Great Mistakes: The Jones vs. Hopkins Debate

By Brian Kenneth Blackwell: After re-watching the 1993 bout between Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins, as well as analyzing the two in recent matches, I believe it is evident that it would be a huge mistake for Bernard to take this fight. In no way am I downplaying any of Bernard’s accomplishments, or his ability as a fighter, because I know I certainly could not go 10 seconds with the man, as he would probably back me in, and fire the same shot that floored both Antonio Tarver, and Joe Calzaghe, and I would be out for a day or so. But as good as he is, or ever was, he simply does not have the athleticism to compete with a boxer of Roy’s caliber or boxing style.

In viewing the first fight, I observed that Bernard showing nothing spectacular. Yes, he was already an accomplished boxer, but he showed no flash in his style. Just as I feel as if Andre Berto is all flash and no substance, Bernard was all substance, no flash. He came forward, bobbed-and-weaved, threw textbook punches, while shaking and ducking punches in textbook fashion. Roy at the time, showed less textbook boxing skills, but the speed difference enabled him to get away with things that most boxers might get clocked doing.

Throughout the fight, Bernard did what most fighters do against Roy, which is attempt to overwhelm him against the ropes. The fight was almost even up until the final rounds, when Roy discovered that he could begin to unload his shots on Bernard, as the speed difference was becoming apparent to both fighters. In the end, Roy widened the gap, and show-boated his way to victory.

I doubt that I need to give anyone a history lesson on how these two fighters’ careers have progressed after this fight. In a nutshell, Roy went on to briefly dominate the middleweight division, before moving on up in weight to dominate the light-heavyweight division for several years, before taking on the lightly regarded WBA Heavyweight Champion John Ruiz, and defeating him, becoming the first fighter since Bob Fitzsimmons to accomplish such a feat. From that point, Roy suffered 3 very relevant setbacks, while slowly regaining some of his past form.

Bernard took a different route, sticking it out in the middleweight division, probably reluctant to move up to light-heavyweight due to suffering his first defeat in his first professional bout, which was at the light-heavyweight level. He gained fame by beating Felix Trinidad, and Oscar De La Hoya, but suffered back-to-back defeats himself along the way to a young Jermain Taylor, and a close match with Joe Calzaghe. He did however gain extremely impressive victories against Antonio Tarver, and Kelly Pavlik. These days, Bernard, like Jones, is the one against the ropes when he knows he is in trouble. I also witnessed Bernard suffering from fatigue in his fight with Calzaghe, hence why he falsely accused Calzaghe on two occasions of low blows, in an attempt to gain rest periods.

In saying this, I also witnessed Roy suffering from fatigue against Tony Hanshaw, a fight which probably should have gone Tony’s way (although Roy showed mercy in not finishing his man off after knocking him silly in the 11th round when he finally decided to mount an attack).

I see this fight going two ways. Bernard can choose to bombard Roy against the ropes; a tactic that I doubt Bernard has the stamina to maintain at the age of 44. If he can, more power to him. I can also see Bernard choosing to box at the center of the ring, which would prove to be a much larger mistake, as the speed difference is still apparent at this stage of both fighters’ careers. With this tactic, Roy would pot-shot, show-boat, and clown his way to victory in Apollo Creed fashion.

When it is all said and done, it all comes down to one issue. I have listened to countless heated arguments between these two fighters, and the proposed fight is always slammed shut by Bernard, and the reason he gives is because of how the purse would be split. Let’s face it, Bernard knows that Roy is the one man who gave him a convincing defeat.

What I am getting at is the same reasoning as to why Roy simply will not get back in the ring with Glencoffe Johnson; Roy is terrified of Johnson, as is Bernard of Roy. For this one reason, Bernard will not take this fight. It’s not the devastating punching power of Roy that sends shivers through Bernard, it is the spectacle that Roy becomes once be realizes he has a fight in the bag.

Bernard is no idiot, he knows how arrogant and just plain stupid Roy acts once he takes over a fight. Bernard simply does not want that sort of humiliation when his career and legacy are in the bag. I wouldn’t either.

It all goes back to past points I have made about having a legitimate boxing ranking system that forces fighters to take on opponents close to where they are ranked. This, and only this would give boxing more legitimacy in the sporting world, and it is the soul reason why this great sport is being ignored, and other combat leagues, such as the UFC have become more popular.

Fighters should not be able to pick and choose who they fight, nor should the champion of any weight division. Fighters should gain rank by fighting their way to the top, and have to hold their position by beating mandatory challengers.

Even at the end of their careers, fighters should not be able to hand pick opponents because they feel they have some sort of physical advantage on the other, or because they feel it would be a huge payday, or improve their legacy within the sport. How many fighters can you think of that are guilty of this? Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Manny Pacquiao, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr., Winky Wright…

Forget it, I’ll stop while I’m ahead.

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