Bernard Hopkins turns 47 today, likely to chase Bute fight in 2012
January 15th, 2012
By Dan Ambrose: WBC light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KO’s) turns 47-years-old today and thanks to a successful appeal made to the World Boxing Council and California State Athletic Commission, Hopkins’ loss to Chad Dawson from last year was overturned and changed to a no contest.
If Hopkins is to get the Bute fight, he could wait for pretty much the entire year before he gets a shot at the Canadian based fighter, as Bute is negotiating a two-fight deal with Carl Froch. Once Bute gets through those two fights, he could fight WBA/WBC super middleweight champion Andre Ward, as that’s the fight that Bute and all of boxing wants to see.
Hopkins is lower down in the food chain for a Bute. If Hopkins is to get a Bute fight, Hopkins may have to wait until 2013 before he gets his chance because that’s when Bute will be freed up from the big paying fights and can take on Hopkins.
Hopkins will be 48-years-old by this time next year and it’s very questionable the amount of interest that will be attracted by a fight between Bute and a 48-year-old fighter, especially if Bute is beaten by Froch or Ward. Who wants to see a 48-year-old Hopkins vs. a recently beaten Bute?
Ward already said he won’t fight Hopkins because he respects him too much. Hopkins looked as if he had slipped a notch in his fight against Dawson last year when he looked slow and fell down and hurt himself after falling over Dawson’s back.
You can imagine Hopkins will be even slower this year, and he’s going to need to fight someone good while he waits for Bute to get freed up from his fights. The only money fight out there for Hopkins other than Bute is Jean Pascal. But Hopkins already fought Pascal twice and beat him convincingly in the last time he fought him last year in May. Maybe the fight will do well in Canada, but maybe it won’t.
There may be diminishing returns on that fight because they’ve already battled twice and it’s established that Hopkins is better than Pascal. A rematch between Hopkins and Pascal is further hurt by Pascal not having fought since the Hopkins loss. If Pascal was staying busy and had beaten someone to show that he had bounced back from the defeat, then maybe you could see a Hopkins-Pascal III fight to some people.
13 Responses to “Bernard Hopkins turns 47 today, likely to chase Bute fight in 2012”
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i love bhop
No Bute. Bernard should fight Dawson now. no one else.
The boxer Bute is 6’2″.. Small?? And could easily fight at 175 instead of 168.. He hit harder than Dawson and he is faster both are southpaw.. As for Pascal easily beated by Froch.. I don’t know from which planet you coming from but this was a close 12 rounds candidate for fight of the year at this time.. Froch was in his hometown with 3 brits judges but i’m giving him this fight but by no way it was easy for Froch!
Bute should take this fight in my opinion. Just for the money that is, because there is nothing Hopkins can do to Bute!
I like Hopkins and all, but he cannot win against a hungry lion.
Bute will finish the old man in 2 rounds. But this fight is not going to happen
Bute should stay away from Hopkins. Too dangerous for the reward.
B-Hop should fight Sillakh, lose, but ask for 2% off every dollar Sillakh makes for the rest of his career to make the fight.
Im sick of his ugly mug! I swear if he appears on FNF, Im not buying any of the products advertised on that program. And I know lots of people!
@ Scottgilfoid
Styles make fights and where im coming from, Dawson was too much for Hopkins mainly bcuz of his reach and because of Hopkins age and would have lost that fight. Bute would get Ko’d in my opinion by Hopkins because he is small. He’s a good boxer but Hopkins is a great feinter and w/ a couple rights he’ll hurt Bute. But Ward vs Hopkins would be a great fight, because Hopkins is big like him and like i said is a great feinter w/ power and so he has a punchers chance w/ Bute and Ward.
Ali turned 70 and no news for him
shame
There is nothing more left to prove by the Executioner in Boxing. It would be even more honorable if he retires now, as a champion of the world.
The boxer I’m not sure where your coming from bute and ward would likely beat Dawson who was easily beaten by pascal who was easily beaten by Carl froch as the super middleweight division is a much better division then the light heavyweight I think if he has any sense he will stay at light heavyweight and take on cloud who would be an easy fight for b hop a return with pascal in America or WBO champ cleverly who is inexperienced and would likely get a lesson from Hopkins at this stage in his career
Bute’s far more skilled than Dawson, Hopkins is just after Canadian money.
He’ll put on the same comedy he did in his last fight.
if i were him id try to fight Ward or Bute and stay away from Dawson who seemed like too much for B-Hop