By Giancarlo Malinconico: With the Hopkins-Adamek previously planned match for the Summer of 2009 falling through, and with Wlad Klitschko’s dominate performance over Chagaev, I beg the question: Why not pit Hopkins against Klitschko?
Klitschko is now the official Heavyweight Champion in a division with hardly any big draws, and Hopkins is a big name who would gain more by winning the Heavyweight Championship than the Cruiserweight. And the match would bring both men a lot of money, as it is a huge fight with international appeal, which could be staged in Madison Square Garden (because Hopkins seems skeptical about fighting oversees).
The fight may seem like a mismatch to some at first, but then again how many times as Hopkins has proven his critics wrong. Wlad’s most effective weapon is his left jab. Hopkins, however, can probably take the jab away better than anyone can in boxing. Hopkins would also not have to worry about a high-punch output as he did against Jermain Taylor and Joe Calzaghe. I see this fight playing out as a tactical match-up with Hopkins showing Wlad a lot of movement, attempting to land his straight right hand. Although Wlad looks like a very athletic heavyweight, his ring generalship tends to look better than it is fighting against stiff opposition, even Chris Byrd, who is considered a slick boxer at heavyweight, fights flatfooted, and this was never more apparent than in his fights with Wlad. Hopkins could come in at a solid two hundred pounds and move around the ring at will against the much bigger opponent. Hopkins must be wary of Wlad’s clinching and possible bullying to the ropes, being Wlad would be so much larger. But I think as long as he does not age overnight, Hopkins can attempt to steal rounds, occasionally flurrying and landing straight right hands on the move. Wlad will have a hard time landing flush on Hopkins, and Hopkins will be able to fight at Wlad’s methodical pace, as Bernard actually favors it.
Hopkins is aware of historical boxing accomplishments and his legacy in the sport. If he is successful, Hopkins would become only the third boxer in history to win the Middleweight Championship and move up to capture the Heavyweight crown: the two others being Roy Jones Jr. and England’s Bobby Fitzsimmons back in 1897. Hopkins, furthermore, would outdo Jones because he would be battling the officially recognized Heavyweight Champion while Jones defeated a decent titleholder but not the premier champion in John Ruiz. Hopkins has stated on numerous occasions he needs to be motivated to bring his “A game” to the ring through a rigorous training camp. What better to motivate Hopkins than the possibility of becoming the Heavyweight Champion and reaching boxing immortality.
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