Scenario...

1) Andrade KO's Bute in the rematch this weekend, as many feel is a distinct possibility.

2) Hopkins administers a savage beating to Ornelas next week, as expected.

3) Green, on the same day but halfway around the world, finds a way to topple former pound-for-pound great, the athletic for his age but unquestionably faded and demonstrably knockoutable Roy Jones Junior, we'll say by knockout - not completely outside the realm of plausibility.

The Hopkins-Jones superfight would be forfeit, an absolute farce if they went through with it. They'd not insult the intelligence of even the dumbest fans by expecting this to sell.

Hopkins still has the itch. Andrade would need a challenge, but the field (shy of a rubbermatch) would be absolutely clear at 168 with the top talents tied up in the Super Six. He could waste time with some piddling second-tier hangers on like Green and Bika, but why bother?

Yes, the suppositional suggestion here is Hopkins vs. Andrade. It would be ugly, but it wouldn't be boring. And it would sure be a brain-scratcher. On the surface, a master boxer with a full bag of accumulated tricks should spell disaster for a "here I am, rock you like a hurricane" type such as Andrade. All the things Hopkins was able to do to slow Pavlik down, however, would prove fruitless here. Andrade's a machine. You can't really hurt or discourage him, and unlike Kelly he wouldn't overthink a solution to the puzzle, as thinking isn't his M.O. - pressing on and throwing leather is. Hopkins would be unwise to try to repeat his success against Kelly by making a fight of it. He's not exactly got the freshest pair of legs to try and put on a defensive clinic of the circle/change direction/counter/clinch/rinse/repeat type he put on with Tarver. He's been using less and less of the ring...

GBP obviously has no problems pitting its own against each other if they think it'll sell. The winner in Montreal on Saturday will emerge as a budding star. Bernard will need an early 2010 dance partner if he holds up his end of the bargain but Roy doesn't - and looking to smaller guys like Andrade rather than bigger guys (like Haye) is certainly the wiser risk-reward decision from a business/legacy balance viewpoint. Throw in the "brother's revenge" angle (this has amplified or even created buzz for guys like Pacquiao, Donaire, and Arce) and this thing would sell.

Hopkins would and should be the favorite, but Librado would take his old legs to task and make a wild night of it.

 

Even if Roy gets embarrassed in his tune-up?

Andrade would get thrashed worse than he did against Kessler, I've no doubt of that. He's got, however, a sterner chin than Pavlik in my estimation...so there'd be none of the deer-in-the-headlight second-guessing and lapses in forward motion we saw from Kelly when Bernard made roadkill of him. How much wind does the old man have? Who last pressed him that hard (really pressed, not bullied with slaps)?

 

Don't get me wrong, not making the case that he'd win so much as a round - would bet the farm on BHOP in fact. Even in a surefire lopsided loss, it'd be a grand payout for a guy who brings home the bacon by getting pulled pork made of his face anyhow. Probably the best option for both (most lucrative for LA, best risk/reward for BHop) all things considered if steps 1-3 of the above scenario do play out. A win for us, too - it'd be ugly and predictable, but still not boring. :yep

 

He's been in Quebec for several weeks already. He and Enrique are actually training there in tandem.

This blurb is from earlier this month:
"With less than 3 weeks before his title challenge against IBF Super Middleweight Champ Lucian Bute, # 1 contender Librado Andrade gave _____ a call to let us know that all is going very well and he can hardly wait for this rematch in Quebec City Canada on November 28th.

Andrade told his he is in the heart of his training camp now and he wants his fans to know that he is doing everything it takes to be ready for this anticipated rematch. "Tell all my fans at home hello for me and let them know that I promise not to let anyone down," said a confident Andrade.

Having sent his first sparring partners packing, Andrade will be getting some fresh faces coming into Montreal to help him complete his work. His goal to become a Champion is close now and from the sounds of things nothing will deter him from accomplishing his task at hand. "

I'm not sure any of his sparring partners are going to be of the caliber of a Glen Johnson, or really any good at blueprinting a Lucian Bute style, but I'll take him at his word. :bbb