Hopkins vs. Green in 2010: Will Danny make Bernard look like an old man?
December 19th, 2009
By Chris Williams: According to Fight News, a fight between 44-year-old Bernard Hopkins (50-5-1, 32 KO’s) and International Boxing Organization cruiserweight champion Danny Green (28-3, 25 KO’s) is in negotiations for a bout that will take place in 2010. There isn’t any word as to where the location of fight will take place, but you can bet that it likely won’t be taking place in Australia. Hopkins made comments after the Roy Jones Jr. fight against Green, which ended with Green stopping Jones in the 1st round on December 2nd.
Hopkins had been planning on fighting Jones next in a fight that would have likely given both fighters a good payday. However, Green destroyed those plans with his 1st round blitz of the 41-year-old Jones. Hopkins briefly sounded as if he still wanted to go ahead and fight Jones, but it appears that he’s changed his mind about the futility of that fight given Jones’ quick stoppage loss.
In his last fight, Hopkins defeated middleweight contender Enrique Ornelas by a 12 round decision on December 2nd. It was a dull fight with Hopkins, throwing few punches every round, clinching often but still winning most of the rounds. Hopkins seemed to tire in the later rounds of the fight, giving away a couple of rounds. That’s understandable because Hopkins hasn’t fought in over a year since beating Kelly Pavlik by a 12 round decision in October 2008. However, Hopkins didn’t just look rusty. He looked like he’d aged a little since the Pavlik bout, and didn’t look nearly as impressive against Ornelas compared to how he looked against Pavlik.
Perhaps Hopkins could have thrown more punches if he wanted to, but then again maybe couldn’t. At his age, there’s a good chance that Hopkins is finally starting to show signs of slowing down as a fighter. That’s not good news for Hopkins fans if that is indeed the case. Green is a young 36, and is the stronger fighter. Green jabs harder than Hopkins, has a better work rate and has bigger power in both hands.
What Green doesn’t have is Hopkins’ hand speed and movement, that won’t matter if Hopkins doesn’t throw enough punches. If he tries to punch and clinch his way to victory against Green, like he did in Bernard’s fights against Joe Calzaghe and Ornelas, then Hopkins may find himself having problems with Green’s better strength. Green doesn’t let himself get tied up like other fighters.
Instead, Green muscles his opponents off on the inside, refusing to be tied up. In that respect, Green reminds me a lot of Miguel Cotto, who doesn’t allow fighters to clinch with him. If the clinching is taken away from Hopkins, then he’ll have no choice but to trade with Green. I can’t see Hopkins winning a slugging war with the bigger, stronger Green. It just won’t happen. Hopkins won’t outwork Green, because Bernard has become to economical with his punches in the past three to four years. I see this fight ending badly for Hopkins with him getting badly outworked and made to look like an old man.
Tags: 13 Responses to “Hopkins vs. Green in 2010: Will Danny make Bernard look like an old man?”
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Smith, I hope Hopkins does come out hanging on Danny coz it just p him off. Danny is nice guy but you can see in press conferences prior to fights the anger in his eyes but he holds it in. The first couple of seconds after the opening bell of the RJJ/Green fight watch Danny as he comes out of his corner, what he does with his gloves and the intent he has on pummeling RJJ. Hopkins will get beaten worse than RJJ. Green in a different fighter now. Hes fighting at his correct weight, Hes strongs, hits like a ‘baseball bat’ (according to RJJ) and doesnt let the idea of defeat enter his head.There is no way Hopkins will take the non stop attack than Danny will dish out. Danny is supreme at not getting clinched…and that is all Hopkins will try and do. Once Hopkins is on the ropes….its gonna be lights out.
Aussies are always under-rated by yanks. Green will destroy who ever they put in front of him for a few years yet. He’s a gracious fighter and he has a massive heart. He hits like a cricket bat and could knock most fighters in his weight out cold. Remember the name Danny Green.
perko,
green did not lose any street cred against mundine,
mundine who is nothing kicked hes arse, so he did not have any cred to lose, they both have not ,fought anyone in there prime, mundine all talk never fights
anyone, gill beat him and he was robbed, i think most yanks would not waste any time on motor mouth.
Right on Sam we come from the land down under. these yanks don’t know just how hard Danny green is. Ive watched him since he turned pro & hes getting better with age. B-hop don’t stand a chance.
Green Should win easy!!!!! what excuse would he have for losing. He’s about 10 years younger, no ring rust, no hard challenges, no big names on his record expcept a shot Roy Jones. I’m Australian through and through but i’m not giving props to DG for these achievements, or lack there of.
Hopkins is amazing!!! If you hate him, you don’t get boxing. But yes, he’s old. So Danny should dominate and win a points decision. HE’S NOT HE UNDERDOG, he just paints himself that way to avoid more embarrassment of an otherwise average career, if he loses.
Stipe Drews…..wow! and who else…Eric Lucas..oh!
Sure, Hopkins’ comments in the U.K. were in bad taste, but it makes for excellent promotional material which equates to dollars, dollars, dollars (or pounds if you will). One would be a fool to take such comments to heart and be genuinely offended.
after hearing that three quarters of the world thought roy jones was going to beet danny green, they deffenently should have though about it twice, danny demolished roy and made him look like a chump. just like how danny is going to woop b-hop like a seazed up old man, and finally show the world that americans can have there money, and there fast cars and watever else they have but there is one thing they will never have like us australians and thats heart and pride from the land down under. danny green will woop b-hop with an early ko stopage
spot on smith! I loved watching him lose after that rant.
The mentally hard, superbly conditioned Joe Calzaghe fought everybody in his era apart from Carl Froch.Calzaghe was world super middle champion for 11 years with a 47-0 record.At light heavy, the bout with Hopkins was a hard call, probably a draw in reality. Calzaghe had his toughest bouts with Kessler and Hopkins, who are a class above Green. Green will find the cagey Hopkins a far tougher proposition than the shot,inconsistent Roy Jones Jr.Jones fought like a novice that night, dropping the arms and going for long jabs, whilst Green had his guard up at all times,enabling the series of explosive,short lever punches that came out of nowhere.The iron chinned and super defensive Hopkins keeps himself in superb condition and will not be caught out.You cannot surprise Hopkins with flurries.He expects every type of attack and has the weaponry to counter them.
Never write off Hopkins because he is 45.Green will find him a far tougher proposition than Mundine, who Calzaghe would have easily beaten.
forget jones , hopkins , holyfield , tyson . only fight aussies in pubs and clubs talk about is green versus mundine 2 . green has to get mundine back in the ring somehow for a rematch fight . green lost a huge amount of boxing street cred in australian workplaces with his lame performance against choc mundine , can have all the 1st round knockouts in the world against jones , hopkins , holyfied and tyson but unless he does it to mundine wont mean jack to aussies.
Danny Green will win easy i cant see how hopkins at 45 years old is gonna be able to beat a 36 old guy who is in top form atm
If this fight happens it will be in America – Hopkins is smart enough to know not to travel unless it’s an easy fight (1 trip to France the rest at home) and look to grind out a dull 12 rounder.
I hope Hopkins does get beaten, and beaten badly ( hopefully by ko). He’s a racist and a dirty fighter how deserves to get a beating. The comments he made to joe calzghe in the build up to there fight was a joke, if it had been the other way around calzghe would have been slated as a racist but Hopkins gets away with it. I loved it when he got beat in that fight.