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Heart and soul. Mind and attitude. Probably none of us would ever doubt that Bernard Hopkins possesses these most admirable and essential of fighting qualities in abundance.
BHop has never been anything less than totally committed to his profession, which undoubtedly has much to do with why he is still bounding around like a spring chicken at forty-one and feeling confident about taking a pop at a heavyweight ‘champion’ who has been knocked out five times in 38 fights.
I have enormous admiration for Bernard and I will tell you why. He learned his trade as thoroughly as he could in the tough and honest gyms of Philadelphia. He forged a terrific will to win and has made the very most of his physical and mental assets. To my recollection, he has never expected anything for nothing. He has made boxing his life and has never joined the ranks of the shallow and the vain, who fail to see the irony of spouting macho nonsense whilst dressed in skirts or the damn cheek of then chloroforming us all to sleep by doing little or nothing for twelve rounds.
In short, Bernard Hopkins is one of the genuine, throwback tough guys, in much the way of Marvin Hagler before him. Blue collar, no fuss and no frills. Just a lot of hard work, three squares a day and maybe ripping up the occasional telephone directory to exercise the finger muscles.
Before beginning his autumnal mischief-making among the bigger boys, Hopkins held on to his middleweight crown for a decade and defended it twenty times. We will proceed to examine the depth of that achievement, but let us say right here and now that it is no mean feat to reign for such a length of time, irrespective of whom you happen to be knocking over. [details]
BHop has never been anything less than totally committed to his profession, which undoubtedly has much to do with why he is still bounding around like a spring chicken at forty-one and feeling confident about taking a pop at a heavyweight ‘champion’ who has been knocked out five times in 38 fights.
I have enormous admiration for Bernard and I will tell you why. He learned his trade as thoroughly as he could in the tough and honest gyms of Philadelphia. He forged a terrific will to win and has made the very most of his physical and mental assets. To my recollection, he has never expected anything for nothing. He has made boxing his life and has never joined the ranks of the shallow and the vain, who fail to see the irony of spouting macho nonsense whilst dressed in skirts or the damn cheek of then chloroforming us all to sleep by doing little or nothing for twelve rounds.
In short, Bernard Hopkins is one of the genuine, throwback tough guys, in much the way of Marvin Hagler before him. Blue collar, no fuss and no frills. Just a lot of hard work, three squares a day and maybe ripping up the occasional telephone directory to exercise the finger muscles.
Before beginning his autumnal mischief-making among the bigger boys, Hopkins held on to his middleweight crown for a decade and defended it twenty times. We will proceed to examine the depth of that achievement, but let us say right here and now that it is no mean feat to reign for such a length of time, irrespective of whom you happen to be knocking over. [details]