What fights might he take ? This content is protected Will B-Hop have a good year or will age catch up with him ? If he continues too shock the world by beating younger fighters and beating the top contenders will he carry on even longer or maybe take a move up in weight ?
Kessler. Or retire. Perhaps an easy fight against Adamek, but the I would prefer retire because Hopkins easily beats Adamek.
Dawson and Calzaghe would win decisions. I give him a slight edge against Kessler and Glen Johnson. He should beat Jones too. I think he should push for another Taylor fight if anything. It's not easy on the eyes but could be easier for him at a higher weight. Retirement is his best option.
Kessler-Hopkins would fill a stadium of 50.000+ in Europe. Can Hopkins do that against someone else in the US? The only one I can think of is Calzaghe in Wales, but Joe has clearly said "Hopkins is a racist fool and I'm not handing him any money by fighting him"... so I guess that fight is not happening. Calzaghe is considering Kessler or retirement.
indeed. although i think the outcome would be the same (joe by decision) thats the only fight id rather see for both men or just retire.
That seems to be Calzaghe's favourite partyline about fighters he seems to consider dangerous, Hopkins & Froch for example. What happened to wanting to shut them up by actually, you know, fighting them! Calzaghe is being a real pr!ck lately with comments about dishing out paydays and boxing being dead. It's no wonder really with people like him sucking the very life and excitement out of the sport. He has been been absoultely blessed in his career and managed to survive against the odds with an often weak game by volume alone. If you don't want to fight, hurry up and retire already!
I'm not sure why the strong desire to see Hopkins retire. If he looked like Holyfield out there I'd agree but its clear that Hopkins is one of the best in the game, enjoys what he's doing, keeps in great shape, has taken little damage in his career, makes great money, and is coming off of one of the biggest wins in his career. His birth certificate might say he is 43 or whatever, but he doesn't look it in the ring. I hope as long as he is performing at/around this level that Hopkins keeps fighting big fights.
Hopkins has a lot of options to choose from in 09. Calzaghe- Joe says he won't fight him again but I wouldn't always believe what a fighter says. I still think we could see this one again. Dawson- He might not be a star name yet but HBO is working on that and I wouldn't be surprised if Hopkins faced him in late 09 after Dawson beats Tarver and then someone like Kessler. Kessler- The winner of a summer match-up between Kessler and Dawson would be a perfect challenge for Hopkins. Jones- Not a fight I would be interested in but I think it would do ok business. Taylor- First two fights were very close and since Taylor's stock has dropped while Hopkins has gone up. A third fight at a higher weight makes sense. He could also move up to cruiser or heavyweight for a challenge. Obviously, he shouldn't be facing a Klitschko but in the right match-up Hopkins could be very interesting at heavyweight.
I really think he should fight Adamek. Kessler, Dawson, those guys are terrific fighters, but fundamentally they are just one more great name on his record. Beating Adamek means he would have been the legitimate linear champion at Middleweight, Light-Heavyweight, and Cruiserweight... All after the age of forty! That would go right at the top of his resume. The longest reigning Middleweight in boxing history and also the champion at Light-heavy and Cruiser. I mean that is ridiculous. It's not a huge money fight, but I'm sure Adamek would take it for 20% of the purse, and I personally think he's made for Hopkins. Do it at MSG with all the Hopkins fans plus the Polish. They could scrape together 6 million for Hopkins to take that fight. Plus, who knows, it could set him up for a crazy heavyweight fight if Haye won, or if Holyfield or some other mediocrity beat the giant.