By Brian Kenneth Blackwell: This will be a horribly written article, simply because I cannot find it in me to write an article about what was an absolutely horrible fight. Tonight, two fighters in their 40s attempted to turn back the clock and looked everything that they were not. In the end, both fighters looked every bit their age, and at some points, after full minutes of only faints and zero punches, it appeared as if both Bernard and Roy felt in their minds that they still looked good in their movements. Truth be told, both looked incredibly off balance, slow, and clumsy.

From Round 1 on, Bernard took control of the fight, simply, and my I emphasize, only on ring generalship. The fight progressed on Bernard’s willingness to control the ring, and simply out throwing (not out landing) Roy, who by the way was extremely reluctant to even throw a punch. A very frustrating fight to sit through, as even my good attention span was growing short. As if I was listening to a broken record, moment after moment, Bernard would fire off some punches that would hit Roy’s gloves. Roy in response would shell himself on the ropes, and the two seconds of action would end in a hold filled with Roy landing tight, and meaningless uppercuts behind the referee’s view.

Aside from the frustrating non-action that was this fight, and listening to the ever-present boos coming from the crowd throughout, Bernard exhibited some very strange behavior. After blatantly landing a clean shot to Roy’s jewels, knowing that the referee was standing behind him, Bernard on several occasions appeared to severely over act on fouls committed by Roy. Whether it be a low blow, or being hit behind the head, all of the punches appeared suspect, and each bit of which appeared to be sissy fits by Bernard that only drew frustration from the crowd, and giggles mixed with confusion from Roy. Simply put, in a bout that Bernard knew he was winning based on ring generalship, these bits of acting were uncalled for, and just not needed, especially when each time Bernard would let his hands go, it appeared to be effective.

Even after hearing his victory announced, Bernard did not appear satisfied with the win, at this point holding the back of his head, and wincing as if he was in serious pain, even though he had already appeared to be over the last rabbit punch several rounds earlier. Bernard commented that he was seeing spots for six rounds, and fought through it. So giving him the benefit of the doubt that those light punches did hurt him, Bernard made a comical statement, calling for a bout with a heavyweight champion.

As stated earlier, both fighters looked very shot, but with Roy looking the worst. This really could have looked like Ali vs. Berbick had Bernard unloaded. But it was Bernard’s unwillingness to engage that convinced me tonight that he just does not have it anymore. Even knowing of Roy’s soft chin, it appeared as if Bernard was so worried about being embarrassed by Roy’s flash, that like Roy, he simply wanted to survive. And if Bernard was really that badly affected by such half committed punches thrown by an over-the-hill light heavyweight, he has absolutely no business moving up to heavyweight, much less taking on a world champion. I seriously doubt he wants a taste of Wladimir Klitschko’s straight right.

So in the end, the rematch between Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr went exactly like fight fans who have followed both fighters’ careers said it would; Roy hanging on the ropes when being pursued, and Bernard holding. I would say that the worst atrocity about this fight tonight was that I, being the Roy Jones Jr fan that I am purchased the fight. I sadly felt as if Roy really had one more quality, and I do mean quality win left in his tank, but he does not. The one bright spot I can take from watching the fight was that the only way he was hurt tonight was only from an accidental head butt.