Hopkins-Jones: Whoopee!
Posted Jan. 14, 2010 at 02:36pm
By Michael Rosenthal
|
The Bernard Hopkins-Roy Jones Jr. fight, scheduled for April in Las Vegas, is another example of a fight that is happening too late. Much too late.
The matchup of 40-somethings had a shred of credibility a few months ago but that went out the window when Jones was knocked out by Danny Green in the first round of what was supposed to be a stay-sharp fight in December.
Now, I’m not sure why anyone would want to make the pay-per-view investment to watch it.
I have no problem with Jones taking the fight, although I think Hopkins will beat him fairly easily. This choice of opponent is as good as any as long he insists on fighting with eroded skills. He’ll get embarrassed, take home his paycheck and then probably do it again.
Hey, it’s a free country.
I’m disappointed in Hopkins, though. I understand that he wants to make as much money as he can at this stage of his career. Who could blame him? And he has sought the opportunity to exact revenge for a loss to Jones way back in 1993.
However, Hopkins is still good enough to give a legitimate opponent a tough time. He proved that against Kelly Pavlik. He could probably still handle all but a few of the best light heavyweights and cruiserweights in the world.
That’s why he remains on most Top 10 pound-for-pound lists at 45 (on Friday).
I would’ve loved to see him fight Chad Dawson for THE RING 175-pound championship, for example, although that would’ve been a major challenge. Tomasz Adamek would’ve been another interesting opponent but the sides couldn’t make the fight.
And would Hopkins really be avenging his loss to Jones if he wins? Again, Jones is a shell of what he was; Hopkins probably will face much tougher opponents in sparring.
Alas, we’re stuck with Hopkins-Jones II. I suppose I’ll have to watch the fight one way or another. I’m not looking forward to it, though.
At least Hopkins isn’t a puncher, meaning we might not have to witness Jones slip into temporary unconsciousness for the fourth time in his career. That would be nice.
Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com
The matchup of 40-somethings had a shred of credibility a few months ago but that went out the window when Jones was knocked out by Danny Green in the first round of what was supposed to be a stay-sharp fight in December.
Now, I’m not sure why anyone would want to make the pay-per-view investment to watch it.
I have no problem with Jones taking the fight, although I think Hopkins will beat him fairly easily. This choice of opponent is as good as any as long he insists on fighting with eroded skills. He’ll get embarrassed, take home his paycheck and then probably do it again.
Hey, it’s a free country.
I’m disappointed in Hopkins, though. I understand that he wants to make as much money as he can at this stage of his career. Who could blame him? And he has sought the opportunity to exact revenge for a loss to Jones way back in 1993.
However, Hopkins is still good enough to give a legitimate opponent a tough time. He proved that against Kelly Pavlik. He could probably still handle all but a few of the best light heavyweights and cruiserweights in the world.
That’s why he remains on most Top 10 pound-for-pound lists at 45 (on Friday).
I would’ve loved to see him fight Chad Dawson for THE RING 175-pound championship, for example, although that would’ve been a major challenge. Tomasz Adamek would’ve been another interesting opponent but the sides couldn’t make the fight.
And would Hopkins really be avenging his loss to Jones if he wins? Again, Jones is a shell of what he was; Hopkins probably will face much tougher opponents in sparring.
Alas, we’re stuck with Hopkins-Jones II. I suppose I’ll have to watch the fight one way or another. I’m not looking forward to it, though.
At least Hopkins isn’t a puncher, meaning we might not have to witness Jones slip into temporary unconsciousness for the fourth time in his career. That would be nice.
Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com
