Comments Thread For: "Fighting Words" - Bernard Hopkins: The Ex-Executioner

[SUBZER0ED]

It was sad to see the post fight interview. It's best he retire.

I think BHop didn't realize he had been KO'd before he went out of the ring. Or he may have been in a serious state of denial. Either way, it's tough to take a loss like that knowing it was his swan song. What was sad to me was the crowd booing Joe Smith for winning. He came to win, he was supposed to win, he did win. Hopkins took an unnecessary and unwise risk and lost. Anybody with any sense at all knows damn well, a nearly 52 year old man should not be able to beat a strong, healthy 27 year old man.

[BoxingFan82]

Hopkins took an unnecessary and unwise risk and lost. Anybody with any sense at all knows damn well, a nearly 52 year old man should not be able to beat a strong, healthy 27 year old man.

Yet even after his defeat to Kovalev, a long layoff and his 52nd birthday nearing, Bernard was the betting favorite in his final fight.

Think about that for a minute. More than a decade after Antonio Tarver was supposed to retire him, and more than eight years after Kelly Pavlik was a 4-1 favorite to do the same, Bernard had managed to convince the world that at 51 years of age, he still had the ability to beat a strong and hungry 27 year-old fighter.

In effect, Bernard lost his final battle, but he finally won the war because even when there was more reason than ever to expect Father Time to catch up with him, B-Hop was no longer the consensus underdog. That's a victory we shouldn't overlook.

[djtmal]

Much respect Bhop mixed in that Philly style with defense and some solid boxing fundamentals and footwork at the peak. ATG chin. I remember when Bouie Fisher (sp) was the chief second. The early espn days, fighting @ the Blue Horizon to an empty arena, to the breakout fight with Trinidad. Definitely got my respect when he moved up to 175 and beat Tarver and Pascal. I always said he was a natural lightheavy, and had a disdain for the antics, and excuses that his most ardent supporters had when he lost to Roy, Taylor @ 160, Calzaghe @ 175 as well as other stuff, but hey staying @ 160 and getting those paydays with Oscar and Tito was good business and put him on the map. Only fight I would have liked to have seen is Hopkins/Toney.

Sad to say, but punching him out the ring was the only way to knock a grisly old ring wise Philly fighter like BHop, out of the ring at the top level of prizefighting for good, even @ his advanced age and deep down I think he would acknowledge that. It was like they told Joe Smith, if you get Bernard in trouble, don't let him off the hook. Downright brutal man. Personally I think Bernard doesn't want to give Joe Smith credit, because Bernard, took offense to the shot(s) from the finishing combination, that was thrown by Joe Smith while Hopkins body was halfway out the ring but he's calling it a push for some reason but it was a punch, maybe two from what I saw, but that first right hand that started everything would have put anybody else to sleep. Talk about final fights (they usually don't end up good) but damn Ex you had a helluva run all the way to the end. Whats done is done. Definitely a HOf'er, top 10 Middleweight, and all around ATG career in my book. Up there with my boy Marvelous Marv.

Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins

[rjm3390]

Hopkins loss

Great fighter and a great Champion. He just couldn't beat Father Time. I wish him well and happiness in the future.

[petero]

Why not just say it like it is excusenner. You got beat by clean effective punches which resulted in a clear K.O. loss? I remember after he beat Pavlik instead of congratulating him he started punking him, and the Calzage
Incident, this shows deep down he has issues. After the K.O. he was delusional and in disbelief. Everything happens for a reason

[SUBZER0ED]

Yet even after his defeat to Kovalev, a long layoff and his 52nd birthday nearing, Bernard was the betting favorite in his final fight.

Think about that for a minute. More than a decade after Antonio Tarver was supposed to retire him, and more than eight years after Kelly Pavlik was a 4-1 favorite to do the same, Bernard had managed to convince the world that at 51 years of age, he still had the ability to beat a strong and hungry 27 year-old fighter.

In effect, Bernard lost his final battle, but he finally won the war because even when there was more reason than ever to expect Father Time to catch up with him, B-Hop was no longer the consensus underdog. That's a victory we shouldn't overlook.

Not taking anything away from Bhop's courage, determination & accomplishments, but he simply didn't need to prove anything further. He got knocked out of the ring and hit his head! Thank goodness he didn't sustain a serious injury. If he had been seriously hurt, you guys who are singing praises of his willingness to get into the ring @ 51+ years would be questioning why he put himself at risk.

[pasawayako]

Hopkins only beat smaller fighters but when matched against his sized he loose.

[littlemac]

Hopkins is P4P biggest cry baby in the sport.