Just saw Hopkins-Tarver, some thoughts

**Kendo** · 06-13-2006, 03:16 PM

i think your right on this one dude. hop fought outstanding and his corner was just as good. he is nothing but a class act. alot of people knock us philly guys but look at hops you dont get more philly than were he grew up.

**GreatestIam** · 06-13-2006, 03:17 PM

Originally posted by Southpaw16

Here is a few comments I have.

Great performance by Hopkins, he is definately an alltime great, possibly deserves the distinction of being the best fighter of the past ten years. Hopefully he becomes a broadcaster or trainer because he obviously has a great boxing mind.

I think Nazeem Richardson is one of the best trainers in the game. He was communicating so well with Hopkins between rounds and constantly giving advice that was very useful and articulate, but at the same time not too complicated given that it was in the middle of a fight. He was also constantly reinforcing to Hopkins to not get careless and to be smart. Also, usually when there are two trainers in a corner it can be trouble since they will be stepping on each other's toes. Richardson worked very will with Jon David Jackson. Notice in the first round Richardson says his stuff to Hopkins and then looks over at Jackson and says "what are you seeing Jon?", making sure that they were in sync, so props to Richardson.

Hopkins leaning through the ropes immediately after the fight and telling Steward to tell Jermain Taylor that the middleweight torch is now passed to him was one of the classiest moves by an athlete that I have ever seen.

I was perviously picking Wright to beat Taylor, now that I have seen what Hopkins did to Tarver I have a better understanding of how good Taylor actually is, and I think he beats Wright. I actually think that the winner of Wright-Taylor will deserve consideration as being the P4P #1. Think about it, if Wright wins his recent fights will have consisted of two wins over Mosely, a dominant win over Trinidad, and then beating Jermain Taylor. If Taylor wins his last three fights would be wins over Hopkins and Wright.

I'm thinking that Hopkins will probably be back, possibly to fight Roy Jones.

Thank you another person has come to his senses, Hopkins is still the man but Taylor just proved he was, is the better man and that come sat winky wright will be in some major trouble!

**Bozo_no no** · 06-13-2006, 03:19 PM

Hoskins is it true you may be in line to fight Taylor should he get by Wright?

**BadMagick** · 06-13-2006, 03:27 PM

I agree with most of what you said, but at the same time I didn't think much of Tarver in this fight. He definitely did not look as sharp as he had in past fights, and maybe that was due to Hopkins, but he didn't look good to me from the onset.

Hopkins did a really great job in there, no doubt about it. I don't think he's gonna come back to fight anymore, though. He's going out with one of the biggest wins of his career, over the man at LHW. It'd be so pointless to see him fight Jones Jr. again. It'd prove nothing, everyone knows that Jones is done, except Jones.

As for the other comments about what was going on in the corner, and so forth, you're right about those as well. He's an excellent trainer, one must assume from what he did with B-Hop, and the two worked wonderfully together.

**DLT** · 06-13-2006, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by Southpaw16

Hopkins leaning through the ropes immediately after the fight and telling Steward to tell Jermain Taylor that the middleweight torch is now passed to him was one of the classiest moves by an athlete that I have ever seen.

Damn, I hadnt heard anyone mention that Hopkins said that. Thats a real classy move by a old pro. Were definatly going to miss him when he's gone

**Southpaw16** · 06-13-2006, 03:46 PM

Originally posted by BadMagick

Hopkins did a really great job in there, no doubt about it. I don't think he's gonna come back to fight anymore, though. He's going out with one of the biggest wins of his career, over the man at LHW. It'd be so pointless to see him fight Jones Jr. again. It'd prove nothing, everyone knows that Jones is done, except Jones.

I made the post after I watched the fight, but not the post fight interview yet. Now that I see that Hopkins said that he would give Tarver a rematch before he fights Jones, the fight with Jones won't happen I guess. I guess he probably is retired. If he isn't going to fight Jones, there aren't really any big fights at light heavyweight or cruiserweight. Also, Hokpins is too smart to try to be like Jones and drop back down a weight class at his current age.

Just saw Hopkins-Tarver, some thoughts