more dangerous than Ward. Sure, maybe Ward can out-Hopkins Hopkins at this stage and maybe get a close decision victory. Kovalev on the other hand had the power and ability to really, legitimately hurt Hopkins.

this ... chirst hopkins could say ... 'I'm fighting Ironman... and you'd have some clown here saying 'why ain't he fighting Batman doe?'

[Jim Tom]

Styles make fights.
Hopkins wouldn't fight Ward at this stage because youth would win. The core aspects of their styles are similar and Hopkins knows that. Chad Dawson also has a lot of the same trait (though to a varying degree) and Mayweather perfects it because of his body type. If Hopkins fights Ward or Dawson he can not win those fights and actually can get a savage beating because his reflexes are not as good as he was 20yrs ago. He can take on a puncher because he can take the guys best punch away and beat him up. Hopkins studied Kovalev well and knows what he does best. Remember Pavlik was a killer before facing Hopkins but you know how Hopkins took all that away. Kovalev is good and way better than Pavlik but only way he will win if Hopkins all of a sudden looks 50 otherwise Hopkins will take away that stiff jab,get inside and out,use andgles and beat him up for 12 rounds.

[Luilun]

Oh god I can't believe I started to actually read about Ward until I aborted the mission

[Mr. Philadel]

Styles make fights.
Hopkins wouldn't fight Ward at this stage because youth would win. The core aspects of their styles are similar and Hopkins knows that. Chad Dawson also has a lot of the same trait (though to a varying degree) and Mayweather perfects it because of his body type. If Hopkins fights Ward or Dawson he can not win those fights and actually can get a savage beating because his reflexes are not as good as he was 20yrs ago. He can take on a puncher because he can take the guys best punch away and beat him up. Hopkins studied Kovalev well and knows what he does best. Remember Pavlik was a killer before facing Hopkins but you know how Hopkins took all that away. Kovalev is good and way better than Pavlik but only way he will win if Hopkins all of a sudden looks 50 otherwise Hopkins will take away that stiff jab,get inside and out,use andgles and beat him up for 12 rounds.

sick post ...green!!

[Hougigo]

Goes both ways. Ward said he didn't want to fight either

[Butt stuff]

this ... chirst hopkins could say ... 'I'm fighting Ironman... and you'd have some clown here saying 'why ain't he fighting Batman doe?'

Iron man's armour wouldn't be allowed in a boxing match, so effectively Hopkins would be fighting a pretty much defenceless Tony Stark who has crappy hand-to-hand combat skills, which shows he is obv ducking batman.

Batman P4P ATG B-HOP KEEP DUCKING THE BAT

[RisAri0]

bhop wouldn't wanna fight someone just like him 15 years ago

[sicko]

It is respect for each other and also B-HOP knows which styles favor him and which doesn't, just like he never wanted to fight Chad Dawson because he knows a more athletic guy and can move with good boxing skills is a tough match up for him stylistically especially at this point in his career

But he does well and his style is built to deal with "POWER" and guys who will COME AFTER HIM