Honouring Bernard Hopkins

Discussion in 'British Boxing Forum' started by dftaylor, Oct 10, 2011.


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  1. dftaylor

    dftaylor Writer, fanatic Full Member

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    Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins (52-5-2) will step into the ring against highly regarded (by some) Chad Dawson (30-1-0) on Saturday night.

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    Of all the fighters from his era, he has achieved the most longevity. Overlooked early on due to a loss to razzle-dazzle king Roy Jones Jr, Bernard won his first title from Segundo Mercado at 29 years old. He spent the next ten years defending it against everyone at the weight, beating everyone out there at 160.

    At a time when most boxers are fading and looking for big paydays and retirement, Hopkins was taking on the biggest challenges and winning. His signature win against Felix Trinidad came when he was 36-years old, a fight he was predicted to lose, yet he won by clinical knock-out after laying a humiliating beating on the Puerto Rican idol.

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    Through his reign we saw a solid fighter - good hand-speed, decent power, great footwork, the ability to box and brawl. Within those disciplines he perfected his straight right, his left hook, and using the jab to offset faster, more powerful fighters. The man is as complete a fighter as you can find, even now at 46. He goes to the body with precision, taking away his opponent's steam, and demoralises then on the inside.

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    When he finally lost, it was two debatable decisions to hot, young contender Jermain Taylor. Looking drained at 160, many felt his time had passed. He responded by jumping up to 175 and knocking Antonio Tarver around for 12 rounds.

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    After a dull fight with Winky Wright and another close loss to Joe Calzaghe, he took on the new king at 160, Kelly Pavlik. Another 12 round humiliation followed and Hopkins was again the man at 43-years old!

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    After desultory victories over Enrique Ornelas and the shell of Roy Jones Jr, he again stepped up against well-regarded Jean Pascal. Despite getting dropped twice early on, Hopkins put a beating on his Haitian opponent but only got a draw. In the rematch he left no doubt - he was the WBC and Ring champion at 46 years old.

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    Now he faces Chad Dawson, where again he's an underdog. But win or lose, let's all take a moment and salute the Executioner - here's to you, Bernard!

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    *PS, please kick Chad's ass so we can be done with his obnoxious fanboys. Kthxbai!
     
    dftaylor, Oct 10, 2011
    dftaylor, Oct 10, 2011
    #1
  2. jpab19

    jpab19 Exploding Muffin Dad Full Member

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    Desultory is a good word mate, and you're the first person I've seen use it here other than myself.

    Props.

    :clap:
     
    jpab19, Oct 10, 2011
    jpab19, Oct 10, 2011
    #2
  3. BodyBlaster

    BodyBlaster Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I got a very nice, but unexpected tax rebate, and Im sticking the lot on Hopkins by decision with bet365 @ 2.50.
     
    BodyBlaster, Oct 10, 2011
    BodyBlaster, Oct 10, 2011
    #3
  4. MagicMan91

    MagicMan91 The Main Event Mafia Full Member

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    I'm owed one and would probably also do the same had I received it
     
    MagicMan91, Oct 10, 2011
    MagicMan91, Oct 10, 2011
    #4
  5. SnoopyboyM

    SnoopyboyM Active Member Full Member

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    Hopkins is an all time great but Dawson will win imo
     
    SnoopyboyM, Oct 10, 2011
    SnoopyboyM, Oct 10, 2011
    #5
  6. dftaylor

    dftaylor Writer, fanatic Full Member

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    Why do you think that?
     
    dftaylor, Oct 10, 2011
    dftaylor, Oct 10, 2011
    #6
  7. CamR21

    CamR21 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Hopkins is a machine
     
    CamR21, Oct 10, 2011
    CamR21, Oct 10, 2011
    #7
  8. THE ENFORCER

    THE ENFORCER Smash Your Pasty Full Member

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    im with bhop for the points win......i hope he does anyway, for body blasters bet!
     
    THE ENFORCER, Oct 10, 2011
    THE ENFORCER, Oct 10, 2011
    #8
  9. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    I'd love to hear his reasons :-(

    I'd be very surprised if B-Hop doesn't snatched the small workrate Dawson does utilise and totally nullify him for most of the fight. If Hopkins doesn't win I'd be flabbergasted. Dawson has a chance of banging the old man out I guess, but doesn't really hit that hard.

    A pretty easy fight for B-Hop, unless you envision Dawson as a completely different fighter than he is, for that I'd give serious kudos for being able to predict the future, alas, the stylistic analysis as of now would be a load of bollocks.

    I still can't believe how many knowledgable posters bought into the Dawson hype train, even though he had loads of flaws and they were on display in every fight he was in :lol:
     
    Flea Man, Oct 10, 2011
    Flea Man, Oct 10, 2011
    #9
  10. dftaylor

    dftaylor Writer, fanatic Full Member

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    A lot of people got blinded by how good he looks when he puts his shots together and when he dictates the pace. Plus he's got fast hands and can be pretty slick - all these things dazzle, but losing to Pascal in the way he did pretty much sums him up. He just couldn't believe Pascal wasn't giving him the space and time to get his shots off.

    Unless Hopkins gets old overnight, he'll be timing the right over the top from the very early rounds. Chad doesn't take chances and he'll get intimidated when he can't land regularly or gets countered - something he's more used to giving that receiving.

    I can just see that textbook right followed by the left hook all night, and a fairly clear win for Bernard.
     
    dftaylor, Oct 10, 2011
    dftaylor, Oct 10, 2011
    #10
  11. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Famously it was I who shared Dawsons stylistic deficiencies with Pascal and told him how to exploit them :deal
     
    Flea Man, Oct 10, 2011
    Flea Man, Oct 10, 2011
    #11
  12. dftaylor

    dftaylor Writer, fanatic Full Member

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    Haha - he's a nice guy. Smart but poorly schooled as a fighter.
     
    dftaylor, Oct 10, 2011
    dftaylor, Oct 10, 2011
    #12
  13. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Exactly, which is why it's lucky I gave him a heads up.
     
    Flea Man, Oct 10, 2011
    Flea Man, Oct 10, 2011
    #13
  14. TheUzi

    TheUzi MISSION INCOMPLETE Full Member

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    I think Dawson will make it competitive and will get his successes when he throws combinations in.
    Throwing 4-5 shots at a time, making BHOP work.
    Interesting to see if Dawson targets the body a lot, genuinely cant wait for saturday.

    Anyway, BHOP points for me, just not as wide as you lads on here think it will be.
     
    TheUzi, Oct 10, 2011
    TheUzi, Oct 10, 2011
    #14
  15. Primadonna Kool

    Primadonna Kool Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    "I'm very confused of how Chad Dawson vs Bernard Hopkins will go"

    Bernard Hopkins is a very good fighter, but in my opinion he is not great in terms of physical or technical skills, and he is very smart and knows his limits, inside of the ring. And has matched himself very cleverly past the age of 40, he knows what he cannot cope with. I feel up against Chad Dawson, all these smoke and mirrors............"May be smashed".

    Bernard Hopkins knows his limits, he hasn't got a clue to how he will defeat Chad Dawson. He said in one interview that Chad Dawson, quits when fights become physical..?

    "Maybe he got Chad Dawson mixed up with Zab Judah"

    Bernard Hopkins has had a history of bitching and moaning, and turning into a Oscar award winning actor when fights become physical.

    He did just that against Joe Calzaghe, faking low blows, and just spoiling the whole fight. Because he could not cope with Joe Calzaghe.........

    He did just that against Roy Jones Junor in their rematch, faking the seriousness of illegal shots, and making ready made excuses. Because even a shot the **** Roy Jones, had enough athleticism, speed, and physical skills to bother Hopkins, and make him look abit average.

    "I could go on"

    "Bernard Hopkins has never EVER been able to cope with boxers who have physical skills, and decent technical skills on par almost with his own"........

    "They always need to have a flaws somewhere, all of his best wins. Look at the fighters he has beat, technically they might be immense in some areas, but then in some areas, they are extremely weak, and have massive flaws"........and Bernard Hopkins to his credit is the master, of making this flaws intoxicate his opponents poison themselves"

    This is the reason, why i will go as far as to say that a Chad Dawson has a chance of beating any version of Bernard Hopkins. You see because the only real flaws Chad Dawson has is his personality..? and Hopkins himself is not stupid.

    He basically agree's with me..."Its a mental thing" Hopkins has repeated, he has mentioned nothing of his technical skills.

    Also Chad Dawson's chin, i would say is not the strongest. But its strong enough, and Hopkins does not hit hard enough anyway to "Real Fear into Dawson"........

    For me is a very confusing fight.

    I wouldn't be surprised if Chad Dawson TKO's Hopkins, and then again i wouldn't be surprised if Bernard Hopkins wins a Split Decision"........

    Closer to the fight, i will pick a winner! And i won't sit on the fence...........

    Because I'm not a shitbag.

    "And please Jermaine Taylor beat Bernard Hopkins twice, second time was very clear"
     
    Primadonna Kool, Oct 10, 2011
    Primadonna Kool, Oct 10, 2011
    #15
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