Hopkins was an old master, but what about when he faked injuries in fights?

I remember Hopkins getting slammed by Antawn Echols and not being able to use his right hand (i believe) but he kept fighting and boxed Echols silly with one good hand.

 

That's probably how he used to get out of work detail in prison .

 

Hopkins is polarizing. I've been a fan ever since he beat Trinidad. Old school technical skills and dedication to training. Actually frugal with his money and now well off. Still has his marbles and a jazz fan! (jazz is not for everyone but I love it too). Having said that the guy was a dirty tricky SOB in the ring. Some would say he was like that out of the ring too...

 

God bless him for it. Hopkins wasnt one of the chosen ones who had their way paved in Gold. He outlasted everyone. He wouldnt go away.

I admire the dude for his diet alone. Discipline.

 

He's a fighter I respect the hell out of but don't particularly like.

 

One of my all time favorites. The guy worked his butt off for everything he has and was a complete fighter that could beat you multiple ways.

 

He's a racist. **** him

 

Yea and before he got old he was actually fun to watch. He threw a good # of punches and had power in both hands.

Anybody remember Joe Lipsey? Joe doesnt.

 

Bernard was a good fighter. But all of these incidents were embarrassing. Both to himself, and to boxing.

 

"Boxing is like Jazz; the better it is the less it's appreciated. " I wouldn't have pegged Big George for a jazz fan but he's spot on.

For my part, I get similar feelings of awe and amazement watching this

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and this:

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He was a great fighter and I respect his discipline, his career and his skill but I dislike the man. He’s a racist and a bully and one of the biggest crybabies I’ve seen in Boxing. Could never give his victor credit (apart from Kovalev probably because he was scared Kovalev would punch him if he spouted off). As far as some of his flops in the ring well, sure he had Echols II where he got slammed but given how much of a deal as he made out of Allen I, Dawson I, Jones II and his antics trying to quit/get Calzaghe disqualified I’m not sure. Maybe Hopkins was playing to the cameras?

Even his last fight, he tried to and still maintained that he was thrown out of the ring despite obvious TV footage showing he was punched out of the ring. That was classless as hell. I was at that fight and the Golden Boy DJ/MC some dude named tattoo was on the mic “Hey Joe Smith you didn’t win that fight fair.”, and still was sucking off Hopkins. That made me sick but I loved seeing it. It summed Golden Boy promotions up for me.

 

He definitely was more of a beat you down/rough you up guy early on as a middleweight champ. When he moved up in weight and got older he relied more on his skill set. His footwork was empecible. He didn't just beat guys, he ruined them. Tarver, Pavlik, Shuminov, Tito, Joppy etc were all never the same after being dominated by him.

I get why some were/are put off by his personality but at the same time that edge/chip is what made him great. I met him back in the late 90's when I was an amateur fighter and he a super nice guy and cool to me and my friends.

 

Faking injuries? Ah, a common thing,...a lot of the "old masters" did it....like, uh,...well,...you go ahead and name some.